Get the corkscrew: Now is the time to flex your alternative investment muscle and buy up fine wine July 22, 2016 It's hard to believe it's only been a month since the EU referendum. Around £2 trillion was wiped off the value of global markets within a fortnight, the pound has fallen to its lowest point in three decades and British politics has descended into a virtual musical chairs, transforming in the process. The investors who [...]
Unilever’s razor sharp move in buying Dollar Shave Club is a major shift in how brands sell to customers July 22, 2016 Unilever wowed the markets on Wednesday when it unveiled a surprise acquisition of razor subscription brand Dollar Shave Club (DSC) for a reported $1bn. DSC's buyout by the consumer goods giant not only demonstrates the huge success the brand has achieved since launching in 2011 (and then going viral with a video marketing campaign in 2012), but also the credibility [...]
These are six things women want from new Prime Minister Theresa May July 22, 2016 Theresa May's appointment as prime minister last week marked a crucial moment in history for women throughout the UK. Taking her rightful place as the second female PM, May will by default become a significant role model for women facing the struggle for gender parity. In light of her new role, women in business nationwide [...]
Only bold thinking will make Brexit a success July 22, 2016 Theresa May was always going to get a frostier reception in Paris than Berlin. The most unpopular President in French history, Francois Hollande has proven incapable of resisting the rise of his anti-EU challenger Marine Le Pen and of reviving France’s motionless economy. In a desperate last throw of the dice, Hollande no doubt sees Brexit [...]
As Tesla unveils plans for a “solar-roof-with-battery product”, will Elon Musk’s company make money any time soon? July 22, 2016 James Hind, chief executive of Carwow, says Yes. Tesla has built a highly desirable brand, as shown by the huge number of pre-orders for the Model 3. Demand for its cars will therefore be strong – even if other manufacturers manage to rival its electric technology. The company is spending a lot on setting up supply, [...]
Beware the unintended consequences of Theresa May’s flawed executive pay proposals July 21, 2016 Theresa May is absolutely right to ensure that the UK does not work for just “the privileged few”. But her suggestions for reforming executive pay – while well-intentioned – are not backed up by evidence and may well backfire. Before addressing the specific suggestions, let’s first ask whether the government should be intervening in the first [...]
Provincial England has taken over Westminster – and it’s put state intervention back in vogue July 21, 2016 The EU referendum paved the way for the industrial strategy now defining Theresa May’s first weeks in office. Why? Because the provincial English working class and lower middle class forced the country out of its status quo and administered a huge shock to the system. Politicians are realising that options they never previously considered are [...]
Trump won the nomination battle – but Ted Cruz’s remarkable speech kicked off the war for the soul of conservatism July 21, 2016 "Vote your conscience”, senator Ted Cruz asked of the crowd at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio on Wednesday night. That’s when the boos started rolling in. “Vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom and to be faithful to the Constitution,” the former candidate for the [...]
Leaving the Single Market would blow a £14bn hole in the public finances July 21, 2016 Before the referendum, George Osborne claimed a Brexit vote would require an emergency Budget of tax hikes and big spending cuts. While the new chancellor has said that he will wait until the Autumn Statement before he makes any changes to fiscal policy, it is unclear what he will choose to do. But what is [...]
Melania Trump’s speech was too banal to be plagiarised: Political wives excel at vomit-inducing cliches, but business is worse July 21, 2016 When Melania Trump claimed that she wrote her infamous speech at the Republican National Convention herself, I believed her. So bad was that speech. Apparently, Ms Trump’s mother had taught her to work hard, be true to her word and respect other people. To paraphrase Janan Ganesh’s recent article on Theresa May’s first speech as [...]