Nichely Done
Focus and specialisation are sources of enormous wealth. I once asked an actuary friend of mine when I was going to die. I’m 1.93m tall; I weigh 89Kg; I don’t…
All these articles illustrate why alignment is important. How making sure that all parts of your organisation are heading in the same direction in a coordinated way. Whist this is a very simple idea most businesses don’t put enough effort into making sure that all of their activities are aligned enough.
How to Respond To Change
What can we learn from Nuance Communications about how to respond to our changing business world? Selling things has become much more competitive in recent years. Access and distribution barriers,…
Sheer Hippy Pants
Why Lululemon has been so successful. Lululemon is fascinating. It is a phenomenally successful Canadian brand of trendy work-out gear. At the moment it is in the news because it…
Wallander’s Bank
How to get people to buy from you when you offer much the same basic service as your competitors. I guess if you mention the name Wallander to most people…
Named Aptly
Whatever Happened to Billabong? I guess not many of us know what a billabong is. Yes, we all know it’s from Down Under and it has something to do with…
Meredith
Few companies adapt so well to the challenges and the opportunities of a changing world. As we see Reader’s Digest Association seek Chapter 11 protection for the second time in…
Time Travellers
Watch out, if more and more of your customers are living in the past. I recently moved to the country. Well, I do at least spend more time there, though…
What Business Are You In?
This surprisingly simple question can help you think more clearly about your business and how to improve its performance. Do you know that not many UK insurance companies make a…
The Growth Curve
All businesses grow in exactly the same way, following a series of, often disconnected, s-curves like those in the figure opposite. At least the good ones do, most businesses just…
How to Be Different
Why Would Anyone Want A Second Watch? The iconic watch company, Swatch, which single-handedly rebuilt the Swiss watch industry around a solid platform of stylish and affordable plastic (mostly) watches,…