Retailers across the country will be now be fully prepared for Christmas trading and many will be working towards 2010. Targets based on last year’s performance will vary. The economy is showing (albeit slow) signs of improvement and initial predictions for the Christmas trading are better than would...
This week has been National Consumer Week and on closer inspection saw that the focus this year has been about businesses knowing about their consumer’s rights. This struck a chord with us because we know only too well that when it comes to managing brand reputation, or more to the point, managing disgruntled...
As we enter into September and leave the "silly season" behind, our attention has been drawn back to brands who may now be knuckling back down into their strategy and planning for next years campaigns. With this in mind it is probably the time to remind brand owners of the importance of up...
With government and union antagonism growing the private equity funds, traditionally a silent industry, are on the PR offensive. Private equity firms try to buff image in Europe By Julia Werdigier Monday, March 5, 2007 LONDON: European private equity firms are trying to rescue their reputation. Under...
Here's the Telegraph's list of the 10 biggest brands owned by private equity funds. Did you know all of these were in the hands of PE? Top 10 private equity-owned firms in UK Last Updated: 1:21am GMT 27/02/2007 Private equity firms beat the Revenue Turnover Operating profit/loss Interest charge...
Is there anything better than a leader leading? Better yet, a marketer taking the lead with the brand that he helped to found? Here is the memo Starbuck's Chairman Howard Schultz sent out to senior staff pointing out that the company's growth had come at a great cost to brand equity. Poetry from...
Response from Mark Borkowski, PR Genius, to my Kate Moss article last year pointing out that far from being "finished" the model actually had a record year in 2006. ALL TIME "NODDY" HIGH! I have done my 125th interview on Kate Moss, this time for an Australian News Network. The ups...
$500 million buys you a lot of launch - but in the case of Microsoft Vista the launch appears to have disappeared without trace. Why? It should have been the biggest launch of 2007. Abseiling acrobats formed a 'human billboard' high above Manhattan, fireworks illuminated the Grande Arche at La...
For once a highly paid US Athlete has used his heart not his wallet to guide his endorsements. The remarkable (and successful) story of the Starbury. The first time I saw Stephon Marbury was in 1997. I had just finished my PhD and was starting a job as a 'rookie' professor at the University of...
There can be do more fascinating or enigmatic ctaegory than Champagne... Is there anything more paradoxical than Champagne? Often mistaken as a product or category, Champagne is neither. It is a region from which a combination of grapes, usually chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier, are blended....
