WE THINK FIRST, THEN SAY.
The name says it all. Good marketing begins with thought, strategy and understanding — not rushing to the loudest, flashiest answer.
The story behind Thinksay
Thinksay was founded in 2014 by Nick Ridley in Colchester, Essex. The thinking behind the name is simple: the most common communication mistake is opening your mouth before engaging your brain. We put the thinking first.
Nick studied Art & Design at Liverpool Polytechnic — now Liverpool John Moores University — and trained as a Design Teacher in the early 1990s. His father was a compositor, so print has always been in the blood. He's worked in and around education ever since: as a teacher, consultant, adviser, chair of governors, school photographer and educational publisher.
Before founding Thinksay, Nick held senior roles with Pearson, Capita and EdisonLearning — including contributing to the global rebrand of EdisonLearning — and worked with organisations including Essex Fire & Rescue Service and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists. He was selected for Pearson Forum, Pearson Plc's international leadership programme, where he learned directly from people including Marjorie Scardino, Seth Godin and Reuben Mark.
Today, Thinksay works with small businesses, schools, charities and startups across Colchester, Essex and East Anglia. One person. Every discipline. Real relationships.
Outside work you'll usually find Nick with a guitar in his hands, on a skateboard or on a paddleboard whenever the British weather cooperates. He has also appeared on stage as a pantomime dame. Both experiences require surprisingly similar skills.
"Be brave and be imaginative — but above all, be kind."
"A brand is what people say about you when you're not in the room. Branding isn't about logos, colours or clever taglines — it's about understanding who you are, why you matter and how you make people feel."
Thinksay is deliberately boutique. When you work with us, you work with Nick directly — but behind every project is a brilliant network of trusted specialists who share our values and our standards.
Nick studied Art & Design at Liverpool Polytechnic and trained as a Design Teacher before moving into marketing, brand strategy and business growth. He's held senior roles with Pearson, Capita and EdisonLearning, and was selected for Pearson Forum — Pearson Plc's international leadership programme — where he learned from people including Seth Godin and Marjorie Scardino. He's been involved in education since 1991 in every role imaginable, and his father was a compositor, so print has always been part of the picture. At Thinksay he might be building a website, directing a photoshoot, writing a brand strategy or out on a shoot — often all in the same week.
Stephen brings years of experience as a software developer to Thinksay, with a particular focus on agentic AI systems. His insight and technical depth are invaluable as we help clients understand and implement AI in their marketing and communications — properly, strategically, and without the hype.
Grant is the friendly voice our clients turn to when they need real conversations with real customers. Warm, professional and genuinely likeable, he's particularly trusted for Net Promoter Score projects and customer satisfaction surveys — the kind of work where tone and empathy matter as much as the questions being asked.
Allen is our trusted partner in all things Microsoft and Office 365. With unparalleled expertise and a deep understanding of these platforms, Allen ensures seamless integration and optimal utilisation for your business. Whether you're navigating software solutions or maximising productivity, Allen is your go-to ally for success in the digital realm.
With a wealth of experience spanning over a decade in the business administration sector, Rosie ventured into her role as an independent Virtual PA. Her transition was influenced by her involvement in social media management for various external firms, igniting her interest in branding and digital marketing. Rosie has a deep passion for injecting creativity into her tasks and upholding aesthetic excellence across all content.
Jon is our CRM guru with over two decades of industry experience crafting bespoke web applications tailored specifically for SMEs. From pre-sales and specification to development, project management, and ongoing support and maintenance, Jon's expertise ensures your CRM needs are met with precision and efficiency.
After dedicating herself to roles at a marketing agency managing event planning, social media platforms, and client outreach, Megan's passion lies in fostering enduring client relationships and witnessing the transformative power of social media on businesses of any scale.
Armed with a degree from the prestigious Glasgow School of Art, Rosie brings concepts to life with captivating visuals and artistic precision. Whether designing logos, crafting illustrations, or conceptualising branding elements, Rosie's expertise ensures every project is beautiful and original.
After obtaining her design degree, Sarah accumulated experience across publishing houses, marketing agencies and freelance graphic design. Her expertise spans visual identities, logo design, direct marketing, brochures, social media campaigns and web advertisements.
How we build websites differently
In 2023, we made a decision that changed the quality of work we do for our clients. We moved from building WordPress sites to building with Astro — the next-generation web framework.
The difference is profound. Our sites now routinely score 95–100 on Google PageSpeed Insights. They load in under a second. They have no database to hack, no plugins to update, no ongoing security vulnerabilities to manage.
This matters for our clients because faster sites rank better on Google, convert more visitors into customers, and cost less to maintain. It's not just a technology choice — it's a business decision that benefits every client we work with.
We still support WordPress where it makes sense — for clients who have existing content management workflows that depend on it. But for all new builds, we build the future.
Our values
24 five-star Google reviews, LinkedIn recommendations from senior leaders at major organisations, and testimonials from clients we've loved working with.
Read all testimonials →No pressure, no sales pitch. Just a conversation about your business and whether we're the right fit.