Celebrating the achievements and resilience of small businesses and the self-employed. An awards ceremony designed to celebrate the achievements and resilience of small businesses and the self-employed has launched for 2023 – and it’s free to enter. The annual awards programme, hosted by the Federation of Small Businesses, recognises the huge contribution smaller businesses and the self-employed make to the UK. As the largest event of its kind in the small business calendar, the high-profile FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards showcases the outstanding success and innovation of the small b ..read more

The Bank of England has projected that the UK will next see its economy grow during Q3 2024. That’s a long wait. But does it mean that businesses should rush to fire their sales teams and hunker down to wait things out? Not in the slightest! Instead, it’s simply time to refocus. Finding the opportunities No economic downturn is without its opportunities. Yes, economists are projecting a rough ride ahead, with inflation marching doggedly towards double figures and the cost-of-living crisis deepening. It’s a tough outlook for business leaders, but that doesn’t mean the answer is radical, panic ..read more

Once upon a time, broadcasting a single advertising message to all potential customers via print, billboards, radio and TV was the only option. Once upon a time, broadcasting a single advertising message to all potential customers via print, billboards, radio and TV was the only option. Then the Internet added more tools by allowing more personalised messaging via email and targeted ads. Now, the interactivity offered by websites, apps and email means marketing strategies can evolve to a new level, building enduring relationships through two-way individualised messaging via a unique mix of c ..read more

With 51% of buyers having made a B2B purchase after receiving a demo through augmented reality, it’s time for revenue-focused businesses to usher in .a new era of hybrid sales and digital-first technology In the world of B2B, businesses and their sales teams are always looking for the competitive advantage. However, in an industry that has been steeped in face-to-face relationship-building for decades, new research from Showpad points to a rising tide of hybridity and digital transformation.  For the first time, analysis of buyer preferences indicates that businesses must embrace the Me ..read more

Press coverage can often be left behind among the urgencies of starting or scaling a company. You may not have even considered that your business could make headlines on news sites and blogs. But an increasing number of entrepreneurs are realizing that press, or public relations (PR), should not only be in your business plan but also one of your top priorities. The reality of modern business is that platforms are oversaturated with marketing content. Consumers don’t know where to look next, so they turn their heads elsewhere and tune out commercial advertising. Trust is at an all-time low. T ..read more

In spite of adverse conditions created by a pandemic, international conflict and a cost-of-living crisis, we’ve seen entrepreneurial spirit soar in the UK over the past two years. Amidst this challenging economic landscape, a new breed of everyday entrepreneur has emerged, expanding the UK’s vibrant microbusiness community. Our Venture Forward data found the percentage of start-up owners aged under 35 has more than doubled since March 2020, with increasing representation for women and ethnic minority groups. These businesses are the engine of the UK economy, particularly in providing value t ..read more

Did you know that distinct colours increase brand recognition by 80%? The thing is though, it goes so much deeper than that. Brand colours aren’t just about recognition, there’s a deeper psychological effect that the colours of a brand have on us.  In fact, we make up our mind on a brand in seven seconds purely based on their colour choice.  That’s all you get. Seven seconds before your target customers make up their mind on whether they like you or not. And it’s all subconscious, we’re not even aware that we’re making these judgements. It’s because each colour has a meaning attach ..read more

Video is a fantastic marketing tool but some people still think making videos is expensive and time-consuming. Video is a fantastic marketing tool but some people still think making videos is expensive and time-consuming. This is old-fashioned thinking, and it’s also true that videos do not even have to be professionally produced to add value. You only have to look at TikTok to realise that video is now everywhere, and all you need is a mobile phone to make marketing videos.  Expensive corporate video is no longer the only game in town, now the humble mobile phone is your access to succ ..read more

A long time ago, I once interviewed for a job as a design manager at P&G. Expecting a thorough review of my design portfolio I was surprised to be given an exam on marketing data analysis. I was flummoxed. Unsurprisingly, I didn’t get the job but, after that experience, I didn’t want it. What have statistics got to do with design anyway? Well, quite a lot actually. Having gained a bit more experience over the years, not least being at the helm of a design agency, I have developed a much more mature view. In our capacity as creatives who are presenting our design work to marketers, we ass ..read more

Cross-sector partnerships are a great way to expand the reach of your business with new audiences. As Laundryheap continues to expand its retail sector and hospitality partnerships, we’ve learnt that there are three critical factors when it comes to launching a partnership that’s successful and long-standing: Ensure you have business synergy It’s vital to understand how a partnership between your businesses can work in your favour - make sure that you explore all of the possible outcomes from this relationship and determine how both teams can really add value to each other’s brand and missio ..read more