About Me
Hello. I’m Cathy and I run Keeping It Local, ItsLello and Cathy’s Gardening Services.
With over 25 years of marketing experience across diverse industries, I’ve been involved in digital projects since before the internet truly took off. My expertise spans copywriting, search engine optimization (SEO), website management and production, social media, and photography.
I’ve had the opportunity to work on some exciting projects, including the early versions of mobile banking for the UK’s first low-cost airline, European-wide branding and e-commerce campaigns, and supporting ambitious start-ups with global aspirations. One of my career highlights was serving as the Internet and Merchandising Manager for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Bid—an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
When family life called, I made the decision to shift from long hours and extensive travel to focus on a better work-life balance. For the past 19 years, I’ve been freelancing in the small business and third sectors, and I love the variety of work and the incredible people I have the privilege to collaborate with.
North Wales, Gardening and a Holiday Cottage
Twelve years ago, we moved our young family—lock, stock, and barrel—to North Wales, and we haven’t looked back. Mae’n wych yma! (It’s wonderful here!)
During the Covid pandemic, I returned to college and earned horticultural qualifications, transforming a lifelong passion into a thriving business. I now run my own local gardening service, and together with my husband, we also manage a charming holiday cottage on Anglesey — Three Pant Y Celyn.
As far as we’re concerned, all work is good work! :)
Downtime
Outside of work, you’ll often find me in my garden, cycling the miles on my road bike, exploring our beautiful corner of North Wales with a camera in hand, or cheering on Penmaenmawr Phoenix FC. Keeping It Local is proud to sponsor both the U15 and Senior teams at this thriving grassroots club.
And, of course, there’s the less glamorous side—far too often, you’ll catch me ferrying my teenagers around!
Small businesses & Keeping It Local
I love where we live and am passionate about supporting local businesses and services whenever possible. Why? Because they’re usually excellent, the hard-working people you meet are fantastic, and supporting them has a positive impact on our local economy. Plus, it’s incredibly rewarding to see good local enterprises thrive.
The small business sector is the backbone of any economy. Unlike larger companies, small businesses often can’t afford fancy websites or large marketing agency fees. Many owners have to figure out how to build websites, manage social media, and promote their products or services on the fly. While this can work well in some cases, I believe small businesses—regardless of their size—deserve affordable, straightforward marketing support.
That’s where Keeping It Local comes in. Simple, affordable, and effective, it provides small businesses with a solid online presence. As a fellow small business owner, it’s my way of giving back to the local community. If you run a small business in North Wales, I’d love for you to join the Keeping It Local family.
You can read more about what I do at: