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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

We all have our favourite places. My restaurant selection includes Findlerhof Zermatt, Club 55 St Tropez, and a new one, Boheme Chester. As for bookshops I’ll pick Daunt Marylebone, Elliot Bay Seattle, and Blackwell’s Oxford. And for art galleries, my choices would be Hubert Gallery New York, Peggy Guggenheim Venice, and Hockney 1853 gallery Salts […]

In the book ‘HEMP- The Highly Effective Marketing Plan’ the key point made is that if you want to change what someone does then you first need to change how they think and feel. Of course, to do that requires knowing what they currently think and feel, as well as what they currently do. Most […]

Twenty years or more ago, we developed a concept titled: ‘The Fantastic Big Idea’ (or FBI for short). In simple terms, we noted that the best companies and organisations had an idea at their core which drove every aspect of their business. For example: Disney – Fun BBC – Authority Google – All information in […]