Is Thomas Cook Different Enough?
Thomas Cook is failing to deliver what we expect from a great brand, difference. Thomas Cook, the “world’s best known name in travel”, as they like to (rather weakly to…
Del Boy To The Rescue!
Mary Portas says that high streets are outdated and they should be run as businesses in their own right with more encouragement for markets. Is this the beginning of a…
Watch Money Ball!
Understanding Billy Beane's success with the Oakland A's baseball team can help you build a better business. I went to see Money Ball last night at the cinema. It's a…
TomTom, Nokia and You
I love my TomTom! What a change from using maps, or route planning software. The company that has so successfully exploited the market for us all to have a device…
Mulberry Trebles Profits!
Tesco have just announced that UK sales were done by 0.9% in the last quarter. That's not too bad really, compared with many other famous UK brands (actually, it would…
Why Strategy Is A Good, But Difficult, Idea
Do you have a strategy for your business? Well, many people and some quite significant businesses don't have very good ones, and some have none. They have various plans from…
You Want Customers Not Friends
It never ceases to surprise me how bad we all are at recruitment. People who seem great at interview often turn out to be flawed human beings, like the rest…
How To Sell More, Even Now!
If I had a dollar for ever business owner I have worked with who has chastised Sales, and all who work in it, for a lack of sales I'd be…
Filling The Cash Hole
Several of my clients have had quite interesting experiences arranging loans with banks over the past year or two. I guess this isn't news as, in spite of the headlines…
Mark Ballett’s Blog is Four Years Old!
Whilst I did start the "5 Secrets" blog four years ago now, I soon ran out of enthusiasm for it. Look at the time gap since my last entry!! I'd…