Your marketing should
be as strong as the
business behind it.
AQUASLAVA is a strategic marketing studio helping marine, yachting and premium hospitality businesses become clearer, more visible and better connected.
Where good businesses get stuck
You can have an expertly designed yacht, a premium destination property or exceptional marine technology and still struggle to communicate what makes it worth choosing.
Often, the expertise inside the business is stronger than the way it is brought to market.AQUASLAVA exists to close that gap.
We work best with businesses where reputation and relationships matter.
Marine. Commercial marine businesses operating in specialist B2B markets from vessel builders and marine engineering companies to equipment manufacturers, technical consultancies and specialist suppliers.
Yachting. Businesses across the leisure yachting ecosystem, such as yacht builders and shipyards, designers, brokerages, charter and management companies, refit specialists, marinas and specialist suppliers.
Premium Hospitality. Experience-led hospitality businesses including premium villas, boutique resorts, destination properties, retreats and distinctive stays where reputation and experience influence bookings.
A different perspective on marketing.
Strategy before activity. More marketing is not automatically better marketing. We start with what the business is trying to achieve.
Inside understanding. Outside perspective. We understand how specialist and relationship-led markets work, while bringing cross-industry experience that challenges familiar assumptions.
Human first. Behind every buyer, partner, operator or decision-maker is a person. Trust, reputation and relationships matter.
Ideas that go somewhere. Creative thinking is valuable when it leads somewhere, whether that means stronger positioning, better conversations, increased visibility or commercial opportunity.
How We Work
Clients can use one, combine two or bring all three together around a larger commercial objective.Some businesses may only need Direction. Others may already have a strategy and need Creation, while some may come directly to AQUASLAVA for Access.
#1 Direction
Know what your marketing needs to do next.Get clear on where to focus, what to say, who you need to reach and what should happen next.From positioning and messaging to campaigns, content direction, buyer journeys and market-entry thinking, Direction is shaped around what your business is trying to achieve.
#2 Creation
Make it happen.Turn clear direction into practical marketing activity designed around a real business objective.From launches and social content to sales materials and show support, Creation gives you the marketing activity and assets needed to move the plan forward.
#3 Access
Get in front of the right people.Identify, approach and build relationships with the partners, organisations and markets that could help move your business forward.From partnership development and market entry to pitch preparation, targeted outreach and selected introductions, Access helps turn visibility into opportunity.
AQUASLAVA was founded by Preslava McCarthy, a marketing strategist with over a decade of experience spanning strategic marketing, brand development, PR, advertising, content, events and partnerships.Her career has included agency and media work supporting major brands such as Microsoft, Unilever, British Gas, Vauxhall and AkzoNobel, followed by hands-on marketing and hospitality experience in the UK and Antigua and Barbuda.
Preslava later spent five years working directly within the international marine industry, becoming Senior Marketing Manager and part of the senior leadership team of an international marine business. Her role brought together marketing strategy, brand positioning, content, partnerships, events and wider commercial decision-making.Her industry work has included partnership projects with METSTRADE, organising and managing the Young Designer 2023 competition at Southampton International Boat Show as part of Marine Resources’ Future Talent initiative, and speaking at marine industry and university events.
She also created and produced the Inside Marine podcast, personally securing guests from organisations including Feadship, Princess Yachts, Fraser Yachts, Winch Design, Olesinski, Pascoe International, Premier Marinas, IBI Magazine and Savvy Navvy. The podcast reached listeners across 47 countries.Preslava completed the Yachting Masterclass at La Belle Classe Academy by Yacht Club de Monaco, developing a broader understanding of the international yachting ecosystem, spanning yacht building, design and engineering, ownership, charter, management, refit, regulation, marinas and marketing.
Today, that combination of sector knowledge, senior marketing experience and broader commercial perspective shapes how AQUASLAVA works: understanding the business first, finding the opportunities that matter and turning them into clear, practical marketing direction.
AQUASLAVA was founded by Preslava McCarthy, a marketing strategist with over a decade of experience spanning strategic marketing, brand development, PR, advertising, content, events and partnerships.Her career has included agency and media work supporting major brands such as Microsoft, Unilever, British Gas, Vauxhall and AkzoNobel, followed by hands-on marketing and hospitality experience in the UK and Antigua and Barbuda.
Preslava later spent five years working directly within the international marine industry, becoming Senior Marketing Manager and part of the senior leadership team of an international marine business. Her role brought together marketing strategy, brand positioning, content, partnerships, events and wider commercial decision-making.Her industry work has included partnership projects with METSTRADE, organising and managing the Young Designer 2023 competition at Southampton International Boat Show as part of Marine Resources’ Future Talent initiative, and speaking at marine industry and university events.
She also created and produced the Inside Marine podcast, personally securing guests from organisations including Feadship, Princess Yachts, Fraser Yachts, Winch Design, Olesinski, Pascoe International, Premier Marinas, IBI Magazine and Savvy Navvy. The podcast reached listeners across 47 countries.Preslava completed the Yachting Masterclass at La Belle Classe Academy by Yacht Club de Monaco, developing a broader understanding of the international yachting ecosystem, spanning yacht building, design and engineering, ownership, charter, management, refit, regulation, marinas and marketing.
Today, that combination of sector knowledge, senior marketing experience and broader commercial perspective shapes how AQUASLAVA works: understanding the business first, finding the opportunities that matter and turning them into clear, practical marketing direction.
Gallery
Explore some of AQUASLAVA's highlights throughout the years.
The Marketing Direction Sprint (£299): A 90 minute session where you leave with your main marketing priority, clearer audience focus, three priority actions, and a short Action Plan.
what's next
What does your marketing actually need next?
If you're not sure, start with a focused Marketing Direction Sprint. If you know what you need, let's talk.
Route 1. "I am not sure what to prioritise"
Don't waste budget on random activity. The Marketing Direction Sprint is a focused 90-minute strategic session designed to identify where your marketing should focus and what needs attention. This is a standalone, decision-making product, not a disguised sales call.
How it works: You complete a short questionnaire before the session so we understand your business and goals.
What you leave with: A clearer audience and messaging focus, your biggest gaps identified, three priority actions, and a short Marketing Direction Action Plan.
The investment: £299. No ongoing commitment required.
Route 2. "I know what I need"
If you already know what you need, whether that is a dedicated campaign, yacht show and event preparation, ongoing marketing execution, or targeted partnership development, you can enquire directly.
How it works: Tell us what you're working towards. We will review your commercial objectives and schedule an initial conversation to see if there is a strong fit.
What you leave with: A tailored approach. Larger Direction, Creation, and Access projects are scoped entirely around your objective, complexity, and the exact level of support required.
FEEDBACK
What Our Clients Say
"Preslava brought a fresh, positive and distinctive look and feel to our marketing, helping us stand out..."
- James Ward, Marine Resources
"We used AQUASLAVA for a recent project to create some external digital assets. Their consultative approach was great, asking all the right questions... The finished products encompassed exactly what we wanted to achieve."
- Ed Ewer, SYR
"Preslava's attention to detail... ensured every project was executed to the highest standard."
- Caroline Vooght, Marketing Manager
FAQs & Next Steps
Direction
Know what your marketing needs to do next.
Direction helps you step back from the day-to-day and work out where your marketing should focus, what needs to change and what should happen next.We work with you to sharpen your positioning, priorities, audience, messaging and campaigns so your time and budget go into the activity most likely to move the business forward.Direction is available either as a focused strategic project around a specific challenge or opportunity, or as ongoing senior marketing direction when you need experienced strategic input and decision support over time.
Direction can include:
Positioning and proposition refinement
Messaging and value proposition
Audience prioritisation
Buyer journey mapping
Campaign direction
Content direction
Marketing priorities and planning
Launch or market-entry strategy
Trade show or event marketing direction
Identifying gaps in the current marketing approach
Monthly strategic guidance and decision support
Positioning and proposition refinement
Messaging and value proposition
Audience prioritisation
Buyer journey mapping
Campaign direction
Content direction
Marketing priorities and planning
Launch or market-entry strategy
Trade show or event marketing direction
Identifying gaps in the current marketing approach
Monthly strategic guidance and decision support
Not sure where to start?
Marketing Direction Sprint
Get clear on what your marketing should focus on next.The Marketing Direction Sprint is a focused 90 minute strategy session for businesses that know their marketing could be working harder, but aren’t sure what to prioritise next.We look at where you are now, what you’re trying to achieve and what may be getting in the way, then identify the marketing priorities most likely to move things forward.This is not a sales call or a generic marketing review. It is a focused piece of strategic consultancy designed to help you make better decisions about what happens next.
What happens
Before the session, you’ll complete a short questionnaire so we can understand your business, current marketing and immediate priorities.During the 90 minute session, we’ll work through the key challenge or opportunity, looking at areas such as your audience, positioning, messaging, priorities and current marketing activity.Afterwards, you’ll receive your Marketing Direction Action Plan with the key priorities and recommended next steps from the session.
What you leave with
Greater clarity on where your marketing should focus
A clearer view of the main challenge or opportunity
Three priority actions
Practical recommended next steps
Your Marketing Direction Action Plan
Price: £299
Once payment is complete, you’ll be able to choose an available session time. You’ll then receive your confirmation and short pre-session questionnaire.
Creation
Make it happen.
Creation turns clear direction into practical marketing activity built around what your business is trying to achieve.That might mean developing a campaign, creating the content and materials to support a launch, strengthening your social presence, preparing for a trade show or event, or producing the assets your sales and marketing activity needs to work properly.The focus isn't on creating more for the sake of it. It's about creating the right things, for the right reason.
Creation can include:
Content creation
Campaign development and delivery
Social media management
Copywriting and messaging assets
Video and short-form content
Brochures, presentations and marketing collateral
Launch materials
Sales and partner-facing materials
Digital marketing coordination
AI-supported marketing tools and workflows
Trade show, yacht show and exhibition support
Content creation
Campaign development and delivery
Social media management
Copywriting and messaging assets
Video and short-form content
Brochures, presentations and marketing collateral
Launch materials
Sales and partner-facing materials
Digital marketing coordination
AI-supported marketing tools and workflows
Trade show, yacht show and exhibition support
Show up properly - online, in-market and in the room.
Show & Event Support
If you're investing in a yacht show, trade show, exhibition or industry event, we can help make sure the marketing around it works just as hard as your presence there.Support can cover the activity before, during and after the event, helping you build awareness beforehand, show up strongly while you're there and continue the conversation afterwards.
Show & Event Support can include:
Pre-show campaign planning
Launch announcements
Event-specific content plans
Brochures and supporting materials
Pitch or presentation decks
Social content before, during and after the event
On-site content capture
Interviews and short-form video
Partner or dealer activation materials
Post-event follow-up content
Campaigns designed to extend the value of attending the show
Pre-show campaign planning
Launch announcements
Event-specific content plans
Brochures and supporting materials
Pitch or presentation decks
Social content before, during and after the event
On-site content capture
Interviews and short-form video
Partner or dealer activation materials
Post-event follow-up content
Campaigns designed to extend the value of attending the show
Access
Get in front of the right people.
Access helps you move beyond simply being visible and into the conversations, relationships and opportunities that could move your business forward.We help you work out who matters, why they should be interested and how best to approach them.That might mean entering a new market, identifying potential partners or distributors, preparing for an important commercial conversation or building a more targeted business-development approach.Where an appropriate relationship exists, AQUASLAVA may also facilitate an introduction.
Access can include:
Partnership strategy and development
New-market and new-segment support
Identifying relevant organisations, companies or individuals
Partner, dealer or distributor targeting
Commercial introduction strategy
Direct introductions where appropriate
Business development support
Collaboration and co-marketing opportunities
Pitch preparation
Partner propositions and supporting materials
Outreach messaging and approach strategy
Preparation for meetings and commercial conversations
Industry event and networking strategy
Identifying relevant associations, media and industry relationships
Follow-up strategy after introductions, shows or meetings
Partnership strategy and development
New-market and new-segment support
Identifying relevant organisations, companies or individuals
Partner, dealer or distributor targeting
Commercial introduction strategy
Direct introductions where appropriate
Business development support
Collaboration and co-marketing opportunities
Pitch preparation
Partner propositions and supporting materials
Outreach messaging and approach strategy
Preparation for meetings and commercial conversations
Industry event and networking strategy
Identifying relevant associations, media and industry relationships
Follow-up strategy after introductions, shows or meetings
A relationship-led approach
Access isn't about selling contact lists or promising introductions, meetings or commercial outcomes.Where a relevant relationship exists, we may help open the door. But the focus is on helping you identify the right opportunities, strengthen the reason to approach them and create better conditions for the right conversations to happen.
Contact Us
Marketing Direction Sprint
Pre-session Questionnaire