You may not have heard of the Indian telcom brand Jio but investors certainly have. The company has recently gathered $20bn from investors that include Google and Facebook. Jio is a company with lots of latent e-commerce potential. It has about a 45% share of Indian mobile phone users and via parent company Reliance... Continue Reading →
At a time when investors are hesitating, British ceramics brand Emma Bridgewater has secured an £8m investment to support growth. It is a big expression of confidence for the pottery company established in 1985 that has organically grown revenues beyond £20m. Like the company's ceramics this investment is eye-catching and led me to reflect on... Continue Reading →
There are many startups postponing launches, but not the money saving app Snoop. With many of us getting anxious about our finances Snoop was gently introduced two weeks ago. The app takes advantage of the disruptive potential of 'open banking' to review your spending and provide personalised money management tips. With a bit of artificial... Continue Reading →
Morrisons, the UK's number four grocery chain has faced increased competition from discounters and seen a steady market share decline in recent years. The very late arrival to on-line grocery delivery hasn't helped. Bigger rivals Tesco and Sainsbury have had more than a 15 year head-start. CEO David Potts understands the need to make up... Continue Reading →
Travelling by tube recently I simply couldn't ignore this advertising from Ecover. To start with there are the provocative, witty and challenging headlines capable of the grabbing attention of most commuters. Loud headlines are matched with loud colours - with posters showcased together for maximum impact. Disruptive, distinct and connected - there is a structure,... Continue Reading →
Persil is a brilliant brand - it promises the core benefit of 'dirt removal' and connects this to a social purpose. As Unilever explain: "Dirt is Good - especially when it’s the result of your kids going out into the world to have fun, explore, learn and experience the very best of the world around... Continue Reading →
Volvo is a brand and business doing well in a challenging industry. Increasingly recognised as a premium brand, Volvo has enjoyed a fifth consecutive year of record sales and has won its first European Car of the Year award in 2018. Purchased by Geely Holdings in 2010 Volvo sold 90,417 vehicles in China last year —... Continue Reading →
In the week that Apple issued a profit warning bakery chain Greggs has gained huge press and social media coverage for sales of a vegan 'sausage' roll that has led to customer queues ‘out of the door’ at some stores. The public interest in part reflects a dramatic growth in those going vegan in the... Continue Reading →
When innovating to deliver growth I have noticed a tendency for teams to start with product ideation and then progress to packaging as a support for their product ideas. But with the pack first to engage shoppers and usually representing a fraction of the cost of product the risk is that significant profitable growth opportunities... Continue Reading →
