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Fashion Media & Marketing alumna talks life as a producer for Pro:Direct FIT
Tuesday, 22 January, 2019 — We caught up with BA (Hons) Fashion Media & Marketing graduate Chloe Hodgkinson about her new role as producer for Pro:Direct FIT.
<h5>From personal trainer to creative producer, <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-fashion-media-marketing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BA (Hons) Fashion Media & Marketing</a> graduate Chloe Hodgkinson talks life after leaving Plymouth College of Art, and her new position with Pro:Direct.</h5>
<p>Chloe Hodgkinson graduated in 2017 with a first-class degree in <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-fashion-media-marketing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BA (Hons) Fashion Media & Marketing</a>. Throughout her studies, Chloe focused on how the fashion and fitness industries cross paths, launching a series of creative events for her final major project that aimed to inspire young girls to take a step into fitness and take control of their wellbeing.</p>
<p>Taking on personal training as a full-time job soon after graduating, Chloe continued to build an online presence through her <a href="https://www.instagram.com/chlohodgkinson" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBq2dWFfiz-8t4Aa4XAJxug" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YouTube</a> account which caught the eye of <a href="http://www.prodirectsport.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pro:Direct</a>; 'the worlds largest online sports store, specialising in football, running and retro fashion'. Pro:Direct approached Chloe about a position they had available, producing creative and engaging content for the launch of their newest venture - Pro:Direct Fit, ahead of its launch in January 2019.</p>
<p>We caught up with Chloe about her transition from graduate to creative content producer...</p>
<p><strong>What have you been up to since you graduated?</strong></p>
<p>I spent a year as a personal trainer and practising all my media work before I got approached by Pro:Direct to be their producer for the new site launch Pro:Direct FIT. I’ve now been there full time since February 2018, developing the brand in time for its launch in January 2019. I create all the campaigns, organise the photo shoots, social media and events - it’s basically my degree in a job! As a little side hustle I work with brands through my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/chlohodgkinson/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a> and still blog/vlog as much as I can - it helps me stay relevant in the industry and helps brand exposure for Pro:Direct.</p>
<p><strong>Tell us about your final major project, what did you learn from it?</strong></p>
<p>While I was at the college I focused on sportswear and fitness - it was clear that was my passion and when I focused my work around this you couldn’t get me to stop! My final major project was a campaign to encourage young girls to achieve whatever they want to achieve by having a healthy and strong body.</p>
<p>I created a series of events throughout schools as well as putting together a social media strategy. I basically learned how to do the job I have today. It was full on, and I learnt that my skill set is in strategising rather than creating, which is great for me now as a producer, because I have a huge team around me to help achieve my vision and end result.</p>
"It’s so important to focus on the reflective aspects in your final major project; this really helps you outline exactly what you’re good at and enjoy."
<p><strong>How did you land your current role?</strong></p>
<p>A member of the Pro:Direct Sport digital marketing team was following me on Instagram, keeping an eye on what I'd been doing.</p>
<p>When the job role came up he messaged me, asking if I would be interested. Life was going pretty well at the time and I didn’t think much about it, so they said just come in for a chat and a tour - I did and fell madly in love with the whole company.</p>
<p><strong>What was your favourite part of studying at Plymouth College of Art?</strong></p>
<p>Wow. So much. I think for me it was the flexibility within the course; the lecturers wanted you to really do what you love, love what you do and do it well. They would listen and work on ways for you to find your niche but also push you to make sure you’re always challenging yourself so you don’t become complacent.</p>
<p>I was getting mixed results in the first and second year but graduated with first-class honours - to me that shows that if you use the support that’s there and find something you love, then the success is easy.<br /></p>
"I never ever thought I would be able to have my dream job, just a stone's throw from the town I grew up in."
<p><strong>Is there anything you've achieved with Pro:Direct FIT that you're particularly proud of, so far?</strong></p>
<p>We recently went to Paris to shoot the launch of the new Adidas Ultraboost19. We had a lot of fun making this video, where we unpick the UltraBoost19 to see how it fits under FIT's key pillars of Function, Innovation and Trend. You can watch the video below.</p>
<p><strong>What advice would you give to someone interested in working in the fashion or fitness industries?</strong></p>
<p>Find exactly what you enjoy and stick with it. You’ll produce the best content if you're doing something you love.</p>
<p>Stay active on social media, you never know who’s watching.</p>
<p>Manifest everything you want to achieve. Write a ‘life desires’ story to yourself and be specific. Start asking and visioning your life and you will get it.</p>
<p>Believe in yourself. Believe in everything you do, have a passion and speak that passion. When you do things from the heart, they're so much better received.<br /></p>
<p><strong>Keep up to date with Chloe on her <a href="https://www.instagram.com/chlohodgkinson/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a>, and check out <a href="http://www.instagram.com/prodirectfit/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pro:Direct FIT</a> to see more of Chloe's creative digital content.</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-fashion-media-marketing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Interested in folllowing in Chloe's footsteps? Check out our Fashion Media & Marketing degree.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/open-days" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Discover our incredible facilities, and chat to current staff and students at one of our Open Days.</a></li></ul>
