Town council plans refreshed launch of last year's NEW town brand

Newtown Town Council is preparing to relaunch its NEW town branding campaign with a renewed push to raise awareness among residents, businesses and visitors.

A progress report going before the council’s Economy and Environment Committee next week outlines plans for a new social media campaign, a promotional film and wider branding activity across the town.

The NEW branding campaign was originally launched last year as part of wider efforts to strengthen Newtown’s identity, support tourism and business activity, and create a stronger sense of place for the town.

The latest report says the next phase will focus on “community storytelling and brand explanation” before moving into activity designed to further embed the NEW brand across Newtown.

According to the report, the campaign will use the themes of “Place, Heritage, People and Spirit” across events, markets, business engagement and digital platforms.

The report states: “By integrating the core themes of Place, Heritage, People and Spirit into storytelling, markets, business engagement, events, and digital platforms, the NEW brand will become a living expression of Newtown’s identity.”

Council officers say the approach is intended to reinforce “that change and reinvention are intrinsic to Newtown’s character”.

As part of the relaunch, the town council is also planning a new promotional film titled “NEW Newtown”.

The report says the film is designed “to relaunch the NEW Newtown brand to residents and businesses, while positioning Newtown as a welcoming, vibrant destination for visitors”.

The council says the film will aim to reconnect residents with a shared sense of pride, encourage businesses to become ambassadors for the town, and inspire visitors to explore what Newtown has to offer.

The report also says the campaign is intended to build “pride and ownership among residents and businesses” with the message: “this is our brand”.

Council officers say the campaign will showcase Newtown’s “heritage, events, culture, outdoor spaces, food, markets, and community life”.

Discussions are also taking place with Mid Wales Tourism over a potential paid social media campaign to help promote the branding more widely.

Other ideas being explored include a NEW themed town feature, such as a mural or installation, a community engagement event and a business focused brand adoption initiative.

The report says all activity is being linked to the town’s Place Plan and the principle of “You said, we did”, with further community feedback expected to shape future branding work.

A meeting of councillors leading the project is due to take place in early June to review proposals in more detail.