TeXt Factor

15 April 2010

Long, long ago, Microsoft’s dream was to have ‘a computer on every desk’.
IT strategists rubbished the notion. Until you write a one-page manual, they scoffed, you don’t stand a chance. They were right.
I remember some of those manuals, too. Sumo-wrestler thick and gym heavy, they were instantly shelved, if you could lift them that high, [...]

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The not so great ignored

12 April 2010

Were I to consider myself great, then things would be different. I believe I would be David Cameron’s primary target audience. But such an accolade is not mine to confer. Not upon myself, anyway.
I can safely say I am ignored, though. Frequently, in fact. Being ignored is pretty much the staple ingredient of new business. [...]

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DIY chromosomes working overtime

9 April 2010

If Christmas is all about over indulging, Easter is about over working.
Never mind all those stories about Christmas decorations appearing in the shops in early August. If you’re a DIY retailer Christmas comes early every year: around Easter time, in fact.
That’s when we men — supposedly on holiday and supposed to be sitting in miles [...]

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Pier pressure

30 March 2010

We’re almost there. A well-earned break — Good Friday and Easter Monday. And, right on cue, the weather is doing its bit to make it a traditional seasonal break for us Brits.
Family outings, a stroll across the swards, gazing at the daffodils and spotting the Easter bunnies, or a bracing walk along our wonderful coastlines. [...]

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Breaking up

22 March 2010

Perhaps someone can help?
Last December, Nestle announced its intention to show off its fairtrade certification on its four fingers of fun version of Kit Kat chocolate. Fab, I’m thinking, I go for that.

Last week, Greenpeace posts a video to YouTube arguing Nestle’s relentless demand for a key ingredient in its chocolate — palm oil — [...]

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People’s programmes

10 March 2010

Tom Wrigglesworth’s experience on Virgin Trains, as recounted on last night’s R4 programme, was a really great half-hour of laughs. Well funny.

Powerless put-upon consumer striking back against Big Bad Organisation is always likely to play well with us fellow travellers. Especially when the subject of the derision is a train company. Virgin Trains is now [...]

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Bummer

25 February 2010

What’s a footballer or rock star or Californian governor supposed to do now that Hummer has hit the buffers?
Officialdom in lean and mean-minded energy conserving and non-polluting China has blocked the sale of GM’s hulking Hummer to Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery. Although the Hummer’s bulk would have easily accommodated the catchy name of  Sichuan [...]

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Slippery slide to success

22 February 2010

When it comes to dream achievements, Amy Williams’ gold medal at Vancouver marks Britain out for spectacular success in a way that other countries can only hope to emulate.

It’s not just that until this year and a bit of lasts that we’ve normally had less snow than Australia gets. Nor is it remarkable for the [...]

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Distinguishing marks

19 February 2010

The difference between good and bad agencies, a client told me years ago, was the way they handled cock ups.
While a good agency managed the ‘problem’ — immediately got to understand the causes and promptly proposed a workable course of action to bring it to some kind of satisfactory outcome — a bad agency allowed [...]

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Hell bells

11 February 2010

At Chemistry, we’re always searching for innovative ideas and creative approaches to solving challenges. Both our clients and our own.  Naturally.
So in that vein of boldly going, I think I’ve discovered an ingenious way of boosting our new business programme usimg all the wonders of digital technology at our fingertips.
I’ve planned an automated phone call [...]

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Ciao Signor Capello. Come sta, signore?*

5 February 2010

People buy people, we always say. Unlike magnets, in our business like poles attract. Shared values, same views, similar likes and dislikes and social norms…it all helps create that essential feeling of comfortable ‘common ground’ between individuals.
Or chemistry as we like to call it, here.
Better business relationships and deals for mono-glottal Brits abroad, for example, [...]

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