I mentioned in a post a couple of weeks ago about the undiscovered mine of FREE information that is your local Central Library’s Business/Information centre. Since in Freelance Land I don’t have the luxury of access to desk research resources like Mintel and back issues of the trade press I’ve really rediscovered the library and am … Continue reading I love the library
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Planner’s time utilisation report
what would yours look like?
the view from the other side of the research fence
I needed to get a quote from a research agency today. For the first time in eight years I don’t have the luxury of an in-house research department and it’s been a real eye-opener. Using the excellent MRS Research Buyers Guide as a starting point, I knew I’d like to work with someone local as I … Continue reading the view from the other side of the research fence
the kind of Beta I wouldn’t mind working in
Since I’m slightly obsessed with Creative Spaces, I’m all for Italian furniture maker Tecno’s new Beta range of office furniture. Its a ‘workplace system’ designed for creative offices that has not only been designed to easily evolve over time but also seems to allow everyone their own little bit of personal space – something sadly lacking … Continue reading the kind of Beta I wouldn’t mind working in
There’s no such thing as normal or loyal anymore
I’ve come to the conclusion that we can no-longer talk about ‘normal’. Or ‘average’, ‘typical’, ‘loyal’, even ‘regular’ customers / shoppers / consumers / target audience. You see, the customer, consumer or whatever grew up. They got savvy. The recession forced them to reappraise their shopping behaviour. They started visiting different supermarkets, haggling with furniture … Continue reading There’s no such thing as normal or loyal anymore
Sherlock and three patch problems
I’ve been enjoying Sherlock on BBC1 (first episode AMAZING, second one merely gripping) and it struck me as Sherlock gazed intently at a load of data stuck on the wall and tried to make sense of it that he'd make a great Planner. Well, obviously not great in the being-nice-to-clients and empathising-with-Asda-Mums sense, but in … Continue reading Sherlock and three patch problems
The outlook for Christmas 2010 is digital
The predicted top ten best-selling toys for Christmas 2010 have been announced – and they’re all basically digital (whatever happened to creative play?). The maddest of them all is Barbie Video Girl, who has a video camera lens in her necklace and playback screen embedded in her back: It looks like we’re going to have … Continue reading The outlook for Christmas 2010 is digital
comparing and contrasting agency shop floors
In my new freelance life I‘ve been having lots of meetings with local agencies. From one man bands to UK top 30 agencies and from start-ups to old timers I’ve sat in a lot of agency receptions recently and it’s been a real eye opener. I’ve been amazed at the sheer diversity of approaches to … Continue reading comparing and contrasting agency shop floors
and exactly what is it you do again?
Since my recent change in work circumstances, friends and family have kindly asked how it’s all going, followed the tentative “erm…tell me what it is you do again?” Rather than haul out the good old ‘voice of the consumer’ explanation one more time (and when you’re not in an agency 247 that becomes harder to … Continue reading and exactly what is it you do again?
packaging – simply less is more
Around this time last year I posted some examples of packaging that had (and in some cases hadn’t) stood the test of time. Today I found another contender for the title of design so retro it looks fresh in the back of a cupboard: It reminded me that sometimes less is more.