WITH the ongoing transformation and regeneration of the city centre, there is a chance that some small creative businesses could get squeezed out.

We want to promote regeneration in the Baltic Triangle area of the city and champion our high-growth creative businesses.

The area, which stretches from Wapping to Parliament Street and includes Park Road and St James Street, already hosts organisations including the New Picket and the Novas Contemporary Urban Centre.

LIVERPOOL has been chosen as the venue for a live design tournament which will take place during Design Show Liverpool.

The Cut&Paste digital design tournament will bring together the region's emerging graphic designers who will compete head-to-head and against the clock in a series of design challenges.

LIVERPOOL businesses are increasingly using art as a tool for improving performance in Capital of Culture year.

Rensburg Sheppards, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce and Liverpool-based Riverside Housing Group are among the organisations that have incorporated art into their corporate strategies.

Firms use art to have a positive impact on staff and visitors, and improve their perception of an organisation.

TEXT message marketing specialist www.txtlocal.com has been signed up to work with cosmetics giant Estee Lauder.

The company has been chosen to work with internet marketing firm 77Agency, to look after the national text promotions campaign for Estee Lauder.

IT'S BEST KNOWN as a music festival - but the South by South West (SXSW) music industry event in Texas was also a showcase for Merseyside's creative businesses.

The music and film technology trade fair took over the state capital, Austin, last week and a delegation from Liverpool and the North West was there to sell the region's creative talent to a worldwide audience.

As well as the music festival itself, SXSW also boasts a music trade fair and a music industry conference.

Merseyside firms represented included Liverpool digital marketing agency Creative Cultures and record label Deltasonic.

IT WAS once said "all progress occurs because people dare to be different" and in business this is especially true.

Leading companies recognise that the development of a successful brand is a critical component of their business.

Effective design can distinguish you from your competitors. You neglect the powerful impact design can have at your peril.

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LIVERPOOL musicians can tap into the American music market when a US radio executive visits the city.

Dori Hayman is the creative director for six radio Maryland stations which are owned by media conglomerate Clear Channel.

Her visit to the UK is being hosted by music development project Country Roots 6LV, which aims to commercialise the city's music output through Liverpool's long-standing links with the United States.

Mike Swift, the Southport radio producer and presenter who started the project, said Ms Hayman's visit was based on strong links between Liverpool and America.

LIVERPOOL-BASED web development agency Mando Group has re-launched www.capcom-europe.com for international games giant Capcom Europe.

Mando has developed and managed the site for more than six years.

MERSEYSIDE creative firms have been winning business at French Riviera property festival MIPIM.

The Riviera event is the world's biggest property festival, and every year Liverpool has a stand at the event as it bids to attract investment from around the globe.

The focus may be on property, but the supporters of Liverpool's delegation include several creative firms - and they say that by networking at MIPIM they are winning business that could be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.