Back in 1985 I saw the Talking Heads concert film 'Stop Making Sense' in a cinema in Newcastle Upon Tyne. I can't remember who was with me, but I vividly recall the film. It was distinct, difficult to categorise and dominated by an energetic and eccentric David Byrne performance. 1985 is a long time ago,... Continue Reading →
Nike faces some some uncertainty, but it is a business well positioned for a post-pandemic bounce. Boosted by strong sales growth in China the company's revenue grew to $40 billion in 2019. Footwear accounts for more than half of the brand's revenue. Nike's leading position for sales is not matched by sustainability. Progress is being made... Continue Reading →
There are many startups postponing launches, but not the money saving app Snoop. With many of us getting anxious about our finances Snoop was gently introduced two weeks ago. The app takes advantage of the disruptive potential of 'open banking' to review your spending and provide personalised money management tips. With a bit of artificial... Continue Reading →
In these uncertain times we should probably be classifying ice cream as medicinal. Unfortunately, with restaurants closed, cinemas shut and trips cancelled many of those out-of-home moments where we get the ice cream urge have temporarily gone. The sales impact has led to Unilever, the owner of the Ben & Jerry’s and Magnum brands to... Continue Reading →
How pharma companies such as Gilead are seeking to solve the new problem of Covid-19 offers inspiration and encouragement for innovators. With early trial results indicating that Remdesivir can speed Covid-19 recovery the drug looks it will help many of those hospitalised. It may be a modest success but Remdesivir is set to be memorable... Continue Reading →
Zero waste shops can now be found on 100’s of high streets across the UK. Most are independent start-ups, launched by those seeking to be a catalyst for the behaviour change needed to avert a climate crisis. With more consumers seeking to avoid unnecessary and single-use packaging it is not just climate concerned individuals seeing... Continue Reading →
Apple's new credit card will be a huge commercial success. Offering iPhone users the reward of cash back for using Apple Pay and for buying from the company the aim is to establish the iPhone as the primary payment device and grow revenue. What is more surprising is Apple's claim that the card is "designed... Continue Reading →
The Starbucks share price has risen by almost 50% in 2019 with annual revenue growing 8% year on year to $6.82 billion. CNN Business recently observed that “every Starbucks growth strategy is working." The core global café business has grown 6%. Starbucks now has 30,600 stores in China and by partnering with Uber Eats and... Continue Reading →
In the UK today, there are c60 million people now using subscription services and last week Apple unveiled further choices. Subscription models offer a number of attractions for business owners. These include sustained and more predictable revenue, increased customer engagement and a more confident calculation of lifetime customer value. In 2016 Unilever paid $1 billion for Dollar... Continue Reading →
Volvo is a brand and business doing well in a challenging industry. Increasingly recognised as a premium brand, Volvo has enjoyed a fifth consecutive year of record sales and has won its first European Car of the Year award in 2018. Purchased by Geely Holdings in 2010 Volvo sold 90,417 vehicles in China last year —... Continue Reading →
Facilitate Success 