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
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considering competence
I stumbled across this great piece about the stages of competence. Regular readers will not be surprised to learn that it was on the DressageToday website, but the message is relevant across, basically, everything – rather than be frustrated by your perceived incompetence at something new, you should embrace it as part of the learning … Continue reading considering competence
marketing to women is still 50 Shades of Pink
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
Amazon’s Fire Phone – a victim of going after Cool not Convenience
I read this great FastCompany piece about Amazon's Fire Phone debacle last week (whoever sent me the link, thank you!) and keep coming back to the point the article makes that the smartphone launch failed because Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos was trying to make a cool, premium device to help move Amazon towards being more of a lifestyle brand. Unfortunately … Continue reading Amazon’s Fire Phone – a victim of going after Cool not Convenience
grocer demographics are getting difficult
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
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
when sectors are closer than you think
My blog posts in late 2014 were heavily retail focused as I was working on several projects in that area at the time and anyway the run up to Christmas is always a fascinating time in retail. However 2015 has brought a big Education project my way and I've been suprised to find massive parallels … Continue reading when sectors are closer than you think
all hail the Power Part Timers
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
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
Aldi’s festive door drop is after everyone’s customers
The Christmas door drop from Aldi arrived today and has got me rather confused about who exactly they're targeting. This page feels like its going after Sainsbury's shoppers with 'Specially Selected' salmon, lobster and scallops: While this page is very much after the Iceland value frozen party food shopper: And this page is remarkably similar … Continue reading Aldi’s festive door drop is after everyone’s customers