But will it last?
But rather than this optimism of growth being propelled rocket like into the stratosphere – the trajectory of growth is more like a balloon in the wind. It is likely to go up – but equally likely to dip, go sideways, up, down, up and down!
This was the prevailing opinion during a recent trip to the US to the SGIA show.
Unusually, SGIA took place in New Orleans. I say that as many Americans told me that they felt this location was wrong for an event. Why? Because the last SGI…
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Added by Marcus Timson on October 12, 2009 at 1:02pm —
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Innovation isn’t a buzzword created by marketers.
It is a state of mind, an attitude and behaviour.
Innovators don’t stop innovating just because the economy has got tougher.
This kind of financial pressure brings out the best in an innovator.
Innovation is a key ingredient of success and a key characteristic of a dynamic, progressive and desirable brand.
GM totally forgot about the importance of innovation and reinvention.
They got fat, risk averse and defensive. Had it not been for the i…
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Added by Marcus Timson on October 4, 2009 at 1:21pm —
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Having had a bad back recently, I decided I must take the plunge and go for a swim to ease the pain and set my ageing body back onto the road to recovery.
I had a condition called a 'hurty back'. A condition that afflicts men only. Women just get on with it!
Any how, I decided that swimming in the UK is not a pleasurable experience.
Upon arriving pool side, bleary eyed at 06:40am you are presented with 3 narrow lanes.
One for slow swimmers, one for medium and one for fast. I took the ‘safe’…
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Added by Marcus Timson on September 16, 2009 at 8:17pm —
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You know the type don’t you?
I shall paint a scenario. You are inspired by an idea, by something you have seen, heard, thought or felt – this idea has got your energy up to a level were you are excited and your passion begins to flow as you start to visual just how wonderful this idea, innovation, application or thing will be when it is fully realised.
Of course, you have been in business long enough to know that convincing people of this idea is where the real effort goes in.
But the formati…
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Added by Marcus Timson on August 19, 2009 at 7:00pm —
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Technological innovation is taking place in multiple industries – from handheld pda’s to twitter to wide format digital printing production.
The digital technological revolution is racing ahead – but ‘Average Joe’ (0r the person who is not technically minded) has still not caught up with the creative and technical advantages that technology can bring you.
I think most of us are too proud to ask (at the fear of looking silly) and too impatient to enquire.
Whatever the reason, humanity’s migrat…
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Added by Marcus Timson on August 4, 2009 at 9:58pm —
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DS (this means digital signage obviously), is arguably an effective marketing tool in high density environments (indoors and outdoors) with transient and potentially lucrative audiences.
But it is still unproven in FMCG retail locations, in my opinion.
And there is little measurement on hand to prove its power. For example, the media and perhaps more importantly, the content seems to currently be more 'interruption marketing' oriented. By that, I mean it is designed to disrupt and interrupt th…
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Added by Marcus Timson on May 31, 2009 at 1:06pm —
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We are constantly reassured that launching the Wide Network was a good idea as we consistently see a stream of new members across 140 different countries engaging, networking, debating and sharing information - and even more importantly developing new business opportunity online!
Please help us to break the 1000 mark by inviting your contacts, customers and colleagues to also share potential of the Wide Network.
The larger and more connected we are - the greater the value and the higher our co…
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Added by Marcus Timson on May 25, 2009 at 5:58pm —
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Print and exhibitions are inextricably linked. Always have been – the Guttenberg Press was launched at the Frankfurt Trade Fair in 1454 – so print and an exhibition fuelled the spread of the reformation and facilitated countless other revolutions throughout history.
So print and shows deliver outstanding results. We all know that!
And the story goes on in Amsterdam next week. Digital innovation continues to breathe life and creativity into the wide format sector. The imagination, determination…
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Added by Marcus Timson on May 6, 2009 at 8:00pm —
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9 out of 10 Americans just don't like Las Vegas it and I can't believe it. (We asked every American person at ISA this very question). Yes Las Vegas is the jewel in the crown of over consumption. Vegas is the unrivalled capital of hedonism. Fun seekers, unashamedly flock to the Nevada desert to enjoy, escape and en-gorge themselves on the gargantuan bounty of plunder on offer. It is surreal, disorientating and delightfully disconnected from reality. The cynics amongst us might liken Vegas to a C…
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Added by Marcus Timson on April 22, 2009 at 7:51pm —
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Until a complete revolution in the minds and behaviour of the consumer takes place, the environment will continue to be a fashionable marketing asset rather than a genuine care.
You see the thing is; economic prosperity and environmental sustainability are not likely bedfellows. At least they aren’t yet.
Since I wrote my first rant on the environmental issue - I have been monitoring progress, or lack of it, from afar. And not a lot is happening in my opinion – apart from confusion and contradi…
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Added by Marcus Timson on March 9, 2009 at 9:00pm —
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The world really has gone crazy - again. All across the globe business people huddle in the recesses of their buildings – planning, brainstorming, discussing, consuming and sharing the latest information on the global economic crisis.
It affects and impacts on everyone. The human decision making process has ground to a halt. Despite huge injections of our money into the financial systems, nothing is happening and no credit is being given.
And the CEOs of these banks that have caused this probl…
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Added by Marcus Timson on February 12, 2009 at 10:01pm —
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"The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall."
Ernesto “Che” Guevara
Make it happen! Alter your approach! Stay positive! Engage the imagination! Keep an open mind!
The theme at this year’s FESPA Digital event is Revolution.
The Revolution is being pushed by technology owners and manufacturers, and pulled by the demands of an informed, empowered and financially concerned consumer.
At FESPA, our mantra is change or die. There’s no place for the "establi…
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Added by Marcus Timson on January 28, 2009 at 8:41pm —
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The man that decides to stop advertising to save money – is like the man that stops their watch to save time.
When times get tougher – it is all too easy to take shelter from the storm, turn the heating up, get in your favourite supplies, eat comfort food and settle down to a nice, trusted routine. Inevitably, you open up your favourite excel spreadsheet and you line by line look at how to reduce costs – not a lot, but overall it might make a short term difference – as you do this a comfortable…
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Added by Marcus Timson on January 21, 2009 at 9:00pm —
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This is what the media love to tout about – another doom and gloom story about the UK economic nightmare.
But I think Woolworth’s demise was bound to happen one day.
Why? Because in our experience wanting, brand consuming and high expectation economy, Woolworth’s has become irrelevant. From what I can tell, Woolworth’s is most famous for “pick and mix” sweets and cheap “stuff”. It has been comprehensively beaten by newer, more modern and global retailers. It has been overtaken in the cost depa…
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Added by Marcus Timson on December 11, 2008 at 12:00pm —
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Cheer up! It's not that bad...
Despite the gloomy predictions about the British economy, I think the modern, forward-thinking printer will survive and some will even thrive.
Without question, it is certainly getting tougher out there for printers.
Even with this market pressure, the modern brand will not stop marketing their goods, as the pressure to win the hearts and minds of the consumer continues unabated.
In a tougher environment, innovation, ROI and measurability will become increasingl…
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Added by Marcus Timson on September 23, 2008 at 3:08pm —
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“At current growth rates in Asia standards of living may rise 100 fold, 10,000 percent within a human life span. The rise of Asia and all that follows it will be the dominant story in history books written 300 years from now with the Cold War and the rise of Islam as secondary stories”Larry Summer, ex-governor of the World Bank, taken from Kishore Mahbubani’s “The new Asian Hemisphere”.
The well documented growth of the Asian economies continues to provide the basis of many news stories and eco…
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Added by Marcus Timson on August 12, 2008 at 7:50pm —
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I don't think I am particularly unusual. A little eccentric maybe.
But I am motivated. I want to perform at the highest possible level and I want to succeed.
I get excited about ideas and will invest in a new idea that inspires me, my customers and colleagues.
The problem is that I don’t always know what I want!
A supplier of mine recently said to me “I can do whatever you want”. In response to this bold statement, I should have said, “Why don’t you strip off and try Morris dancing to Motorhead’…
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Added by Marcus Timson on April 15, 2008 at 6:35am —
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It is a crazy, beautiful world we live in. It is full of contradictions. On the one hand governments and the EU want us to be entrepreneurial and dynamic and on the other hand we are expected to be socially responsible and environmentally friendly.
But I, like most modern people, am a believer in positive aspects of environmental best practice. The biggest problem I have with the whole thing is that it is poorly marketed. The whole thing says to me “this is going to be a lot of hard work”.
And…
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Added by Marcus Timson on April 11, 2008 at 6:30am —
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