Monday, 7 May 2012
I am running a Vistage Member Guest Day in Nottingham - If your a CEO/MD or Key Decision maker worth attending http://ping.fm/YAQyS
Wednesday, 25 April 2012
If your not already registered for the CompTIA UK Channel Community meeting please get registered - 18th May http://ping.fm/DajF4
Friday, 13 April 2012
If you havent already seen details please have a look at PCR Retail Boot Camp - London - 2nd May, 2012 http://ping.fm/EncDu
Saturday, 31 March 2012
I have been nominated for the SMB 150 contest and I need your VOTE! http://ping.fm/7WErd Thanks!#smb150
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Next Lunch @ The Nottingham City Business Club is Friday 20th April - Speaker my friend Gary King http://ping.fm/L2VFY
Monday, 5 March 2012
I have been nominated for an International award - please vote for me the 2012 SMB Awards! http://ping.fm/jy68X
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Facebook morphs into money
Vistage members don’t need reminding how useful social media can be in building a business. Nonetheless, there is an interesting story out today about the way in which Edinburgh firm Morphsuits have used Facebook to grow a business from scratch to a turnover of more than £10 million in under three years.
As Facebook gears up for a rumoured initial public offering later this year, the company has been keen to demonstrate its value to potential buyers. One way of doing this has been to commission a survey from Deloitte to quantify how much business Facebook generates in the UK. The report figures that the company has contributed £2.2 billion to the UK economy and that it supports over 35,000 jobs.
One of the companies to have made good use of the Facebook platform is Morphsuits. Set up in 2009 with reported seed capital of £9000, the company sells spandex fancy dress suits. By building a community of Facebook fans who send in photos of themselves wearing the Morphsuits, the company has accumulated over 750,000 friends and sold over 500,000 suits. According to this report from the BBC last summer, this equates to a turnover greater than £10 million.
The Scotsman has a full report here along with quotes from Richard Allen, Facebook’s head of policy in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Allen is quoted saying, ‘There are businesses that use Facebook to engage new markets and develop a larger order book and are therefore able to employ more people.‘Morphsuits is a classic example as it has been able to grow the business in a way that wouldn’t be possible without the existence of this word-of-mouth marketing mechanism where it can build a loyal following that then passes on their recommendations to others with similar interests.’
As Facebook gears up for a rumoured initial public offering later this year, the company has been keen to demonstrate its value to potential buyers. One way of doing this has been to commission a survey from Deloitte to quantify how much business Facebook generates in the UK. The report figures that the company has contributed £2.2 billion to the UK economy and that it supports over 35,000 jobs.
One of the companies to have made good use of the Facebook platform is Morphsuits. Set up in 2009 with reported seed capital of £9000, the company sells spandex fancy dress suits. By building a community of Facebook fans who send in photos of themselves wearing the Morphsuits, the company has accumulated over 750,000 friends and sold over 500,000 suits. According to this report from the BBC last summer, this equates to a turnover greater than £10 million.
The Scotsman has a full report here along with quotes from Richard Allen, Facebook’s head of policy in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Allen is quoted saying, ‘There are businesses that use Facebook to engage new markets and develop a larger order book and are therefore able to employ more people.‘Morphsuits is a classic example as it has been able to grow the business in a way that wouldn’t be possible without the existence of this word-of-mouth marketing mechanism where it can build a loyal following that then passes on their recommendations to others with similar interests.’
UK CEOs ‘optimistic’ about growth
The average British CEO is “more optimistic” than their European equivalents about the future, according to new data.
PricewaterhouseCooper’s annual global survey has revealed that British CEOs are far more likely to invest into their companies and boost headcount than those in Europe, feeling 79 per cent more upbeat about revenue growth, compared with 64 per cent in the Eurozone.
The research confirms that CEOs accept growth may take some time. 29 per cent see it happening within 12 months and 46 per cent think it could happen over the next three years, Fresh Business Thinking writes, however, confidence seems high.
Accepting that there could still be challenging times ahead, UK CEOs are reportedly “sticking with what they know” in terms of measures to take to promote growth. These include increasing their market share, tapping into new geographic markets and offering new products of services.
The survey suggests, BBC News claims, that after years of uncertainty, businesses are now better prepared and better equipped to cope with any issues.
This is evidenced by the fact that 85 per cent of CEOs say they “have access” to the talent required to help deliver the company strategy and 53 per cent expect to recruit in the next year.PwC’s chairman and senior partner, Ian Powell said: “The challenge now for the UK CEO is ensuring that their companies remain flexible, maintain cost controls and restructure to adapt to this slower growth environment.”
PricewaterhouseCooper’s annual global survey has revealed that British CEOs are far more likely to invest into their companies and boost headcount than those in Europe, feeling 79 per cent more upbeat about revenue growth, compared with 64 per cent in the Eurozone.
The research confirms that CEOs accept growth may take some time. 29 per cent see it happening within 12 months and 46 per cent think it could happen over the next three years, Fresh Business Thinking writes, however, confidence seems high.
Accepting that there could still be challenging times ahead, UK CEOs are reportedly “sticking with what they know” in terms of measures to take to promote growth. These include increasing their market share, tapping into new geographic markets and offering new products of services.
The survey suggests, BBC News claims, that after years of uncertainty, businesses are now better prepared and better equipped to cope with any issues.
This is evidenced by the fact that 85 per cent of CEOs say they “have access” to the talent required to help deliver the company strategy and 53 per cent expect to recruit in the next year.PwC’s chairman and senior partner, Ian Powell said: “The challenge now for the UK CEO is ensuring that their companies remain flexible, maintain cost controls and restructure to adapt to this slower growth environment.”
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
Businesses should use instant messaging
British businesses should make better use of instant messaging (IM) according to research, Fresh Business Thinking reports.
A survey carried out by Symantec Corp has found that a “general misunderstanding” of IM with regard to security and informality has resulted in three quarters of firms shunning the tool, deeming it unproductive.
Yet data released by YouGov found that, when used “the right way”, IM can prove an extremely efficient method of communication. Of those who use IM at work, 55 per cent said it dramatically cut the number of emails sent and received, while 50 per cent said it was “more efficient” than email.
The findings revealed that IM is used predominantly to ask colleagues urgent, quick questions, to communicate information and to multi-task. 45 per cent said that they felt the sociable aspect allowed them to build better relationships with work mates.
Additionally, itbusiness.ca points out, IM is real-time collaborative and allows for group conversations, provided all parties have signed up for an account with the IM provider.
To appease the fears of company decision makers or the CEO, Symantec has made several recommendations as to the proper use of IM. The first is to create and publicise an IM policy, providing guidance around how and why the tool should be used, i.e. keep personal contacts separate.
Educate staff on the benefits and risks of IM to enable them to decide whether it the right form of communication and to know that conversations can be saved.
Lastly remind staff that workplace IM should be treated as any other form of office communication, to minimise any reputational damage caused by careless statements.
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
Social media policies a must for reputational protection
Employers must protect their business’ reputation through the use of internet policies, reports Fresh Business Thinking.
It’s advice that the CEO of any business should heed: put a social media policy in place to govern what employees can upload to the internet, in case it causes any reputational damage.
The call is particularly pertinent at this time of year, with the possibility of ‘exuberant’ Christmas party photos being shared on Facebook or drunken anecdotes getting uploaded to Twitter.
It’s a modern phenomenon, but one that is becoming increasingly more relevant, hence the need for more stringent procedures to prevent the posting of potentially harmful content on the internet.
A survey of 1,000 small and medium-sized businesses by support specialists ELAS found that 65 per cent of employers did not have any such policy in place, leaving staff unaware of what what acceptable online behaviour.
Businesses are being advised to “own and not fear” social media. A policy outlining what is appropriate and what constitutes misconduct will demonstrate they have a handle on it, People Management revealed.
According to ELAS’ head of employment law, Peter Mooney, the issue is that content can be loaded and cause damage long before an employer finds out.
The second problem is that many employers may believe that what staff do and say on their social networks is none of their business – but this is not so when it involves the company.
“Employers are well within their rights to remind staff that they are ambassadors for their companies around the clock and make clear that anything which brings the business into disrepute cannot be tolerated,” Mr Mooney added.
“If they don’t, then what starter out as a bit of fun between colleagues at a Christmas party can quickly become a damaging and uncontrollable storm which leaves your company’s good name in tatters.”
It’s advice that the CEO of any business should heed: put a social media policy in place to govern what employees can upload to the internet, in case it causes any reputational damage.
The call is particularly pertinent at this time of year, with the possibility of ‘exuberant’ Christmas party photos being shared on Facebook or drunken anecdotes getting uploaded to Twitter.
It’s a modern phenomenon, but one that is becoming increasingly more relevant, hence the need for more stringent procedures to prevent the posting of potentially harmful content on the internet.
A survey of 1,000 small and medium-sized businesses by support specialists ELAS found that 65 per cent of employers did not have any such policy in place, leaving staff unaware of what what acceptable online behaviour.
Businesses are being advised to “own and not fear” social media. A policy outlining what is appropriate and what constitutes misconduct will demonstrate they have a handle on it, People Management revealed.
According to ELAS’ head of employment law, Peter Mooney, the issue is that content can be loaded and cause damage long before an employer finds out.
The second problem is that many employers may believe that what staff do and say on their social networks is none of their business – but this is not so when it involves the company.
“Employers are well within their rights to remind staff that they are ambassadors for their companies around the clock and make clear that anything which brings the business into disrepute cannot be tolerated,” Mr Mooney added.
“If they don’t, then what starter out as a bit of fun between colleagues at a Christmas party can quickly become a damaging and uncontrollable storm which leaves your company’s good name in tatters.”
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