The 7C’s for a Recession

I facilitated an enlightening and stimulating session yesterday for the Entrepreneurs’ Forum and Teesside Business School in the North East. Among the contributors was experienced entrepreneur Simon Pearson of Pearsons in Middlesbrough who shared with the audience some wonderful insights into the success of his recruitment, digital and marketing businesses, including an online recruitment business Sector1.net one of the largest job sites in the country.

Simon shared his 7C’s for surviving, even thriving in a recession, and I thought I’d share them:

1. Cash is King
2. Costs – revisit them regularly
3. Customers – don’t forget it’s a buyer’s market – how are you differentiating yourself?
4. Competitors – how well do you really know what they are offering and doing?
5. Concentrate on your ‘core offer’ – stick to what you know
6. Communicate – reassure and engage with customers, and do the same with your people too
7. Co-operate – create win win relationships (even with competitors if necessary!)

As Simon himself said, some of it might be fairly obvious stuff, but we could all do with a little reminder every now and then.

‘C’ you later!

Decrease in Krone, Increase in Praise

A decrease in the value of the Norwegion Krone has resulted in an increase in word of mouth for one of my clients, Activities Abroad, a leading tour operator based in the North East, who specialise in adventure and activity holidays.

Because of the drop in the value of the Krone, the company ‘delighted’ its customers by sending them 5% refunds

OOOOOh No

I was looking to upgrade one of our company mobile phones recently, and was told by the O2 representative on the phone that it couldn’t be upgraded because we were on an old tarrif. I was told that the

Create An ‘Enemy’

I was speaking at the Entrepreneurs’ Forum Peaks And Pitfalls Conference yesterday and among the other speakers was James Averdieck, the Founder and Managing Director of Gu, the fastest growing food company in the UK. He gave a fabulous presentation

Insurance Institute of Newcastle Upon Tyne – Annual Dinner

Andy has been asked to speak at the Insurance Institute of Newcastle Upon Tyne Annual Dinner in November. The will be held at the Civic Centre in Newcastle on the 28th.

Click here for more details about the Institute

ISMM Bristol

Andy is presenting ‘Thinking in 3D’ at the Institute of Sales and Marketing Management Regional Business Success Seminar in Bristol at The Gables Hotel, Bristol Road, Falfield. Click here for more details.