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  • Are You Sabotaging Your Own Business?

    For years, Jet Stores operated in the South African retail space as a lower- to mid-income clothing and footwear retail company. The chain was part of the largest and most sophisticated retail group in the country. Jet was seen as the cash cow for the group, and was an important strategic asset for the organization. As the chain evolved over the years, I was involved in leading the development of[...]

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    Embrace change or become a casualty

    I have been saying this for years.  Change is upon us and as a business executive or leader making important decisions you only have 2 choices: either embrace change or become a casualty.  It really is as simple as that. Just ask Target, Sony, Mexx, Smart Set, Jacob, Holt Renfrew (some stores), Sears Canada, Future Shop who are just some of the high profile casualties.  Ask some of the Wal Mart[...]

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    Reactivate lapsed customers – the 17% response rate story

    A number of years ago I was given a task by a cash retail company: generate loyalty from our cash customers. The first cash retail loyalty program in the world I created a free Club for the customers to join and then had to manage the loyalty program that was part of the club. At the time, this was the first full-scale loyalty program for a major cash retailer in the world.  After a year we had[...]

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    Marketing technology exposed - prepare to be overwhelmed

    So, marketing is simple - right?  All you need to think about is advertising, social media, websites, PR etc etc. This is a new world - Think again and face up to the reality that marketing is much more complex and expansive than you ever imagined. And if you think you can deal with it on your own, then take a look at the infographic below.  Prepare to be overwhelmed.  And this is just the [...]

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    Your smartphone may be smarter than you, the growth of location-based marketing

    Forget about laptops, iPods, iPads, desktops - technology is advancing more rapidly than we ever imagined  So when will we reach the point of not really needing our brains?  As long as you have technology at your fingertips, maybe that day will arrive in the not too distant future :-). if you have a smartphone you really only need to know one thing: how do I work it?  Don't stress your brain[...]

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    Technology and marketing are closing ranks

    Technology and marketing are closing ranks and becoming more and more interdependent.  But that isn't where it stops.  The key component of this marriage of convenience and necessity is strategy - it is the glue that binds them together. Digital tools can become difference makers Whether we like it or not, the digital world, with software technology at the centre, is driving our new reality. [...]

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    Correct approach to implementation will drive new strategy

    How many times have you seen or experienced (first hand) the following scenario: A company announces a new strategy with much fanfare and excitement and one year later, despite all the “work” that goes into it, it seems to be failing miserably. The most critical question to ask is: was the new strategy implemented fully, with the new attitude and approach that was recommended, or was the [...]

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    Old strategy is dead. New strategy is alive and evolving

    Recently I have been reading, with interest, numerous articles about why strategy is dead. While these articles are indeed well thought out, I get the sense that the perspective being put forward is based on the fact that strategic thinking is static, and that the natural evolutionary process of change is not a part of that strategic perspective. And I am not just talking about refreshing ones [...]

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    Budgeting Tips and Tricks – Part Two

    In the last issue of the Mastermind newsletter, we shared four tips for improving the budgeting process.  Those were just the tip of the iceberg!  Here are four additional ideas on how to make your budgeting cycle work for you – all year long! #5 Test Scenarios and Simulations In many cases, when budgets are being developed by teams it is an exercise of entering what is “expected to [...]

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    Can CASL become a blessing in disguise?

    So, I read with a wry smile on my face about the new Canadian Ant-Spam Legislation (CASL) and how many people hate it with a passion.  Don't get me wrong, I too am not a fan of CASL, however businesses have two options in dealing with it: Bitch, moan, complain, write letters, lie down and die etc etc - and this may even create a change in the legislation if the feedback becomes strong enough, [...]

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