You are browsing the Blog for help.

How do you know when to trust a Brand? (or An Economy Too Far!)

August 17, 2010 in Health & Safety, Reference, The Unexpected, UK

As this story unfurled I was reminded of James Hammond’s presentation at an O4RB Meeting on the subject of Brands or Branding  (business brands that is as distinct from those applied with hot irons).

For something like 30 years I had been protecting myself from the stresses and strains of uncertain motoring dilemma with my membership of the Royal Automobile Club.

Any car can break down or suffer unforeseen problems no matter how well it is serviced and, in truth I came to regard my RAC membership as more important to me than my statutory car insurance policy. The good old RAC and its devoted team never once let me down, and would always go that extra mile to get me back on the road as soon as possible.

On one occasion, after a broken metal aerial had been flung up from the road to spear my car’s fuel tank, the patrolman even went so far as to make a repair by cutting an unused rubber duck aerial from the roof of his own vehicle, and using it, together with (I think) some epoxy resin, satisfactorily plug the hole. That repair was still holding strong when some time later I had the fuel tank replaced under a claim on my comprehensive insurance policy.

However the RAC are not the cheapest bunch to belong to, and as many of their rivals advertise strongly, and appear to have a good and happy following I switched horses for one of the others last year to save some money. I mean why not! They all offer the same service don’t they?

Just short of a year later I am here to tell you that nothing is further from the truth.

Just a few weeks ago, while in the Lake District with my wife, our caravan and trusty old land Rover Discovery we discovered a broken exhaust pipe hanging dangerously below the Landy.

No problem I thought, I’ll just ring my trusty break down service and ask them to send a man to safely secure the pipe so I can drive to an exhaust centre and have a new one fitted. You may imagine my surprise when an hour later I was visited by a man with an enormous recovery vehicle but hardly a tool kit to his name. All he was able to produce was a screwdriver and some cable ties (plastic cable ties) with which he tied up the exhaust pipe and drove off into the midday sun. (Oh yes we were in Coniston during the first rainless week for 6 weeks – it wasn’t all bad luck.)

When very shortly afterwards I again rang the breakdown firm they acknowledged the shortfall in their service, and agreed that if I located an appropriate exhaust centre they would provide recovery of our Landy to that centre the following morning. This was done but meanwhile we needed to request a hire car. No problem with one being provided but it had to be brought to us so we could be taken in it to the hire company’s office many miles away to complete the hire agreement before we drove it back to Coniston

All this wasted a day and a half of a one-week holiday!

So there is a lesson here. Just because the RAC has a proven and reliable brand it is a mistake to assume that any similar organisation can even hold a candle to its level of service. I have been extremely happy to rejoin the RAC and pay them whatever they ask.

Now if I can generate for my business the sort of Brand that the RAC has!!

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
No Comments »

DON’T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS!

February 14, 2010 in Basic Skills, Development, Startup 

 Robert Ashton, is an entrepreneur, and challenging
 business author.  His books including 'How to Sell'
 are published by Hamlyn.  Visit www.robertashton.co.uk
 to find out more.

 Robert kindly agreed to contribute a regular column
 to ‘Wising UP!’ so this was the  first of of our
 “Ten Ways...” series from the first issue of Wising
 UP in 2003! - as useful now as when first published.

It’s all too easy to assume that everything’s going to turn out just fine. But the wily entrepreneur makes sure he’s chosen the right eggs to sit on. Here are ten ways you can be  sure you’re hatching winners!

  1. RESEARCH YOUR MARKET There are very few truly original ideas. Someone, somewhere will be already doing what you’re planning. Make sure your idea looks different and stays different.
  2. ASK A FRIEND Bounce your business ideas off someone who’ll tell you straight if they think the idea’s a runner or not. Some advisors tell you what you want to hear. Seek honest feedback.
  3. STOCK THE FRIDGE Investing in a new business, product or service always takes longer than you think. Make sure you can afford to eat as you wait for the payback.
  4. SHARE THE WORK Cuckoos lay their eggs in others’ nests and let them do the work. Who could help you incubate your new idea? Ask Business Link for ideas.
  5. USE A RULER Benchmark your progress against that of others chasing the same market. You could be doing well, but still be underperforming against your rivals and therefore capable of achieving more.
  6. ROTTEN EGGS SMELL BAD Some ideas won’t hatch. Accept this, carefully and quickly ditch the losers and focus on your winners. Losers are like bad eggs, the longer you keep them, the worse they get!
  7. BE FLEXIBLE Customers occasionally use your product or service in ways you never envisaged. Celebrate their innovation and use it to win business elsewhere
  8. RIDE THE STORMS At times, incubating your new idea will be very uncomfortable. If you’re sure it’s a winner, sit tight and wait for the sunshine.
  9. FEED YOUR CHICKS Once hatched, new business ideas can devour resources at an alarming rate before becoming profitable. Another reason to focus on winners.
  10. EMPTY THE NEST Could you do better if you started all over again? Never rule out selling your venture to free up the time and capital to do it a second time. Always know what your business is worth.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
No Comments »

Collaborative Law – The New and Dignified approach to Divorce

February 14, 2010 in The Law, The Unexpected

Lyn Brisley, a family law specialist at Buckles Solicitors LLP, explains this new approach to divorce that has arrived from across the Atlantic in the USA.

Most people appreciate that pursuing a divorce can be a stressful and bitter experience. Dividing assets and sorting out the arrangements for children, can generate unpalatable litigation which is expensive and undignified.

The collaborative law process provides a fresh approach to divorce and is designed to promote agreement between husband and wife on varying issues, for example, how the assets should be divided and how arrangements for the children should be organised. This is all done without the stress of going to Court.

Collaborative law should be suitable for the majority of couples where there is some disagreement regarding a whole host of arrangements pursuant to the breakdown of the marriage, but where there is nevertheless a willingness to try and reach an agreement.

Where there is a genuine desire to find a solution as well as a willingness to be open and honest, couples sign up to a contractually binding agreement, ensuring that neither of them litigates through the Court. The “Participation Agreement” is signed by the acting solicitors and clients alike at the first “four way meeting” between the clients and their solicitors. The Participation Agreement explains all the process involved.

The solicitors and their clients attend a series of “four way meetings” where they meet up to discuss a variety of issues. Agendas are set, full and frank information is shared which paves the way for structured discussion.

The beauty of collaborative law is that it deals with difficult matters in a non-confrontational, non-litigious manner. The parties themselves remain in control of what is important to them and are free to openly negotiate with the assistance of their solicitors around the table. All those involved, solicitors and clients alike, are encouraged to keep an open mind and facilitate discussion for both sides, while providing sound legal advice for their client en-route.

With Collaborative Law, an air of dignity is maintained, and more often than not a working relationship with ones ex-spouse is maintained which is particularly beneficial for the children if relevant. Constructive solutions to personal difficulties can be proffered by either solicitor involved, as the lawyers do not partake in a “head to head” or entrenched conduct.

Collaborative law is growing in popularity here in Peterborough, and more and more solicitors are being trained and are committed to this approach. It is understood that just over 1,000 lawyers nationally are accredited with this expertise. This is a client and solution based process.

For more information on this story or any other family legal matter, please contact Lyn Brisley at the Peterborough office of Buckles Solicitors LLP on 01733 888841 or email at lyn.brisley@buckles-law.co.uk

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
No Comments »