A serial killing spree is emanating from a small Grimsby business across the nation.
Murder mystery company Red Herring Games has launched its first franchises, having providing events for corporate and private parties for the past 15 years.
It is a business that has taken managing director Jo Smedley across the UK and beyond. Now with the events market well and truly back open after a Covid hiatus, she hopes to attract more operators ahead of the busy autumn and winter season.
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Jo, who launched in a spare room in 2007, bringing forward retail, wholesale, events and subscription services, said: “Franchising is something I always planned to do. I always knew to grow the entertainment market in the UK would need local people with local connections. We already covered our area effectively, with hotels and private parties coming to us for bookings. What I wanted was that same impact in different areas. Franchising I knew would provide that.”
The team’s first franchise – Red Herring South West – is owned by Amy Burton-Smith and David Warren, two actors familiar to many customers after playing parts in digital events the firm operated during the pandemic.
“We were receiving special requests to have Amy and David act as inspectors in our continuing on-line provision and were absolutely delighted when they expressed an interest in becoming our first franchise,” Jo said. “The team cover the Devon and Cornwall area which benefits from all their local knowledge and experience. Amy and David were our ‘got to’ team anyway when we had events booked in their region, and owning the franchise meant they were able to earn more from every booking in their area so it just made sense.”
The latest franchise has just launched, with James and Martyne Bell, directors of Intrigue and Mischief, bringing Red Herring Rutland to southern Lincolnshire, Peterborough and East Leicestershire.
“We were looking for a new challenge,” said Martyne, who has directed and starred in numerous plays and musicals for amateur theatre groups in the region. “This looked like the perfect business venture for our skill set.”
The couple are looking forward to working with hotels, restaurants, self catering ventures, country estates and private parties across the region providing deaths to order, whatever the event.
“Murder mysteries are great for corporate events but also small private dining,” James said. “We’re looking to connect with other event service providers in the region, to create a seamless experience for our customers.”
“We are delighted to have James and Martyne on board,” added Jo . “They are a super couple, fun, enthusiastic and with a passion for entertainment. Just the sort of people our customers love working with!”
Further enquiries could lead to more emerging toon too. “So far, most of our enquiries are actually coming from our own customers,” Jo said. “They’ve enjoyed running murder mysteries with their own friends and family and feel they have what it takes to turn their passion into a business – which in effect is what I did!”
They appear to be in good hands too. Jo has worked as a small business champion for her local enterprise partnership and also supports the Small Business Saturday campaign, mentoring small businesses as part of the annual UK tour.
“I’m really passionate about small business.” Jo Smedley said. “And being able to support small business owners through franchising is a really lovely way to grow. We’re all invested in making it work, and we’re in it together.”
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