The TAG! Blog

Needles In The Hay #12 - A Few Links Worthy Of Your Time

Tue, 08 May 2012 11:02:00 GMT

—( ‘Do you love reading?’, with thanks to Fiduz )—Each week I put together a collection of a couple of articles, ideas and innovations that I've come across in my attempts to digest all of the information on the internet. These are some of the ones that really stood out.

Enjoy.

// THAT is how one uses Twitter

I'm ever surprised by the useful applications of social media – when it's done right. Here's a taxi driver who became Chicago's most popular cabbie following a well put together campaign.

// Shwopping – Awful Name, Great Idea

Apparently 1 in 4 items of clothing ends in the bin... so Marks and Spencer have decided to try and change that and do a bit for charity. Partnering with Oxfam they've taken to giving out vouchers in exchange for donations.

// Cold-hearted or realistic?

A follow up to one of the pieces I came across last week, you'll find an insightful look into the political side of support for small businesses.

// Rob Hopkins speaking at TEXxExeter

Rob Hopkins is the driving force behind Transition, a world movement looking to wean the world off oil through a huge array of community-led on-the-ground initiatives. Here he is speaking at a recent TEDx event about, well, lots of things (but mainly Transition Totnes, which is the flagship city for the movement). Also: very funny.

// Wi-Fi Paving – definitely the future

An idea that initially struck me as very silly indeed, but one which has grown on me as I've found out more. Used right – pushing out local offers and tourist information for instance – the possibilities are both exciting and near endless.

// Virtual Stores

A new concept being piloted in Japan is the virtual store: an online shop that you can 'walk' through. A replacement for an in-person visit? Probably not, but if it becomes simple to reproduce it could add a lot of value to shopping online.

Your Moment Of Zen

// Pizza and Movie Night 2.0.

When treating yourself to an P&M night who in their right mind want to go to two shops!? Thank the heavens that's no longer strictly necessary.

Have you come across any links you'd like to share?

Needles In The Hay #11 - A Few Links Worthy Of Your Time

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:59:00 GMT

Enjoy.

// Forward looking analysis of crowd-empowerment

Continuing my interest in the opportunities provided by crowdsourcing, this short article looks into some best practices, explores the possibilities opened up the advent of crowd empowerment and gives a few groovy examples. Hat tip to CLES.

// Dear Grouponers...

It's been a while since I've seen any merchant written Groupon reviews, but the Huffington Post has been good enough to scratch that itch for me. Rather than the overly-simplistic, disappointed Groupon bashing that I tend to ignore, this one comes with an insightful in-depth explanation of the difference between Grouponers and regulars from the merchant's perspective.

// 70% quality, 30% surprise – a new approach to retail

I'm a huge believer in the power – if not the necessity – of story and branding in modern retail, so it was nice to come across a successful practicer of my favourite preachings.

// A viable popularis-able e-currency?

A while back I looked into the evolution and success/failures of BitCoin, a huge experiment in e-currencies.

Now the Canadian government (!?) seems to be entering the field, launching – and, more importantly, supporting – their own e-currency. A government funded and popularised e-currency could well signify big, intriguing changes in the future.

Your Moment Of Zen

// The Logical Next Step For Cafes? You Decide.

Words cannot begin to express how perplexing I find this.

Have you come across any links you'd like to share?

Needles In The Hay #10 - A Few Links Worthy Of Your Time

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 15:39:00 GMT

Enjoy.

// What ever happened to Business Link?

While Business Link had already disappeared by the time I got involved in TAG! it remains a name that I come across now and again. It clearly had a large role to play before it so suddenly disappeared, and this piece from Elliot Forte on CLES demonstrates just how surprisingly large that role was.

// Broadbanding the UK

Not quite sure how I missed this one, but it looks like free public wifi and super-connectivity will be spreading across some of the big cities in the near future. It's all part of the government-led drive to supply 90% of the Uk with super-fast broadband by 2015.

// Away With Sunday Trading!

Plans to liberalise Sunday trading over the course of the Olympics have caused widespread anger amongst retail organisations who are keen to point to the pro-big business / anti-small independent nature of this decision.

Caught between a consumer and a trader mindset I'm not entirely sure where I stand on this one, but definitely worth reading up on. A few articles to start with: the Olympics' Sunday suspension plan, how retailers feel and the macro view.

// Hyper-local Classifieds

Apparently a world first (their claim, not mine), Ginjex provides an online platform for hyper-local classifieds. I can't think of many occasions when I've used classifieds, but still something that I'm adding to my bookmarks.

Your Moment Of Zen

// This is how I secretly imagine local bookshops to be

A short story detailing a phenomenon we all secretly suspect: that bookshops are indeed all run by a highly secretive cabal of wonderful eccentrics.

Have you come across any links you'd like to share?

Needles in the hay #9 - A few links worthy of your time

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 17:42:00 GMT

Enjoy.

// Crowdfunding as the new frontier in community regeneration

If you've been following these posts you'll have noticed my fascination with crowd-funding and its potential to empower local communities to bypass all the hoop jumping and simply get things done. This article is a great quick intro to some of the things being created and a glimpse at what the untapped benefits of this movement could be.

Also worth checking out Spacehive, a crowd funding platform devoted to financing local community projects.

// Bad News For Traditional Advertising

Advertising is one of the prime subjects of conversation we have with business owners, as well as something that affects everyone every day.

As it has becomes more ubiquitous and necessarily ignored, traditional advertising has become less and less efficient and effective. Here's at least one of the reasons that this trend will only get worse, courtesy of Adage.

// Useful Resources For Independents

Some great resources from Independent Retailer Month, as well as a perfect example of my favourite type of marketing (content marketing). Big range of topics covered in bite sized chunks with plenty of outbound links for those looking for more info.

I confess that I've only read the few that interest me, but I kind of think that's the point: you're sure to find something here that will be useful.

NB. Requires linking to your Twitter account and auto-posts that you've read them. Not my favourite strategy in the world, so be aware that this happens. If you're not up for broadcasting your reading habits the delete button can undo any annoyance this creates.

// Old School Problem, meet High Tech Solution

The winner of the Living Labs Global Awards, Worldsensing's Smart Parking Pilot uses a combination of sensors, the Internet and genius to guide parkers to free spaces, thereby saving time, money and the planet.

// Dieting the local way

Although it might be a bit late for New Year's Resolutions, for those on the look out for a diet you may want to try the 100-mile diet – only eating foodstuffs sourced from the surrounding areas.

Is it feasible? Golly knows. I'm not sure I could manage it, but that's primarily down to my penchant for Mars bars and chinese take-out. If anyone's done this please let me know in the comments so I can thoroughly quiz you.

Your Moment Of Zen

// Caine's Arcade

Demonstrating once again the power of the Internet, the joy of communication and the draw of creating something unique. Also: adorable.

Have you come across any links you'd like to share?

Needles in the hay #8 - A few links worthy of your time

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 23:38:00 GMT

Enjoy.

// A More Nuanced Look At The Supermarket Question

An interesting post exploring the values of the Co-op and looking at some of the subtle pros of supermarkets from a consumer perspective. The comments are well worth a look as well.

// A Comprehensive List Of Portas Bids

The Empty Shops Network have gone the extra mile in compiling a YouTube list of all the many Portas Bids out there. Fantastically useful and very interesting.

Not that you could call it favouritism, but here's a link to the Portas Bid for Levenshulme, one which we're chuffed to bits to be involved in.

(If you don't have the foggiest what this whole Portas thing is, I'd recommend starting with The Portas Review – we put together a short 6-part overview of the report back in January if you're not up for a long read.)

// Big Society – Some Concrete Analysis

There's been lots of waffle about the effects and ideology behind Big Society, usually cut along political lines. I'm not one for reading newspapers so I get to happily ignore most of it, but it was nice to finally come across something concrete, based on data collected in Birmingham and Tottenham. Even if it does make for depressing reading. Well done NEF.

For a bit more depth I'd also recommend checking out this follow up which sheds light on how community organisations are being affected.

// Peak Oil & The Press

While on the subject of not being impressed by the news, here's an interesting post (polemic? intelligent rant?) from the journalist who covered the Great Danish Marmite Import Scandal of 2011(!) a while back, and his thoughts on press priorities.

// ‘How We Shop’, or ‘Retail of the future’

Turns out that e- and m-commerce are even bigger than I'd previously thought. Well worth reading the article just for the stats, but also contains some good predictions and lessons.

Your Moment Of Zen

// Shooting Hoops With The President – Why Not?

It seems that achieving your dreams means working out what those dreams are and then making them happen. These lads seem to have become pretty good at it. A fun read that may leave you ready to do something awesome.

Have you come across any links you'd like to share?

Why I Shop Local

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:37:00 GMT

—( ‘The things I love’, with thanks to Shereen M )— A surprise encounter with a childhood friend and a very brief, caffeinated catch-up led to a certain amount of introspection as I attempted to explain what TAG! is and why I shop local. Here are some of the better vocalised arguments I ended up with.

The grin-factor

Recently I’ve found myself forced to do my dinner-shopping over at Tesco, the only place open when I finally finish whatever task I’ve set myself for that day. On each occasion I’ve been pleasantly surprised by my now semi-regular cashier, one of the nicest, cheeriest men I’ve ever met; we have a spot of conversation each evening and it’s invariably a joyful experience.

Why is this worth mentioning? Because it’s so very rare. I’ve come to expect to leave my local butcher with a smile on my face, but Tesco? Not so much.

I came across the term ‘social currency’ the other day, specifically in the context of how we’ve lost it. Since shopping (or cafe-ing, or restauranting etc) is such a regular activity it seems ridiculous that anyone would choose not to ensure it was an enjoyable pastime. As it stands – with my particular shopping habits – I leave the house knowing I’m going to come back in an even better mood, a couple of good chats richer.

Value for your money

While it may seem counter-intuitive to suggest that small shops will usually leave your wallet fuller, it tends to be true. We (at TAG!) originally underscored the value factor when shopping with independents – i.e. a ratio of price and quality – but I’m becoming more and more convinced that as well as better quality products you usually also end up simply spending less, despite the bulk disadvantage smaller businesses face.

If you look at the supermarket wars, for instance, you’ll notice that while ‘price crunches’ suggest massive money savings and rock-bottom prices, the truth is usually quite different. While certain products do tend to be cheaper – milk for instance – most other products definitely aren’t. Veg is my pet peeve from this week: spending silly sums on products that taste like plastic – now that I’ve become the kind of snob that only one used to fresh, tasty produce can be – isn’t really my thing.

Pride and Expertise

I have an oft misinterpreted tendency to ‘interview’ people in a quest to find out what they like and what they know. Every independent business owner I’ve had the opportunity to talk to in depth not only takes enormous pride in what they do, but also knows it inside out.

Specialists are a rare breed in most places, but not when it comes to independents. For customers that’s fantastic news. It means that the meat you buy from the butcher is going to be the best there is, and you’ll probably learn a new recipe while you wait. Or that the coffee you buy has an actual flavour, and is – dare I say it – more than just a palatable caffeine-fix. Or that the clothes you pick will be built to last and suit you to a T.

Beggars and Choosers

Big stores tend to sell mass products, rarely exposing you to anything new and never really giving you the opportunity to try something uncommon. An exception to that would be the massive HMV style music stores, but even those are disappearing.

When I go to my local greengrocer there’s almost always something new. Back in January I was advised to try the honey mangoes which had just come into season. Wow.

Small businesses who are interested in their field make sure they’re always a step or two ahead of the curve, meaning the customer constantly gets to discover new things or try new concoctions — my local deli recently expanded their garden, creating a very intriguing rose hot chocolate in the process.

Choosing between lots of different versions of the same product is boring. Having a chance to browse, be advised and find something new is brilliant.

Aren’t I missing something...?

As I said above, it was a very short catch-up. Lightning fast really. In the interests of brevity (and to avoid turning the chat into a semi-political debate) I refrained from even touching on the community and long-term economic benefits of shopping local. Another time perhaps.

Why do you shop local? Or why not?

Needles in the hay #7 - A few links worthy of your time

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:58:00 GMT

Enjoy.

// More Portas

The Portas Review made a big splash back in December but it wasn't until February that the government reacted with its £1 million fund for the Town Team Pilots initiative. The latest twist in the tale is the announcemend of the Portas Plus Plan, which comes with a raft of new grants and support.

If you'd like to know more about the Portas Review I'd recommend this 6-part overview of the report put together back in January.

// Celebrity Regenerators

A perhaps cynical look at the recent spate of celebrities as spokespeople for good causes and localisation. However you view this argument, the central point – that real mobilisation requires local involvement – is well made.

// The Budget and Local Economies: What's the overlap?

The above link will take you to a short report compiled by CLES (Centre for Local Economic Strategies) which breaks down this year's Budget and analyses the effects it will have at the local level.

// A new, better high street

While the title – The British High Street Is Dead - Let's Celebrate – may be somewhat misleading, the gist of this article from the Guardian is bang on. As big retailers abandon the high street, space and opportunity are opening up for smaller, more eclectic indie alternatives. Hurrah!

// State of the high street

The results of a report by the AMT (Action for Market Towns) points to a couple of interesting developments on the high street over the past few years. Short and to the point, it gives a great macro view of high street trends.

// Rewarding Do-Gooders

A brilliant start-up called Cause.it that I just discovered finds a way to reward do-gooders and support local businesses. Definitely check out the video on their home page for the low-down.

Your Moment Of Zen

// Chocolate-y Goodness for Good People

One of the most charming concepts I've come across in a while: buy chocolate with kindness. A really well put together event (pity it wasn't closer to home).

Have you come across any links you'd like to share?

Needles in the hay #6 – a few links worthy of your time

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 16:40:00 GMT

Enjoy.

// Buying British – Would You?

A survey conducted recently by The Money Saving Expert suggests that a surprising number of people would be willing to shell out more for home-grown products, be they groceries or sofas.

// The Movement Grows

A quick hop over the pond reveals a movement aiming to revolutionise American towns and make them sustainable. Contains some very interesting pages and a thought-provoking TEDX talk.

// The Demise Of Social Currency

Personal nostalgia on the part of the always-interesting Sasha Dichter, but illustrative of how much humanity has been lost from our shopping experiences.

// Supermarkets to donate surplus food?

A bill has recently been proposed which aims to get supermarkets giving excess food to charities rather than letting it go to waste. Whether it gets through or not, it's a great idea.

// Why Should One Shop Local?

The themes a big 'un, but this short post covers the key points very succinctly. Wish I'd done written it myself.

Your Moment Of Zen

// Conquering Fear

I think we've all been here (metaphorically). Good on the lass. Made me grin very widely indeed.

Have you come across any links you'd like to share?

Up close and personal

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 12:59:00 GMT

—( ‘Polaroid de locura ordinaria 3’, with thanks to sicoactiva )— Thanks to the power of the Internet I can now do all of my shopping dressed in a Onesie while chain drinking tea. While my refusal to do so is largely a matter of personal pride, I’m also greatly enamoured of a few small-business-specific characteristics which keep me shopping local week in, week out.

A dash of different

“Why are we doing TAG!?” A question I’ve had thrown my way in a variety of different tones. As an organisation many of our long term aims are economic in nature: keeping money local by spending it locally leads to richer communities, which leads to higher prosperity and happier people.

As important and groovy as that is, it’s not really the kind of message you can get passionate about. (“Yay! Economic trends!” doesn’t seem to have become the rallying call we thought it might). For Carol and I – and all of the keen TAGgists and TAGstifers (definitely real words) we’ve come across – it’s the personal nature of independents that drives us.

The Indie Factor

I’ve always preferred shopping with small independent businesses (although I never really saw it as a conscious choice). Value and choice are good enough reasons on their own, but without a doubt the biggest draw is personality. I invariably end up cheerier after a shopping trip, having joked about with staff and exchanged warm pleasantries as a matter of course. I also tend to learn something new along the way, a side effect of chatting to people who know what they’re talking about and love what they do.

This kind of thing just isn’t possible online, however well crafted the user interface and however much time and energy has been devoted to the copy. Nor does it seem to be common with big businesses; the personal touch is so often sacrificed at the alter of efficiency and corporate culture.

More than monetary

Many indie naysayers will point to the scale disadvantage small businesses face when arguing their inevitable disappearance. Since they’re tethered to brick-and-mortar stores and unable to buy in the kind of bulk big chains can manage they are unable to offer rock bottom prices on all things, therefore – supposedly – they can’t compete long-term.

But most consumers aren’t looking for the cheapest offer, they’re looking for value. There are exceptions of course – we’ll likely buy kitchen towels or a new phone charger wherever it’s cheapest and easiest – but for most purchases we’ll go somewhere we can trust, which offers great service and a genuinely friendly atmosphere.

Nobody falls in love with the cheapest outlet, or waxes lyrical about how uniquely awesome a Poundshop is: if it’s low prices that attract someone then lower prices will lead them away.

The point is, price doesn’t enchant, and value isn’t just a question of cost. Real value stems from uniqueness, a personal touch and a business going the extra mile to bring a smile to the customer’s face: all values that are remarkably hard to achieve unless there’s a lovely person involved.

‘Like us, we’re personal too!’

People spend more with – and return more often to – businesses they like, and in most cases the businesses that we like are those with which we have a personal relationship. That’s the real trump card for independents, because staff and owners can and do go out of their way to create real personal relationships with their customers.

A depressing trend that seems to have become very popular recently is big businesses trying to harness this personable power – and thereby win the loyalty of their customers – through highly superficial means.

Many banks, for instance, have taken an Orwellian path, screaming from the rooftops how much they love and respect their individual customers and just want to make them happy. Starbucks have endeavoured to really push the envelope – and I’m not sure yet how I feel about this, beyond somewhat cynically creeped out – with their latest campaign which involves personalising your cup. Perhaps it’s good that they’re trying, but institutionalizing the personal touch strikes me as somewhat oxymoronic.

The secret sauce

Independents don’t need to pay and order their staff to be personable because they’re not saddled with a global brand which requires staff to be anything other than themselves. I’m a person before I’m a customer, and I much prefer it when a staff member is a person first too.

Online I can get ease of purchase and relative cheapness: simplicity is wonderful, but it rarely makes your day. For that you need a real person going out of their way to make your experience the best it can be, face-to-face.

Frankness, honesty and affability can’t be forced, and these qualities quite understandably abound in small businesses. So while there are many valid reasons for me to shop online or in some megapolis of a store, I can always find plenty more human reasons to go local.

Any good stories of grin-inducing personal touches out there?

Needles in the hay #5 – a few links worthy of your time

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 11:41:00 GMT

Enjoy.

// Where's Independent Retail At?

The link goes through to a report complied by the ACS (Association of Convenience Stores) which demonstrates the results of a number of interviews with independent retailers. Although many of the stats come as little surprise considering the economy, there's a goodly amount of optimism swimming around in them there shops.

// PayPal Moves Into Mobile Payment Solutions For Small Businesses

I was amazed when Square first moved into the space a few years back: amazed at what mobile payments promised, at least potentially. Now PayPal are throwing in their two cents, which is bound to stir things up.

// A New Local Craze – Cashmob

Seemingly almost completely organic, Cashmobs are a brilliant new way of supporting local businesses and having a laugh. Happily, the trend has become huge in America, even making its way into a New York Times blog.

// A Facebook Re-design That Affects SME's, Badly

Rounds of user complaints about Facebook's endless re-designs has become a highly predictable trend in recent years, but this time the upcoming changes are going to be hitting businesses too as they're forced to convert to Timeline.

Unfortunately it looks like the benefits are largely going to be reaped by bigger businesses with the budget and time to take advantage of them. Many smaller businesses – well adapted to the low-time high-effect tools that are disappearing – may find the new changes to be quite disappointing, if not darn stress-inducing.

Your Moment Of Zen

// A Shining Example Of Pro-Activity

It's nice to see this kind of altruistic entrepreneurialism burgeoning at such a young age, especially coming from near my home town.

Have you come across any links you'd like to share?

Going The Distance

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 01:24:00 GMT

—( ‘This one's for you, Dad.’, with thanks to jrodmanjr )— Some businesses explode into being and take the world by storm overnight. Most others don’t, even if their creator thinks they will. The brave few who can power through their initial disappointment regardless fascinate me. More to the point, they’re usually successful. Which is brilliant.

In for the long-haul

Recently I was lucky enough to attend a presentation by Richard Adams, founder of Traidcraft and one of the founders of the Fairtrade Foundation. Over the course of an hour or so he traced the evolution of the movements: their struggles, successes and pivotal moments.

More than anything else discussed it was the sheer tenacity he had shown in getting the projects off the ground that struck me.

Today we see the Fairtrade logo almost everywhere – evidence of a market worth an estimated £1.32 billion – but we don’t see the years of hard graft and disappointment it took to get there. That’s not to say there weren’t successes and rewards along the way (there were), but they seem to have been relatively few and far between. Yet through thick and thin he stuck at it, working to make his baby a success against the odds.

So what can we learn?

The power of the slog

The combination of energy and time is a formidable one. We’ve all seen the get rich quick spam littering the Internet or been awed by – and jealous of – the meteoric rises of the more famous entrepreneurs. In the vast majority of cases, however, things only start going right after a while.

Good ol’ serendipity

Working dusk till dawn in the hope that things will eventually work is a depressing but effective technique. If you’re religiously pushing yourself to get in touch with 50 people a day at some point you find someone who just happens to be exactly what you need: the supplier / customer / colleague / endorsement of your dreams.

The myth of failure (and the myth about the myth)

But what if it doesn’t work? What if you fail?

Failure gets a bad rap

For most of our lives we’re taught that failure is the enemy, that failing at something makes us a failure. In itself this leads to a deep seated fear of failure, which stops us from ever actually doing anything.

For me the very fact of failure demonstrates the bravery to be willing to fail, to have gotten out of bed and tried something. Far from being a failure, anyone who can do that deserves heaps of praise, regardless of the results.

Not necessarily a bad thing

This is a tough sell, but I’ll stick with it. Failure can be a good thing, a very well hidden blessing.

For one, you’ll have learnt something, even if it’s what not to do. And often that can be by far more useful than knowing what you should do.

Good judgement and well-honed instincts come from experience, and experience only comes from doing all the bad things. Having done them – and suffered for it – you’ll never do them again.

But...

Without contradicting all of the above, failure is awful.

Something counts as a failure when it hurts, when it costs something. It’s very easy to lose sight of the long-term advantages of having failed when you think about the countless hours you ‘wasted,’ and all of the other opportunities you could have been pursuing.

Sad truth: failure can only be seen as a positive, subjectively, with hindsight; it’s only when you’ve succeeded that you see how important it has been.

Knowing when to stop

Hope is an ephemeral thing, but it’s also a damn good guiding light. My benchmark for quitting has always been the point when I lose hope completely.

Successful businesses seem to be built by those who can ignore naysayers, who are confident in their desire and idea. But very few small businesses have lasted if the central figure behind their inception doesn’t see a future in what they are doing.

This may mean going far beyond the point where it seems logically reasonable to stop, when everyone is telling you its hopeless or when everything seems to be going wrong. That’s the slog, and almost everyone who wants to get somewhere needs to go through it.

The very moment that you believe that it’s hopeless, when you lose your drive and passion for the thing you’re pursuing, when you can’t see any glimmer of future, that’s the point when you need to consider wrapping things up. Because once you stop fighting for it, no-one else will, and there is nothing more life-sapping and disheartening that being chained to a sinking ship that you don’t want to be on.

But if that moment never comes, keep at it and keep at it good. I don’t believe in fate or that all things are for the good, but I’m convinced that we can make our own luck, so long as we care enough and are willing to put in the work. Just look at Richard Adams.

Any good failure stories out there?

Needles in the hay #4 – A few links worthy of your time

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:17:00 GMT

Enjoy.

// Stop Kony

The organisation behind this movement, Invisible Children, have created one of the best attention grabbing videos I've ever seen. It's been watched over 7 million times, and must be one of the only 30 minute clips on YouTube that people have watched all the way through.

If you're interested in the message behind the clip I'd recommend doing some further reading as a huge amount of controversy has been raised criticising the aims and means of Invisible Children. Here's a few extra links to start with:

// A Bit More Groupon

I linked to a few detailed and perceptive analyses of the Groupon model in a previous post, but this one adds some up-to-date statistics that should signal alarm bells for any small businesses thinking of hopping on the bandwagon. Take a gander.

// Good news for local suppliers

It's always nice to see legislation which evens the field a bit. Fingers crossed it makes a difference.

// A measured look at online tracking

This a subject that I've mentioned previously, but one that is becoming more and more pertinent as we spend more time online. A more detailed look at the mechanics of tracking and just how much of it goes on can be found here.

//The end of the road for Game?

I spent many hours as a kid (and a not inconsiderable number as an adult) in Game, browsing around and geeking out. Digital distribution seems to be killing them off, perhaps unsurprisingly, but the message of what is being lost is relevant across all high street spaces.

Your Moment Of Zen

// Changing things through fun

I can only commend Volkswagen for this initiative, The Fun Theory, which aims to prove that “something as simple as fun is the easiest way to change people’s behaviour for the better”. The link above is one of my favourites.

Have you come across any links you'd like to share?

Competing In The Modern World

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 01:33:00 GMT

—( ‘my iPhone family pile’, with thanks to blakespot )— The past few years have seen the world and the way we live and shop change beyond recognition, but who we are and what we want remains the same. To me that screams big opportunity for small businesses.

Then And Now

15 years ago we had dial-up and lots of patience. Mobile phones were monstrosities. Facebook didn’t exist.

Now I can have a face to face conversation with my nan from a cafe on the other side of the world. While checking my emails. I don’t do both – it would be rude – but I can.

Despite Moore's Law having been penned in the mid 60s it still boggles the mind just how quickly technology is advancing, and how quickly society is changing as a result.

Threat and opportunity

Each step up the technological ladder leads to new possibilities, new industries and new behaviours. And as things change, business changes with it. Or they should.

Kodak – the long-time leader in the photographic film industry – recently went bankrupt, having done little to address the widespread digitisation of photography. Borders collapsed as it tried to ignored online providers and the e-book phenomenon. Blockbusters, Game, Thomas Cook… many of the biggest players in once huge fields are struggling because they didn’t adapt in time.

In their stead have risen new models which better meet – or redefine – customer expectations.

What customers really want

While the world has changed (and is changing) at a fundamental level, we haven’t (and aren’t). We're still pretty much the same kind of people we were hundreds of years ago: driven by the same needs and desires, respecting the same skills and looking up to the same types of behaviour.

We all recognise expertise, trustworthiness and quality. We all like to be appreciated, to be treated with respect and to be made to feel good. While this holds true in all activities, it’s especially relevant when it comes to our spending habits.

If the only question on a consumer’s mind was money then the world would be a very different (and much worse) place. Fortunately that isn’t the case: there are a multitude of factors influencing what we buy and why we buy it, and most of them relate to our basic desires.

Businesses which provide something more than value-for-money are the ones that stay in our mind and make us come back.

Unto the breach, dear friends

Let’s talk local and independent.

Knowing full well that I can buy 20 sausages for £1 online, why do I happily spend £3 to buy six at my local butcher? I do so primarily because the product is offensively good – you’ve not lived until you’ve tried home-made white-wine and fennel sausages – but also because I like and respect the people who work there, I trust in the high-quality of what I’m receiving and I leave with a smile on my face.

This is what brick and mortar businesses need to be able to offer in an increasingly online world.

Selling standard products and competing purely on price doesn’t work anymore. Now that we can price compare on our mobiles as we shop, we’ll buy mass-produced, standardised products from wherever they are cheapest: either online business without brick-and-mortar overheads or massive organisations with the scale to buy lots, cheaply.

In the global world of the Internet, local businesses need to provide something that can only be found in person.

The only option left is to sell non-standard products and services and to add the type of value that comes with branding and personality. Independents are in a great position to do this, and many of them already are.

I fall in line with the recommendations of the Portas Review: small businesses need to focus on experience, service and specialism. Whether you’re a cafe or a plumber, do something different, do it well and know it inside out.

What do you think? Are there other ways that local businesses can compete with the all-powerful Internet? Or should they be taking advantage of it? I think I've just found myself a post idea for the future...

Needles in the hay #3 – A few links worthy of your time

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 23:25:00 GMT

Enjoy.

// Locals, it seems, like local

Perhaps not entirely surprising, but good to have confirmed nonetheless — it turns out that locals believe local producers and shops are important for the future of their high street, according to this poll by the Local Government Association.

// Kickstarter Konverses [sorry...]

Kickstarter, true to its name, kick started the whole crowd-sourced micro-payment craze and has led to dozens of niche spin-offs.

This is a presentation from one of the founders, Yancey Strickler, detailing just how the platform works, why it works, and how it can be used best. Fascinating stuff.

The talk itself is only 13 minutes long; unfortunately you can't hear the questions in the Q&A section, so you can likely ignore the other 25 minutes.

// The 10 Commandments of Presenting

I have both a healthy fear of boring presentations and a well-earned respect for Nick Morgan. Here's his quick-fire advice on how not to be terrible.

// Good Adverts – not an oxymoron

Bad advertising seems to be the standard nowadays, focused entirely on interrupting us to such an extent that we are forced to pay attention. But I haven't yet lost hope in the medium, and this series from TED – Ads Worth Spreading – does a wonderful job of reminding me why.

Your Moment Of Zen

// Bringing Joy and Cheer

Absolutely made my day. For the first time I wish I lived in London.

Have you come across any links you'd like to share?

Needles in the hay #2 – A few links worthy of your time

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:29:00 GMT

Enjoy.

// Better Approaches To Tackling ‘The Highstreet Problem’

A really interesting set of presentations from a couple of speakers who know exactly what they are talking about, complete with the passion and expertise you would expect from those who deal with this everyday.

// The Entrepreneurial Journey

A short-ish inspiring video made up of some of the best interviews from around 400 entrepeneurs about their story, their drive and what it really means to be an entrepreneur and run your own business.

// The Bitcoin saga

I've recently been reading up on the idea of local currencies, and it seems likely that most such currencies will eventually have to embrace technology in a big way. That in mind, I trawled for an in-depth article on digital currencies and came across this gem on the most (in)famous example, the humble Bitcoin.

// Understanding Groupon

The single best and most exhaustive collection of research I've found on Groupon (and other similar deal sites). Full of useful information for merchants wanting to benefit, ways things can go terribly wrong (or wonderfully right) and an intelligent analysis of the business model.

Your Moment Of Zen

// A Great Concept And Giggle-Inducing Copy Writing

Crowdrise is a brilliant platform for raising money for good causes and it does its job sublimely well. On top of that, the writing and content had me in stitches; an accessible and memorable way to add personality to an already impressive concept.

Have you come across any links you'd like to share?