Nicola Austin
Recently some colleagues of mine had the unexpected honour of a phone-call from the Harvard Business Review asking if they would submit an article. Why? Well, it turns out that their approach to understanding the post-recession consumer is something of a rarity. Read on…
Marc Duke
Don’t panic this is not a post about sustainability or recycling but rather on some of my musings on pitch ethics based on personal experience. Having been a consultant for the last seven and a half years, I rarely find myself in straight pitch situations, I have found myself on the selection panel a fair few times or reviewing proposals for work as well, so not sure if I am the best man to comment, but here goes. Read on…
No one said the recession would be easy. Cost cutting is a fact of life and so are procurement departments. Scrutiny has never been more fashionable. The sooner marketers accept that and use what they already know about building relationships to improve communication and processes, the better. After all, many businesses won’t consider purchasing marketing services without involving a procurement team. But don’t let that worry you. A recent article in The Marketer puts it all in perspective.
Consumers are changing their habits – no change there. Right now the credit crunch is making people much more aware of where they’re spending their money, and what they’re getting for it. Impulse buys are on the wane. Charity shops are having trouble staying stocked. We’re also getting greener and more aware of sustainability. More of us are planning summer holidays in the UK rather than going abroad. No surprise when you look at the costs of travelling. UK consumers are spending – but not as much and not in the same ways as before. Read on…