art of conversation

The Art of the Disclaimer

Si bought a new clock (manufactured by Acctim) for our studio recently, fitted the batteries, but it didn’t work properly. The leaflet inside   listed a great many conditions under which the clock would NOT work - so maybe we shouldn't have been surprised - for example:

 

“Due to atmospheric conditions the signal is often strongest between midnight and 4am”

 

“If nothing else works, take the clock outside on a clear night and remove the battery”

 

“If you plan to use this clock in a concrete or metal building, reception will be improved if the clock is placed     near to a window”

 

“Do not place the item too near to any electrical appliances ... Many natural and man-made materials and also bad weather can block or interfere with radio signal reception”

 

As we didn’t plan to use the clock in a straw hut on a deserted tropical island, we felt it may not be the product for us, after all.

 

If the clock manufacturers had researched their product, surely this leaflet would not have gone out. Or even, if they had READ it...?

 

Simon

Battle of the giants

The big contest last night was obviously which ad would be the ‘best in break’.

 

Interesting question, as reported on BrandRepublic. And a chance to show some pictures from the game.

 

ITV netted £9m from advertisers like Cadbury Trebor Bassett, Samsung, Blackberry, L'Oreal, Audi, Nike, Bullmers, Apple, First Direct, BT and XBox.

 

But our vote goes to the Ford Kuga debut ad, a much more impressive effort than the ‘cars on balloons’ Mondeo ad. 

 

The ad was intriguing and engaging – and looked very much like a Honda ad.

 

But maybe the real star brands of the show were AIG and Heineken. AIG because of all the coverage of victorious Man Utd players. Heineken because Man Utd's goalie cleverly blended in with the Heineken ad behind him, enabling him to save Anelka’s pen (merde alors, where did he spring from? wondered Nic).

 

 

This after he put JT off by diving the wrong way.

 

Not that this is just about the football, or that some of us are so chuffed with doing so well this season.

 

And we do commiserate with Chelski who helped to make it such a thriller.

 

After all, some of our best friends (and clients) are Chelsea fans.

 

But even they would have to agree that the best team won.

 

How refreshing that would be!

TEAMWORK WINS IN BARCELONA

       

(picture by No Pip No!)

Reports of the death of qualitative research have been greatly exaggerated.

I returned from the 4th annual AQR/QRCA conference in Barcelona with the feeling that there is life both within and beyond the focus group. What started as an idea over crab cakes lunch in Grand Central Station nine years ago has become a regular collaboration between AQR and QRCA - qualitative research trade associations based in UK and US respectively.

That restaurant has now gone, Pat Sabena tells me. I hope the conference continues to thrive – it really has something to offer. It was quite possibly the best thing to happen in Barcelona since April 23, at the nearby Nou Camp.

.

Dyson @ Grand Designs

Last week, I took a trip to the Grand Designs exhibition at the Excel Centre . I stumbled across the Dyson stand exhibiting their new 'ball' vacuum cleaner.

I wondered what makes this a 'grand design?' It has the combination of innovation and simplicity. It was very intuitive to move in all directions, not just back and forth. It provokes the response 'Why didn't anybody think of that before?'

Here's me trying the new Dyson hoovering (or Dysoning?) around a computer generated lounge.

Below is the latest Dyson ad where a leading engineer claims traditional vacuum cleaners have an inherent design flaw: they're restricted by four wheels. Enter the new Dyson pivoting on a roller ball.

Dyson are confident their vacuum plus 'ball' will sell at a premium of £300. It's innovative, uncomplicated and robust and seems a logical progression from older models. They haven't needed to reinvent the wheel.

Simon

In Search of Authenticity

Our tenth post in the series Quite Interesting Things You Didn’t Know about Borough Market, features ‘honey jam’ made by Tuscan nuns and chocolate made by monks.

Both products are from the Tuscan Monastery of Camaldoli, where Simona grew up. Now she is selling these products at Borough Market. Have a look ...

These days, we all want more authenticity. The more specific a manufacturer can be about provenance and contents, the more authentic they can claim to be. So, Becks beer is not from Germany, but from Bremen, Germany. Supermarkets now regularly mention the name of the farmer or the farm where their produce comes from.

Wandering around Borough Market is like wandering among the stalls of small-scale food producers from all over the world. You feel you are buying quality and authenticity (at a price, mind you). There’s also the reassurance that you are buying from a reliable source.

And who could be more reliable than nuns and monks?

Simon