Who are we?
We started Sox to help the little guys. There are plenty of agencies, software houses, and studios to choose from when you’ve got an unlimited budget, but not so much choice if you’re a small business looking to get started.
We’re a friendly and effective husband & wife team based in Cornwall who, having both worked for start-ups in the past, know just how important those first few years are to your ongoing success.
Our values
We look to always do the right thing. We’re not out to make millions; we’re out to help the little guys. We’ll be honest and frank with you every step of the way and won’t over-complicate things. We strive to be fair in everything we do and be clear whilst we do it.
Your technical ability, and that of your users, will always be at the front of our minds when offering you a solution. We’ll be sure to strike the right balance between control, functionality and usability when building your site or web app.
Heather
With a background ranging from business admin and B2B/B2C sales through to product trainer and project manager, Heather is our organisation behind the tech.
A bit of a perfectionist with a keen eye for detail and a lover of technology, Heather’s experience in customer care will benefit you from day one. She writes the majority of our documentation and delivers most of our training.
Previously she has worked with companies such as Monster Energy, Bare Minerals, Moore Kingston Smith and Carpet Right.
Graham
Graham is our developer. He’s worked on a wide range of projects from small one page static websites to huge IoT platforms collecting billions of points of data a month. Pragmatic and straight talking, he has a business first approach to his work ensuring any solution fits client needs and abilities above all else.
A small selection of projects Graham has worked on include an Interactive data visualisation for a Tour de France team, a promotional site for the release of the Lotus Exige LF1 and an international reaching IoT energy management platform
Heather Sheppard
A creative and resourceful writer, able to provide high-quality, inventive and well-crafted copy. Heather has extensive experience of running successful blogs, writing whitepapers, creating diverse and engaging web content, and managing client social media accounts. Her research skills are second-to-none, enabling her to write engagingly and with authority on most subjects
Truly immersing herself in any task she takes on, Heather is an invaluable and dedicated resource for us and we’d highly recommend her to anyone needing help with writing content of any kind.
Drop us a line to find out how to get in touch with Heather (Sheppard).
What's with the name "Sox"?
Sox started in June 2020, when lockdown was still going. We were furloughed from our full-time jobs and friends, family, and acquaintances were contacting Graham for help online. So many people started asking for so much help that it got a bit unmanageable, so Heather got involved. And Sox Digital was born.
We spent a long time trying to come up with smart names for the business, including using some ancient Greek. But none of it really suited us. One day, whilst doing the housework, Heather was thinking through some common phrases and “knock your socks off” jumped to mind. This spiraled into brain storming other ways we could use the name – “this is a Soxy site” and “the Soxiest development service” were batted around. So, Sox Digital it was.
Essentially we’re called Sox so we can make business-related puns. And you can find plenty of them on our social media pages!
Our network & preferred partners
We’ve got a great support network to help us and also you!
Below are some of the people we love to work with, but there are plenty more roles and sectors we have great partners in. Unfortunately we can’t fit them all on one page! So, if you’re looking for specific help with something, make sure to drop us a line. If we can’t help, then we will know someone who can.
We’re also members of the Federation for Small Businesses (FSB). If you’re a small business or sole trader, we’d strongly recommend looking into joining them. Their membership benefits are incredible – everything from a legal advice hotline, to health and safety advice, and template documents.
We’re not affiliates of the FSB; just massive fans. You can find out more on their website: fsb.org.uk
Ellen Badat - Purple Tree Solutions
Computers, tech & emails
Does your tech cause you stress? Do you need pay as you go tech support for your small business?
Imagine the next time you have a tech issue, just being able to pick up the phone, or send a quick email, to get the support you need to resolve the problem, without you spending hours on Google or YouTube going around in circles!
Purple Tree Solutions offers quality IT support and solutions for small businesses. Whether you need help with your computer, email solutions, online protection, data loss prevention, or collaborative services like Microsoft 365, they can help. They offer a personal service, tailored to your needs. They love nothing more than chatting through an issue and coming up with the perfect solution.
Find out more on their website.
Jo Hodge - The Digital Marketing Fairy
Email Marketing, SEO and Analytics Specialist, Trainer and Speaker
Jo Hodge has over 10 years experience helping businesses of all sizes elevate their email marketing, supercharge their SEO and understand their analytics to increase revenue, save time and deliver exceptional customer experiences.
Her no-jargon, ethical and actionable approach ensures clients follow industry best practice and get results through workshops, group programmes and working 1:1.
Jo draws on her experience as a corporate technical project manager, working both client and agency side to ensure synchronized marketing systems are implemented that align to their business objectives.
Her clients love that they don’t need a PhD in computing or spend hours at a computer to see real results from digital marketing.
Find out more on her website.
Claire Wilson - Elowen Media
Photography
When a photo can say it all, you need a photographer and filmmaker who can help you get the content that will reflect your brand and personality.
Claire is experienced at working with brands both large and small, as well as helping people develop their personal brand, creating just the right photos and videos that help them connect with their audience.
Find out more on Claire’s website.
James Mossop - ThePinkOctopus
Branding for startups & microbusinesses
James Mossop from The Pink Octopus is here to lend a hand with your brand. He helps start-ups and small businesses stand out in a sea of faces with creative designs, drawing on nearly 30 years of experience. James should be your go-to branding expert if you’re just starting out or building your brand identity for the first time. He’s ideal for those on a budget, offering a low-cost, fixed-fee branding package that includes a bespoke logo designed to let your personality – and that of your business – truly shine.
To find out more about ThePinkOctopus, check out his website here.
Rob Kearsey - RMK Marketing
Full social media management & online advertising
Rob provides strategic and effective social media marketing solutions for brands and agencies. He’s a bit of a social media all-rounder in that he works across all the major social media channels, including Tik Tok, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest & YouTube, and offers paid & organic social media services to his clients.
Rob is your guy if you want a social media strategy, want to start paid advertising, or want support on one of the platforms we can’t work on.
Find out more on his website.
Matthew Moore - Matthew Moore Music
Music & jingles
Working with media and music industry leaders for over 20 years, Matthew is a recognised media composer, producing music for a wide range of clients in Film, TV and advertising throughout Europe.
To find out more about Matthew, head over to www.matthewmooremusic.co.uk
Matthew Hunkin - Valhalla Branding
Brand consultancy & creation for established businesses
Valhalla is ideal for established businesses with a proper marketing budget, delivering brands that truly connect with your audience. Their 3D Branding Process is built on three core values: Clarity, Courage and Craftsmanship.
Matthew at Valhalla is a super-listener who helps you explain why the world should care about your business. With over 30 years of experience in typography, colour, imagery and words, he creates brands your customers will notice, remember and trust.
Find out more about Matthew and Valhalla on his website here.
Abbie
Supposedly in charge of our outreach program, in reality she spends most of the time asleep. Either that, or she’s trying to steal your chair.
Overqualified in the art of distraction and climbing on keyboards, she doesn’t seem to do much (except sleep) but would still score 11/10 on an appraisal – if you could keep her awake long enough to have one.
Her favourite toy is a blue catnip bird that’s she’s destroyed so often that Heather has to keep sewing it back together. Gets paid in Dreamies and snuggles.