Introducing Elanor from the sheet music marketing team

We are delighted to introduce Elanor Caunt who joined OUP’s sheet music marketing department in September 2016 and is based in the Oxford offices. We sat down to talk to her about what a typical day marketing sheet music looks like, what life on a desert island should involve, and the ‘interesting’ wildlife of Oxford.

When did you start working at OUP?

I joined the OUP sheet music department as Marketing Manager at the start of September 2016. This was not my first foray into the world of OUP, because I also spent some time working with OUP’s English Language Teaching (ELT) Division in 2015/16.

What is your typical day like at OUP?

A typical day always starts with a cup of tea and a quick email check. Then it might include attending a meeting about social media, writing the copy for an advert, putting together a marketing plan for a new publication, briefing a designer on a flier and updating the budget with the latest figures. I always try to fit lunch in and can’t work late due to family commitments, so I am usually pretty focused when I am at my desk.

What’s the most enjoyable part of your day?

Something I always enjoy is my walk to work every morning along a nice stretch of the Oxford canal. Whatever the time of year, it’s always peaceful. The canal boats change every day and you see all kinds of wildlife – squirrels, ducks, geese, swans, birds. It’s a good time to think.

What is the strangest thing currently on or in your desk?

Probably my large bottle of intensive skin moisturiser. Is it marshmallow? Is it jelly? Is it foam? People just really aren’t sure what to make of it, but it makes a great noise when you shake it around in the bottle…

What was your first job in publishing?

My first publishing job many moons ago was with the Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators (ICSA) in London. I loved the wide variety of tasks I got to work on, and learnt a lot about the real practicalities of publishing.

If you didn’t work in publishing, what would you be doing?

Probably working in the music industry somewhere, somehow. After completing a music degree, my first job was working in the box office of the Wigmore Hall in London, which was an absolutely wonderful environment full of talented people. It was a hard decision to leave to complete my publishing diploma although I don’t really have any regrets.

If you could trade places with any one person for a week, who would it be and why?

I think I often fail to really appreciate the good things I have in life. So I would probably want to trade places with someone that would help me learn how to be more grateful for these.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you take with you?

If I am allowed people, I would take my little boy, but I doubt that is allowed. So in that case I would say… a lifetime supply of teabags, a large mug and a cow (for the milk, obviously). A cup of tea solves (almost) all things in my world.

What drew you to work for OUP in the first place?

I was drawn to work for OUP because the mission and purpose of the organisation fits nicely with my own view that education and learning has the infinite capacity to change the world for the better.

What is your favourite word?

Interesting… I sometimes use this word to buy me thinking time when I can’t work out how to respond immediately; someone would need to know me very well to tell whether I am genuinely interested in what they are saying or not.

Featured image: Piano keys and manuscript. CC0 via Pixabay.