The Tail Behind the Tagline

Before 1997, before bellette was even a thing, I was working for other media companies, selling airtime, ads, and what I now know was a broken idea.

Everyone was an “expert.” Agencies full of buzzwords, all talking about top of mind awareness. That was the holy grail. ROI wasn’t a word anyone wanted to hear.


You just threw money at it and hoped it stuck. It drove me nuts.
I couldn’t keep selling something that didn’t work, so I went looking for answers.


That’s when the early days of bellette began. I was knee-deep in creating ads - fast, rough, full of trial and error. We’d be out there at 7 a.m., camera in hand, filming Greg Neck trying to get his lines out while Chris stood off to the side giving him a hard time every time he messed one up, it was raw, loud, and full of life.


Those mornings were pure Territory chaos, but they taught me something important. You could see what worked. You could watch the ads go live, see people walk through the doors, buy the product, and walk out smiling.

That was real ROI, a feeling that what you created actually mattered. That’s what drove me in those early days of bellette, chasing that same sense of return.

When I spoke about that idea to new clients, it felt hollow.
ROI sounded like a pitch line, it wasn't a purpose. I knew it meant something, I just didn’t have the anchor yet. Not until later, when a book in a bargain bin set me straight.


Every weekend I’d wander into Dymocks, back when Bev Ellis owned it in the Alice Plaza, and dig through the bargain bin looking for answers. Old marketing books, sales guides, psychology reads — anything I could get my hands on. Then one day, buried deep in the pile, I found a little purple book by Seth Godin — Purple Cow.


Inside was a line that stopped me cold:

“You’re either remarkable or invisible. Make your product worth talking about, or you’ll fade away.”

That was it. That was the spark.


It made me realise that everyone, no matter who they are or what they do, should be famous for what they do. Not famous for shouting louder, but for being remarkable.


That’s where bellette really began.


Back then it was just Kate, Bear, and me, late nights, caffeine, and pure stubbornness in a one-bedroom flat on Undoolya Road. Then many years later came Jim and Fred, who’ve grown up right in the middle of it all. 


Over the years, plenty of people have said, “I don’t get it.” Even a few old bellette crew couldn’t see it. But it’s stuck. Every part of me still wants to do this, to make the world see you, know you, and understand what makes you remarkable.


Like Shrek says, “Ogres are like onions, they have layers.”


So do people. So do brands.


The first ten years of bellette were all about ROI - Return on Investment.


We helped retailers measure what worked, what sold, and what didn’t.


But as bellette grew, so did the meaning. Now ROI means Return on Impact.


These days, we work with councils, NGOs, and government organisations, helping them show the difference they make. Because when you run a great council, deliver services that matter, or do something that changes lives - you should be known for it.


Many years later too, Jim and Fred are famous in their own right, which I’m not sure they enjoy. But just like the tagline, the world knows them for who they are and what they bring to the world.

Jim brings the dangerous curiosity, seeing the detail others miss.
Fred brings the quirky creative, unfiltered, and full of spark.

Together they balance each other out, just like the best in brothers should do. But not because of me, but because they’ve become the living embodiment of it. They’re proof that being famous isn’t about followers or noise, it’s about being known for what you bring to the table, and doing it with purpose.


That’s what we do.


We don’t just make stuff.
We make you known.
We make you seen.
We make you famous.


Because it’s not about us
It’s about you.


You do something well. You make a difference.
And we’ll make sure the world knows it.


Here’s to the next chapter of bellette, still chasing the purple cow, still making the good ones famous. Nearly three decades on, and we’re just getting started.

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Celebrating another year of the bellette deskpad

By Brad Bellette • December 12, 2025
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!

Pretty Posts Don’t Pay. Smart Strategy Does.

December 7, 2025
Attention is nice. Enquiries pay the bills. We all love a good spike in reach. Likes, comments, shares, DMs. That sweet little buzz that says, “Hey, people are paying attention.” But here’s the truth: attention alone doesn’t keep the lights on. A viral post without a call to action is like a packed shop with no checkout counter. People wander in, love what they see… and leave without ever buying a thing. That’s not a win. That’s a leak. Where most brands go wrong Plenty of businesses put everything into creating content that looks great — the reel, the blog, the post, the glossy video. But if there’s no next step, that energy goes nowhere. Every piece of content needs a job: A button that gets clicked. A link that drives traffic. A prompt that turns a scroll into a conversation. Because if you don’t make it easy for people to act, they won’t. The simple formula for turning views into value Attention → earned through great storytelling, scroll-stopping visuals, and content that actually means something. Conversion → captured with smart CTAs, friction-free forms, and crystal-clear pathways. Nurture → sustained through email, follow-ups, and content that keeps your brand front of mind. This isn’t rocket science. It’s strategy with purpose. Content should work as hard as you do Your posts shouldn’t just “look good.” They should move someone to click, sign up, buy, or start a conversation. That’s the difference between noise and momentum. Between vanity metrics and actual business growth. Ready to turn attention into enquiries? We’ll make you famous — and busy. Get in touch today . Meet the team behind the magic: bellette.com.au/about

Why Film Your Training Day?

December 2, 2025
If you’re running an organisation or working in Alice Springs, you already know the score: staff shortages are biting, and the talent pool is more like a puddle.  With vacancy rates soaring and everyone scrambling for the same handful of great people, how do you stand out? Here’s a hint: it’s not another dry job ad or a dusty careers page. It’s video. Why Film Your Training Day? (Hint: It’s Not Just for the Memories) Let’s get real. Training days are where your culture shines. They’re the moments when your team learns, laughs, and bonds. But if you’re not capturing that energy on video, you’re missing a golden opportunity especially in Alice Springs, where word of mouth is everything and Local Government roles need to look more appealing than ever. A professionally filmed training day does more than tick a compliance box. It shows potential recruits what it’s really like to work with you. It’s proof that you invest in your people, that you care about growth, and that your team is more than just a list of names on a roster. Alice Springs: Small Town, Big Competition Let’s face it: Alice Springs isn’t Sydney or Melbourne. The talent pool is small, and your organisation is competing with every other sector for the same skilled people. When you’re staring down a 40% vacancy rate, you need every edge you can get. That’s where video comes in. A slick, authentic training day video lets you: Showcase your real team (not just stock photos) Highlight your values and culture (the stuff that actually matters to job seekers) Scale your word of mouth (because video travels faster than gossip in the Todd Tavern) What Makes People Move? (Spoiler: It’s Not Just the Pay) People don’t move to Alice Springs—or switch jobs—just for a pay cheque. They want to know they’ll belong, be supported, and have a chance to grow. A great video answers those questions in seconds. It shows your team’s energy, your commitment to training, and the real faces behind your organisation. Video: Your Recruitment Secret Weapon In 2026, video isn’t a “nice to have”—it’s your best bait in a small pond. Here’s why: Emotional connection: Video lets candidates feel your vibe before they even apply. Stand out online: Social feeds are crowded. A dynamic, authentic video grabs attention and sticks. Build trust: People want to see the real deal, not just read about it. Ready to Fill Those Seats? If you’re serious about attracting top talent to your Alice Springs Local Government team, stop telling and start showing. Film your next training day. Make it real, make it fun, make it Bellette. Because in a small town, you need the best bait. And in 2026, that’s video. Want to see how it’s done? Get in touch and let’s make your next training day the recruitment magnet you need. It’s not too late to start January 2026 with a full team.
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