I work for an agency that is very, very excited about the way that data science, machine learning and artificial intelligence are going to significantly change marketing, not least because all of the above will free us to spend less time knee deep in spreadsheets and Google Analytics and more time thinking (and in the … Continue reading Planning is changing, fast
Category: trends
Christmas 2016 trendwatching
Last May, a couple of days work unexpectedly dropped out so instead I researched and wrote something on Christmas 2016 trends, thinking it might come in handy for my work with agency retail clients. Since Christmas 2016 planning is now a distant memory for agencies (last month I was working on shopper marketing for Father's Day 2017) I thought I'd share … Continue reading Christmas 2016 trendwatching
*everyone* really is totally just winging it, all the time
In May 2014, Guardian writer Oliver Burkeman wrote an excellent article titled Everyone is totally just winging it, all the time. It was a very reassuring piece for anyone who suffers from a touch of imposter syndrome from time to time: We're all mini-New York Timeses or White Houses, energetically projecting an image of calm proficiency, while … Continue reading *everyone* really is totally just winging it, all the time
why is Northern AgencyLand flying Down Under?
To fanfare, a Leeds agency officially opened their Sydney office last week. Another Leeds agency has had an office in Sydney for a while and according to my sources a third is thinking about it. Meanwhile, nearly every agency bod I meet seems to know someone who has moved down under in the last 18 … Continue reading why is Northern AgencyLand flying Down Under?
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
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
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
shoppers are changing faster than the shops are
Every possible media outlet has run some kind of piece recently about how the big supermarkets are dinosaurs and, basically, deserve every bit of ill fortune they might experience. But I've yet to read a piece which compares the speed at which shopping habits are changing (i.e. very quickly) with how much time it takes … Continue reading shoppers are changing faster than the shops are
Planner or Strategist?
I don't know what it's like Inside London, but Outside London the Planning scene seems to me to have changed quite dramatically in the last 18 months. After agencies limped through the recession on a minimal headcount they've now staffed up again. And Planning/Strategy is one of the specialisms that is in growth. But in many … Continue reading Planner or Strategist?
on allowing good people to work where and when they work best
There seems to be a movement in the marketing community towards better work-life balance. Whether it’s Chime’s Amelia Torode championing flexible and part-time working for Mums or what seems to be a massive increase in senior staff switching to freelance, it feels like the traditional 10+ hours, 5+ days a week agency model is under … Continue reading on allowing good people to work where and when they work best