Terms & Conditions

1. Definitions

In these Terms and Conditions:

• “Hippocampus”, “we”, “us” or “the Consultant” means Hippocampus Creative Marketing.

• “Client” or “you” means the person, business or organisation commissioning services from Hippocampus.

• “Project” means the services, deliverables or work agreed between Hippocampus and the Client.

• “Proposal” or “Estimate” means any written quotation, scope of work, package outline or email setting out the services and fees.

By approving a Proposal, Estimate or scope of work, whether in writing or verbally, the Client agrees to these Terms and Conditions.

2. Quotations, Estimates and Acceptance

All Proposals and Estimates are valid for 30 days unless otherwise stated.

Approval may be given by email, message, purchase order or verbal confirmation. Once approved, this forms a binding agreement between Hippocampus and the Client.

Any work requested outside the agreed scope may require a revised Estimate or additional fees.

3. Fees and Payment

For project-based work, a 50% non-refundable deposit is payable before work begins unless otherwise agreed in writing.

The remaining balance is due upon final approval and before final delivery, release or handover.

For monthly retainers or ongoing consulting packages, fees and payment terms will be set out in a separate Marketing Consulting Agreement or Proposal.

Invoices are payable within 7 days unless otherwise agreed in writing.

We reserve the right to charge interest on overdue amounts in line with the Bank of England base rate and to suspend work or withhold delivery until all outstanding balances are paid.

4. Scope, Revisions and Additional Work

Projects include the agreed scope of work and any revision rounds stated in the Proposal.

Unless otherwise stated, reasonable revisions are included up to the point of final approval. Additional amends, redrafts, meetings or work outside the agreed scope are chargeable at our standard hourly or day rate.

If the Client changes the brief, delays decisions, or requests substantial additional work after approval, we may issue a revised Proposal or Estimate before continuing.

5. Client Responsibilities

The Client agrees to provide all content, information, access, approvals and feedback reasonably required for the Project in a timely manner.

The Client is responsible for the accuracy, legality and ownership of any materials supplied to us, including text, images, logos, data and claims.

Where delays are caused by the Client, project timings may be adjusted and interim invoices may be issued for work completed to date.

6. Marketing Advice and Commercial Outcomes

Hippocampus provides marketing strategy, consultancy, copywriting, planning and related services based on professional judgement, experience and the information available at the time.

Unless explicitly agreed otherwise in writing, we do not guarantee specific results, including but not limited to sales, enquiries, leads, conversions, rankings, audience growth or revenue.

Final decisions regarding implementation, compliance, internal approval, media spend, legal sign-off and commercial action remain the Client’s responsibility.

7. Proofing and Approval

It is the Client’s responsibility to review and approve all content, copy, proofs, artwork, layouts and final deliverables carefully before publication, print, upload or launch.

Hippocampus is not liable for errors, omissions or inaccuracies once approval has been given by the Client or the Client’s authorised representative.

8. Intellectual Property

All intellectual property rights in final deliverables created specifically for the Client under the Project shall transfer to the Client only once full payment has been received, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Hippocampus retains ownership of:

• pre-existing intellectual property

• working methods, frameworks and processes

• templates, workshop materials and proposal documents

• draft materials, working files and internal notes

• any concepts or materials not selected or not fully paid for

Where third-party materials are used, including stock imagery, fonts, photography, illustrations, software or licensed assets, ownership and usage rights remain subject to the relevant third-party licence terms.

9. Third-Party Suppliers and Services

Where we arrange or recommend third-party services, such as designers, developers, printers, media platforms, photographers or software providers, those services may be subject to the third party’s own terms and performance.

We will use reasonable care in selecting suppliers where engaged through us, but we are not liable for delays, defects, errors, outages or failures caused by third parties outside our reasonable control.

The Client remains responsible for any third-party fees, subscriptions, licence costs or media spend unless expressly included in our Proposal.

10. Partner Delivery by Luli Creative

Where a Project includes branding, design, website design, website build, print artwork, merchandise or related creative production delivered by Luli Creative, those services may be carried out by Luli Creative as a delivery partner.

Such services will be governed by the agreed Proposal and, where applicable, Luli Creative’s own service terms in relation to payment structure, revisions, delivery, proofing, ownership of working files and production-related responsibilities.

Hippocampus will not be liable for issues arising solely from third-party production, print, hosting, development or supplier performance outside our direct control.

11. Portfolio and Promotional Use

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, Hippocampus may refer to the completed Project and display non-confidential work in our portfolio, website, social media, case studies, presentations and marketing materials.

If the Client requires confidentiality or wishes to delay publication of the work, this must be agreed in writing in advance.

12. Liability

Nothing in these Terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or any liability which cannot be excluded by law.

Subject to this, Hippocampus shall not be liable for any indirect or consequential loss, including but not limited to loss of profit, sales, contracts, reputation, opportunity, data or anticipated savings.

Our total liability in connection with any Project shall not exceed the total fees paid by the Client for the relevant Project or, in the case of an ongoing monthly agreement, one month’s fee unless otherwise stated in writing.

13. Suspension, Cancellation and Termination

If the Client cancels a Project after work has begun, we reserve the right to invoice for all work completed, committed costs incurred and time scheduled up to the date of cancellation.

Deposits are non-refundable.

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate work where invoices remain unpaid, the Client breaches these Terms, or the working relationship becomes unworkable.

14. Force Majeure

Neither party shall be liable for delay or failure to perform its obligations where caused by events beyond reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, fire, flood, war, industrial dispute, power failure, platform outage, supplier failure or government action.

Project timelines affected by such events shall be adjusted accordingly.

15. Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

Any dispute arising in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.