February Newsletter - Loyalty

by Dr Greg Chapman, MBA

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Loyalty programs are a common marketing strategy for businesses of all sorts. From frequent flyer programs for airline, to cards with stamps that mean your sixth cup of coffee is no charge.

These programs work as they encourage you to continue to use the services of a single supplier rather than to spread your purchases around, which may, in fact, be more convenient for you. The business then recognises this and rewards the customer for their loyalty.

Married to the Business - Should we just get jobs?

by Dr Greg Chapman, MBA

Last month, we met Lyn and Mike, who are married and together run a house building business. Mike is a highly skilled builder, certified by the Building Commission, and Lyn runs the office.

Every week Lyn has a pile of invoices to pay. Not to mention making payroll for their staff, and then from what’s left they draw their own wages. Sometimes there is nothing left.

Ad of the Month - Seriously?

by Dr Greg Chapman, MBA

An ad was recently banned because it ‘encouraged the use of electronic goods in water’. The ‘good’ in question was a laptop running on battery power. The person operating it was wearing a suit in a hot tub, with his boss half a meter away who was on the phone to him. The hot tub was in an office, which had a suit of armour as part of its décor. At the end of the ad, the boss pulls two ice creams out from under the water, tastes one, and then hands it to his poor colleague and says “this one is yours”.

Why I Like Real Estate Agents

by Dr Greg Chapman, MBA

With the weak housing market, auctions are experiencing low clearance rates. As a result many vendors are taking a DIY approach, going the private sale route in the belief that they will come out ahead by saving money on agents’ fees. However, this view just looks at the cost and not the value side of a real estate agent’s services.

Business Start-up Story - Two Years On

by Dr Greg Chapman, MBA

Over the last two years, this blog has been following the progress of a business start-up, from the diary of its owner, Alan. The final post of the first year is here, along with links to the earlier posts.

Here is Alan's report two years on.