My facebook newsfeed has recently turned into a virtual version of exchange & mart (or even, say, ebay). It seems that some people are more comfortable buying and selling with friends-of-friends than from random strangers who have positive feedback from other random people (cough, ebay). So my network are merrily flogging second hand cars and … Continue reading the *other* facebook marketplace
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Does heel height need a rethink?
I own a pair of shoes, specifically purchased ‘for work’, that I can barely walk in. This wouldn’t have happened to me when I started work twelve plus years ago. Back then, Smart Work Shoes for Women could be divided neatly up into four categories: Flats – in the pre ballet shoe era, we’re mainly … Continue reading Does heel height need a rethink?
perhaps someone needs a hand with their packaging design?
Take a look at these handcreams (collected from around my house). Which is the odd one out? It’s the Dove, front right. Because it’s not actually a handcream. I’ve been using it for the last couple of nights and had gone from thinking that it was a funny consistency, to thinking it didn’t smell like … Continue reading perhaps someone needs a hand with their packaging design?
if owned online spaces are a house party, most brands should be out on the town
I had an, erm, lively conversation with a client recently when they suggested connecting with their target audience by “doing something with our facebook page”. Since I’d just spent the preceding ninety minutes telling them that the majority of their customers really wern't that bothered about or engaged with their brand and mostly bought it mainly … Continue reading if owned online spaces are a house party, most brands should be out on the town
X Factor finds a whole new use for iTunes
The main topic of conversation yesterday morning at the agency I was working in was, perhaps inevitably, X Factor. As we merrily critiqued last weekend's performances I remembered that at the end of every act a message appeared on screen directing you to the X Factor website (and then iTunes) to download the track you … Continue reading X Factor finds a whole new use for iTunes
All Bran’s sampling is all wrong
Just after I’d finished the previous post (I often write posts the day before to avoid that whole post-in-haste-and-then-it’s-stuck-on-the-interwebs-forever thing) I popped out to go to the post office and found this outside the front door: I guessed it was a sample. A smallish 8 servings sized box of All Bran Golden Crunch. The clue … Continue reading All Bran’s sampling is all wrong
PM or SP, it’s all about quality
I’ve started wading through the transcripts of last week’s focus groups*. The groups were for a food brand and when I asked respondents about promotions and in store sampling one lady piped up: My friend does it. Yeah she promotes things like that, she did cheese last time. I got quite a few cheese vouchers. … Continue reading PM or SP, it’s all about quality
thinking beyond the numbers
The other day I stumbled across this rather fab video of Robbie Williams strutting his stuff at Kebworth in 2003. I knew there had been a lot of people there, but this shot made me wonder how many... That’s 125,000 people, right there. Or to put it another way 0.2% of the UK population. 0.2% … Continue reading thinking beyond the numbers
the sun has got his hat on – but snow is on the way
We’re enjoying some unseasonable weather here in the UK, with temperatures that would be impressive for high Summer, let alone mid Autumn. This heatwave has been unexpected and we all know it can’t last – so as a nation we seem determined to make the most of it. Asda is reporting record sales of burgers … Continue reading the sun has got his hat on – but snow is on the way
what happens when the brand’s frontline doesn’t deliver – and why we should be bothered
The last couple of weeks for me have been about contrasts in customer service. And they’ve all been frontline contact, whether face to face or on the phone. Take Holiday Inn Express. Their website promises an improved experience with “Real Service. Really.” But trying to book a meeting room and couple of bedrooms was more … Continue reading what happens when the brand’s frontline doesn’t deliver – and why we should be bothered