Back in 1997, I was running on caffeine, grit, and pure stubbornness - 16-hour days, every day. I’d spend the daylight hours trying to get bellette off the ground, then head over to Colemans Printing in Alice Springs from 4pm until midnight.
That’s where it all began, the very first
bellette deskpad, prepped for 1998. Every time I see one now, I think back to those nights, the racket of the press, the smell of ink, and that feeling of building something from scratch.
At the time, it was just Kate, Bear and me before Jim and Fred came along, living in a one-bedroom flat on Undoolya Road. We didn’t have much, but we had drive, late nights, and a vision that somehow felt bigger than our little desk in that flat. Those were the days of pure hustle, when work meant getting your hands dirty, staying up too late, and believing you could make something out of nothing.
Since that first run, Sno’s Welding and ShadeTech have been on the calendar every single year. The
bellette deskpad has become one of those rare constants, still free, still landing on desks all over Alice Springs, a little piece of Territory tradition in a world where not much stays the same.
The early 2000s were wild - 500 TV commercials a year, Murray Neck Homeworld jingles, dancing car salesmen from Kittles, Peter Kittle’s robust salesman shaking the showroom floor, and Kings and Carla Furnishers battling it out every weekend. I just loved Saturday mornings at Murray Neck Homeworld, the music, the chaos, the buzz of retail in full swing. It was loud, fun, and full of life, when TV, radio, and newspapers ruled the world.
Fast forward to now, post-COVID, no one calls anymore. It’s all texts, emails, and endless notifications. The work’s changed. The world’s changed.
But the deskpad?
It’s still kicking, like that old pair of trackies you can’t part with. Reliable, familiar, and always there when you need it.
Here’s to the 2026 bellette deskpad - 28 years on and still flying. Come and pick yours up today!
Want more blogs?
Read on ...
June 19, 2026
Making it easier for Councils and Government organisations to access creative services. We’re excited to share that bellette is now an approved Local Buy Pre-Qualified Supplier under Marketing, Media, Print Services & Promotional Products (LB306). 🎉 This appointment means councils, local government organisations, and approved purchasers can engage bellette through the Local Buy procurement framework, providing a streamlined, compliant, and efficient pathway to access our creative and marketing services. For local government teams looking for trusted partners in design, content creation, photography, videography, print, branding, social media, or promotional products, we’re ready to help bring projects to life. What is Local Buy? Local Buy is the procurement partner of the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ), helping councils and approved purchasers access pre-qualified suppliers through compliant procurement arrangements. Local Buy’s arrangements are designed to simplify purchasing processes while ensuring suppliers meet rigorous assessment and compliance requirements. The Marketing, Media, Print Services & Promotional Products (LB306) arrangement provides councils and approved purchasers across Queensland, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory with access to pre-qualified suppliers for a broad range of creative, marketing, communication, print, and promotional services. What Services Can bellette Provide Through LB306? As a Local Buy approved supplier, bellette can support councils and government organisations with: Branding and Graphic Design Brand development and visual identity design Campaign creative Publications and reports Community engagement materials Signage and display assets Photography and Videography Corporate photography Community event coverage Tourism and destination content Promotional video production Project documentation Marketing and Communications Strategic marketing support Social media management Content creation Campaign development Community communication materials Print and Promotional Products Printed collateral and publications Event materials Branded merchandise Promotional products Campaign support materials These service categories align with the LB306 arrangement, which covers advertising and media, marketing and communications, creative services, printing and distribution, and promotional products. Why Work with a Local Buy Approved Supplier? Using a Local Buy pre-qualified supplier can help reduce procurement complexity and save valuable time for council teams. Because suppliers have already been assessed through the Local Buy framework, organisations can engage approved providers more efficiently while maintaining procurement compliance requirements. For councils, this means: Simplified procurement processes Access to vetted and compliant suppliers Reduced administrative burden Faster project delivery pathways Confidence in supplier capability and experience Supporting Communities Through Creative Storytelling At bellette, we believe great creative work helps communities connect, engage, and thrive. Whether it’s showcasing local events, promoting community initiatives, creating tourism content, producing annual reports, designing campaign assets, or delivering high-quality photography and video, we love helping organisations tell meaningful stories. Being appointed to the Local Buy LB306 arrangement allows us to work more closely with councils and government organisations that are making a positive impact in their communities. Let’s Work Together If you’re a council, local government organisation, statutory body, university, or approved purchaser looking for a Local Buy approved supplier for marketing, media, print services, creative projects , or promotional products, we’d love to chat. You can find bellette through the Local Buy supplier directory or contact us directly to discuss your next project.
March 8, 2026
Likes feel good. New followers are nice. A spike in engagement can be exciting. But here is the uncomfortable truth: Likes and followers do not automatically equal sales, leads, or business growth. We see a lot of organisations putting time, money, and energy into creative work without ever stopping to ask the most important question. Is this actually doing anything for the business? The problem with vanity metrics Likes, follows, impressions, and reach are what we call vanity metrics. They look impressive on the surface, but they rarely tell the full story. You can have: Thousands of followers and no enquiries High engagement and low conversions A beautifully designed website that no one acts on None of these things are failures creatively. They are failures strategically. Creative work is only doing its job if it supports a business outcome. Followers do not pay invoices This is where things often get misunderstood. An increase in followers does not automatically mean: More sales Better quality leads Increased trust Improved customer experience In fact, growth for the sake of growth can dilute your audience. Ten engaged, relevant followers who actually need your services are worth more than a thousand who are just scrolling past. The goal is not attention. The goal is the right attention. What creative impact actually looks like Creative impact shows up in quieter, more meaningful ways. Things like: Fewer questions from customers because information is clearer Better quality enquiries that already understand your value Shorter sales conversations Higher conversion rates on your website More confidence from stakeholders and decision-makers Less internal time spent fixing, explaining, or redoing These are not always flashy metrics, but they matter far more. Measuring what matters If you want to understand whether your creative work is working, look at metrics that connect directly to behaviour. For example: Website enquiries and where they come from Time spent on key pages Click-throughs from social posts to your website Conversion rates, not just traffic The quality of enquiries, not just the quantity Creative work should guide people somewhere, not just entertain them. Why strategy makes the difference This is why creative work without strategy often underperforms. When design, content, photography, SEO, and social are created in isolation, they compete for attention instead of supporting a clear journey. When everything is connected, creative work becomes easier to measure because it has a job to do. A post drives traffic. A website page answers questions. A call to action prompts a decision. That is impact. Creativity should earn its keep There is nothing wrong with wanting your brand to look good. But looking good is not the finish line. The most effective creative work: Supports business goals Reduces friction for customers Makes decisions easier Saves time for internal teams Likes are a by-product. Impact is the point. If you are wondering whether your creative is pulling its weight, let’s talk it through and work out what impact should look like for you.
February 8, 2026
Templates get a bad rap, but the truth is they can be incredibly useful when they are used for the right reasons. Professional design is not about doing everything the hard way. It is about choosing the right level of support for the job at hand. At bellette , we work with organisations across both ends of that spectrum. Some want tools they can manage in house. Others want the entire process handled by experts. Both approaches can work. The key is knowing which one you actually need. When a template makes sense Templates work well when: The content structure is predictable and consistent The document is short or relatively simple You have someone in house who is confident using professional design software Speed and internal control are the priority In these cases, we can design robust, well-considered templates that your team can use with confidence. We build them properly, with flexibility in mind, and make sure they are set up to avoid common layout and print issues. We can also step in for quality checks before print or publication, so you get the efficiency of a template without the risk. When professional design is the better option There are times when relying on a template will quietly create more work, not less. Professional design is often the better choice when: The document tells an evolving story year to year Page counts and content change significantly The document is high profile or externally scrutinised You are trying to demonstrate progress, leadership, or credibility Internal teams are already stretched In these situations, handing the full task to professionals removes pressure from your team and ensures the final result reflects the importance of the work. We manage the design, layout, content flow, and production details, making sure everything is cohesive, clear, and ready for print or digital delivery. The hidden difference is thinking, not software The value is not the program being used. It is the thinking behind it. Design decisions shape how information is understood, what gets noticed, and how your organisation is perceived. That level of judgement comes from experience, not from a file template. Templates are tools. Professional design is a service. A flexible approach that works long term Many of our clients choose a hybrid approach. Templates for day-to-day needs, supported by professional design for major reports, annual publications, or strategic documents. Others opt for an ongoing service agreement that provides consistency, flexibility, and expert oversight without having to start from scratch each time. There is no one-size-fits-all answer. And that is exactly the point. We are here either way Whether you want a template your team can manage internally, a full done-for-you service, or something in between, we can help. Our role is not to push you toward the most complex option. It is to make sure the approach you choose actually supports your goals, your people, and your capacity. Sometimes a template is the right tool. Sometimes professional design is the smarter investment. Knowing the difference makes all the difference. Whether you need a flexible template, full design support, or something in between, we can help you choose the right tool for the job. Get in touch with the team today.