Rugby World Cup 2015 analysis: Who came out on top off the pitch – England, the All Blacks or Australia? November 2, 2015 An Australia v New Zealand final was a great spectacle for the fans and the sport, but with such a distinct lack of home nation representation,there was a nagging feeling of ‘what if?’ for England fans. Their early exit in the group stages came as an unwelcome surprise to sponsors and brands alike, with some [...]
Christmas adverts: John Lewis, Sainsburys, Burberry & Marks and Spencer beaten by Universal for most shared festive ad of all time November 2, 2015 It's that time of year already. John Lewis is poised to unveil its Christmas advert on Friday (8am if you're really keen) and once again will be launching in on social media first, followed by a grand pushing out to TV audiences at the weekend. It has become an iconic start to the festive period, [...]
Digital natives have untapped talent: It’s time to exploit it November 1, 2015 We are leading digital lives. In our homes, in our workplaces, when we travel and when we relax, we are swiping screens, searching for answers online, ordering goods and services, and sharing the minutiae of our lives via social media. Young people are the leading explorers of the digital world and are seamlessly moving [...]
The weekend’s movies: The Vatican Tapes, Do I Sound Gay and Outcast October 30, 2015 The Vatican Tapes | ★★☆☆☆ There’s a dearth of horror movies to see you through this Halloween weekend, and The Vatican Tapes is a rather hollow token release. Californian twentysomething Angela (Olivia Tyler Dudley) is admitted to hospital with all the signs of a demonic possession, which your GP will be happy to talk you through. [...]
Roland Duchatelet’s project at Charlton is failing – and the appointment of Karel Fraeye will only alienate fans further October 29, 2015 A decade ago, Charlton Athletic were English football's first point of reference for what a medium-sized club could achieve if run sensibly. They were the fourth best-performing side in 2005 in London, finishing behind only Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham. Since then there have been a litany of failures, misjudgements and relegations but now, under the [...]
London Poppy Day 2015: Thousands of military personnel hitting London’s streets to raise money ahead of Remembrance Sunday October 29, 2015 Seen a few men in uniform on your way into work this morning? That's because thousands of military men and women are taking to London's streets to try and raise more than £1m in one day. Personnel from the Royal Navy, Army and RAF, as well as their supporters, are heading to 49 Tube and [...]
Business ethics doesn’t need to be greeted with cynicism: Stop using abstract terms and start telling stories October 29, 2015 In a memo to Barclays staff, incoming chief executive Jes Staley laid out his ethical vision for the bank. “There can be no retreat from becoming a values driven organisation which conducts itself with integrity at all times,” he said. Unfortunately for Staley, company values can often fall on deaf ears, especially when you’re [...]
Dido Harding – did she TalkTalk a good game after cyber attack? October 28, 2015 When a chief executive steps up to communicate bad news, we expect them to do so confidently and openly – putting the interests of customers first and demonstrating that they are willing to take ownership of the problem and not shirk their responsibilities. In this sense, Baroness Dido Harding, the chief executive of TalkTalk, put up a [...]
Spectre: No slowing down for the new James Bond movies’s marketing bandwagon October 28, 2015 So the new Bond film has been out for a few days now, but there’s no slowing down for the enthusiasm of London’s PRs and small businesses. Venues and companies big and small are attempting to cash in on Bond-mania while some poor souls in the City have yet to see the film. The good people [...]
Black Friday 2015: What UK retailers need to do to make the most of the retail bonanza on 27 November October 28, 2015 Last year, shoppers in the UK spent a staggering £810m during Black Friday and this year is set to break all previous records. For the first time ever, consumer spending across the nation is forecast to top £1bn in one day, representing an enormous opportunity for UK retailers. The impact of Black Friday for retailers [...]