Author: Gemma T

Brand and Creative Strategist

since when were great specialists great managers?

Posted on by Gemma T in Work

I spent last weekend with some uni mates, all now late-30's professionals. The hot topic of discussion at brunch was How Much I Hate Managing People. Which made this piece about keeping workers happy (via @tudehope1) particularly interesting because in it the CEO of training consultancy Happy points out that because not all people are good managers, there needs to … Continue reading since when were great specialists great managers? →

Am I working for a Digital/Content/Online/Social agency today? A freelancer’s guide

Posted on by Gemma T in agencies, digital

Sometimes agency positioning statements can be a little hard to interpret, for example 'supplying indigenous solutions to brand problems' doesn't really tell you what goes out of the door. So based on my experience, here's a handy checklist for freelancers who suspect they are, in fact, working for some kind of digital agency: - There … Continue reading Am I working for a Digital/Content/Online/Social agency today? A freelancer’s guide →

marketing to women is still 50 Shades of Pink

Posted on by Gemma T in Marketing

This week’s Election Buildup Big Idea from Labour is their ‘Woman to Woman’ campaign/tour where Deputy Leader of the Labour Party Harriet Harman MP and other Labour Party female big cheeses will tour the country, reaching out to the 9M women who didn't vote at the last election to discuss ‘what they want from Government … Continue reading marketing to women is still 50 Shades of Pink →

grocer demographics are getting difficult

Posted on by Gemma T in retail, trends

I went on a 'Retail Safari' earlier this week.  The aim was to update myself on a client's category, but during my day criss-crossing Leeds to visit five different grocery retailers I couldn't help but keep thinking about demographics. At 11am on a weekday morning a third of shoppers in the Lidl store I visited were carrying handbags … Continue reading grocer demographics are getting difficult →

more reasons behind yesterday’s Morrisons exit

Posted on by Gemma T in grocery, retail

Back to the Retail sector again and yesterday brought news that Morrisons' Chief Exec Dalton Phillips will be leaving his post in March, with the media variously reporting that he jumped or was pushed. Yesterday's news was full of so-called Retail Experts giving their opinions on why he went, but not one of the pundits … Continue reading more reasons behind yesterday’s Morrisons exit →

all hail the Power Part Timers

Posted on by Gemma T in agencies, trends, Work

Last week Timewise's 2014 Power Part Time List was published.  It proves, it says, that "part time working is possible at senior levels, in all types of business".  Included in this year's list from my industry (the whole list changes annually) are the Marketing Director at Diageo responsible for Smirnoff, the Senior Director for Marketing and Insights for … Continue reading all hail the Power Part Timers →

retailers need to bear in mind the Black Friday Backlash

Posted on by Gemma T in Campaigns, retail

So Black Friday has been and gone.  What interested me wasn't the enthusiasm with which UK retailers adopted this previously Stateside event, the clunky marketing that accompanied it or the depressing and predictably aggressive actions of some bargain hunters. What really surprised me was two things; firstly just how high awareness of the event now … Continue reading retailers need to bear in mind the Black Friday Backlash →