WHO AM I?

A Father, Tech Head, Design Fan, Photographer, Martini Lover and avid reader of Science Fiction. London born & bred, now happily living in Melbourne with my wife Andrea and teenage son Tom.

I work globally in English language markets and specialise in various areas of Business Development, Freelance Journalism, Key Sales, PR, Product Marketing and Research for consumer technology brands. Plus, Professional Event, Travel and Art photography.

I studied at the infamous University Of Life, trained as an electronics engineer, worked as a London advertising photographer, ran two of London's best Hi-Fi stores, sold Sennheiser & Revox on the road and then launched and later managed Dual & Denon in the UK. On January 1st 1990, I went out on my own and have never looked back. In 2015 I moved to Melbourne.

With a life misspent in the Tech, Music, Photo and industries, I know my subjects inside-out.
If you hire me or call me, you get me. Not an agency receptionist, retired journalist, Tracy, Shane, Lunchtime O'Booze or this week's unpaid agency intern. No PR fluff, no bullshit, no lies. 



SERVICES

Journalism
Business Development
Marketing Consultancy
Photography
Pure PR
Social Media

EXPERIENCE

2023 - Currently my main role is business development and key sales for The Sound Media Group, Australia's No1 online publisher in the Audio Visual market, with StereoNET websites in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, ASIA, and North America.

In my long career I have worked in almost every possible role, from floor sweeper to Managing Director, dev boy to Senior Photographer.  Now it's web monkey to key sales to PR to anything anyone will pay me for. (within reason and morality)

In Hi-Fi I started as a spendy customer, became a shop assistant in London, then climbed to store manager of Audio-T and KJ Leisuresound. Escaping retail I went on the road as UK sales rep for Revox, JBL and Cambridge Audio, was promoted to sales manager, then marketing manager for Sennheiser, established Dual as a serious brand in the UK then launched and grew Denon, finishing regular employment as Marketing Director for Denon UK.


Striking out on my own in 1990, I started Robert Follis Associates (RFA) in 1990 and have continued successfully ever since, specialising in PR and Social Media for clients making and selling consumer electronics, personal gadgets, Hi-Fi, AV, computers, software and all related technologies and accessories. As Rob Follis PR I have been part of the core Bristol UK Hi-Fi show team for over 30 years, in which time the show has grown from a small dealer show to the UK’s largest AV show and one of the largest in Europe.


In 2015 I moved to from London to Melbourne and now work globally in all English Language markets. Additionally I run Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds for multiple clients. Recently I have started writing again and tech journalism is now part of my portfolio career. (ON HOLD)


My current work is global business development & sales for StereoNET

Rob Follis Photo is my Art Photography side hustle and I recently had my first exhibition.


Brands I have worked with include: Acoustic Research / Aiwa / Akai / Amphion / Arcam / Bowers & Wilkins / Canton / Denon / DTS / Elac / Focal / Fujitsu-ten / Naim / Nuforce / Path Group / Tangent / Tannoy / Sennheiser UK/AU / Sennheiser Communications / Supra & More

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

  • "Rob is a truly excellent PR because he understands both the products he's pushing and the needs of the journalists he's talking to. He's knowledgable enough to comfortably pitch editorial ideas to cynical editors, and incredibly responsive too - on many late deadlines at Stuff magazine he saved my neck by supplying images and products at the drop of a hat."

    TOM DUNMORE.
    Group Creative Director at Mediablaze Group.
    Past Stuff Editor, TV Star and noted tech writer
  • “Rob is a rare character in the world of consumer technology PR. He has a deep understanding of his clients and products, as well as a genuine passion and enthusiasm for the technology. 


    Never have I asked Rob a technical question that he didn't know the answer to, and never has he failed to deliver on a promise. I've worked with Rob for many years and I've always been completely confident in his ability to get me the products, information or answers I need.”

    RIYAD EMERAN.
    Editorial Director at Dennis Engage
  • “I have worked with Rob for many years and always found him to be extremely professional. He consistently offers better product knowledge than the vast majority of PR people and indeed many technology journalists. Rob is always genuinely personable (so long as his clients are receiving decent reviews) and quite frankly he could teach a hungry doberman a few things about the value of tenacity.”

    ALEX PELL
    Strategy Director at The SnapDonate Foundation
    Past writer for Sunday Times, Stuff and much more

WHAT CLIENTS SAY

  • "Of all the PR people that I have worked with over the years, you have always stood above the rest when delivering true results rather than trying to blind the client with fluff!"

    JOHN STEVEN.
    EX Director of Marketing at Sennheiser UK
  • "Many thanks for your great PR in the UK.

    You have again done a great job."


    "Wooouw - That's fantastic - looks really great. I'm 110 % sure we all will benefit of this. I appreciate your work a lot."

    OLE BOYSEN LYCK
    EX Sales Manager at Tangent Denmark
  • “After running Denon's in-house marketing, Robert took over all external PR in 1990 and helped us grow the brand tremendously, with an unbroken stream of publicity and good reviews"


    "He is totally self-motivated, needs no handholding and has an unparalleled knowledge of products, press and markets"


    "If you need PR help in the AV business, I have no higher recommendation."

    MIKE O'MAHONY
    EX-MD at Denon and Pioneer

FOLLOW ME

LOCATION
Fitzroy North
VIC, Australia

Copyright ©
2023 Robert Follis Associates

CONTACT
robert dot/ follis at/ gmail dot/ com