Let them eat cake.

fouri 535 Cakes Article

We ran a series of roadshows over the last couple of weeks, finishing in Cambridge at a very smart country club venue. Thanks to our brilliant events team, as always, the venue was first class, the staging and AV were all set up in advance of our arrival, but something I wasn’t expecting to see […]

VAR.

fouri 534 VAR Article

Without fail, every single week, social media is filled with football fans complaining about VAR. And with good reason. In the Premier League the average delay in play due to a review is reported as being 70 seconds which kills the joy of the moment, and worse the decision is all too frequently incorrect. Which […]

Purpose and relevance.

Q. What’s the thread that links: Duran Duran – Notorious Madonna – Like a Virgin Sister Sledge – We are Family David Bowie – Let’s Dance Daft Punk – Get Lucky Chic – Good Times INXS – Original Sin Diana Ross – I’m Coming Out Steve Winwood – Higher Love Grace Jones – Inside Story […]

The Beaches.

fouri 532 TheBeaches Article

Last week I listened to a BBC Radio 4 documentary about the D Day beach landings.* Christian Dunn, who is a professor of wetland science at Bangor University, reenacted a mission that whilst much less known, ranks up there in importance with Alan Turing and his colleagues breaking the enigma code. It’s not just a brilliant […]

Julian’s 3

fouri 531 Julian Article

I had lunch last week with some old mates, two guys I’ve known for 30+ years. They’re both very successful in the entertainment/showbiz/events industry, and I asked one of them (Julian), what are the main three things that have led to his success. His response was immediate, and they really connected with me, as I […]

Facts, Numbers and Stories

fouri 530 FactsNumbersStories Article

Walking through Southwark the other evening, I noticed the pediment above the entrance to ‘Kirkaldy Testing and Experimenting Works’ where written in stone it states to all who cross the threshold: “FACTS NOT OPINIONS” I can think of many other workplaces that would benefit from this daily reminder. It caused me to remember something my […]

“We tried that; and it didn’t work”

fouri 529 Tried Didnt Work Article

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard this awful response to a communications idea. It’s perhaps the single biggest brake on creativity, innovation, and growth. Instead, what if you asked… “How about we try… To read the rest of this newsletter please click here. Join over 6,000 property professionals, including leading estate and […]

CRM, really?

fouri 528 CRM really Article

In many discussions it’s useful to start with some agreed definitions. So let’s go to the Oxford English Dictionary… Customer – n. A purchaser of goods and services. In early use: spec. a person who regularly purchases from a particular business. Relationship – n. The state or fact of being related; the way in which […]

50:50.

Four i 526 5050 Article

According to startups.co.uk the following retail businesses have either disappeared, been liquidated or gone in/out of administration since Covid: Ted Baker The Body Shop Wilko Debenhams Arcadia Group Victoria’s Secret Oak Furnitureland Monsoon / Accessorize Oasis Beales Aldo Oliver Sweeney Le Pain Quotidien Laura Ashley Peacocks/Jaeger Quiz Made.com Cath Kidston Planet Organic Eve Sleep Joules […]

Dare to Win.

Four i 526 DareToWin Article

According to census and other data sources there were 203,000 people in the UK in 1871 whose stated profession was blacksmith. Today, in 2024, that number has declined to 1,095. It’s very easy with hindsight to appreciate why this happened, but it wasn’t at the time. You see, whilst the motor car can be identified […]