It’s a bold, confident word ‘expert’. As for its literal definition, an ‘expert’ is someone or a firm with a high level of skill or knowledge in a particular field. For me this raises some questions… – Is the very definition of the term ‘expert’ somewhat vague and open to interpretation? What actually constitutes having a ‘high level of skill or knowledge in a particular field’? – Is being an ‘expert’ something that one can authentically declare of oneself? – And is being an ‘expert’ something that is more appropriately bestowed upon you by others, like an award or privilege...
You may have noticed the extent to which organisations and brands have taken to this word ‘authentic’. I chose the word myself over the word ‘traditional’ in the positioning of my furniture venture Teer & Co. Authentic, is a word that resonates when I browse the website of a design business I know not well called 12 Miles North. Established by two experienced people that know their way around the business of design, this is a young company that I have found myself pointing my clients towards as a great example of how to tell your story and communicate your...
Interesting to read and reflect on the findings of Up to the Light’s latest and very informative report What Clients Think 2016 published in March 2016 in association with the DBA. For anyone unfamiliar with this report it presents the findings of 435 interviews, conducted with clients of design agencies during 2015, to monitor the health of client/agency relationships. As I read through the section ‘Keeping Clients’ which covers client service and client development issues, I found myself recalling and comparing this to the key findings of a client survey I conducted back in 2001 at a time when I was running...
“Simon is a very empathetic ‘people person’ who, in addition to the benefits he has brought to the business, has also provided me with greater clarity for me personally as to what I want to happen over the next few years”….more.
...Owners and leaders of small and medium size design firms can often be found working predominantly IN the business tackling the day-to-days. Understandable maybe in the multitasking hands-on world of the SME. But are many positioning themselves and focusing where they could or indeed should be for the firm? Most will follow what is meant when we use the term ON or IN the business, but for the sake of clarity… Working ON the business is stepping back and looking into the business and equally what’s happening outside the business in the market. It’s concerning yourself with the bigger picture...
Defining succinctly who you are and what it is that makes you ‘special’ is a challenge for anyone in this industry. However, a clear positioning can deliver much-needed clarity in a time-starved world and saturated marketplace. Whether in advertising, media, research or design, those agencies that have enjoyed the most consistent success have powerful intellectual content – they’ve developed models, tools, structures and processes that demonstrate and articulate their beliefs. In making clear statements of these ideas, they not only position and differentiate themselves, they also create a culture that attracts like-minded employees and clients. A good example of how...
“Simon is a truly excellent business mentor and coach. Over the last 5 years he has been a valuable sounding board in helping me to grow my business. The combination of his commercial acumen, challenging questions and strong listening skills has enabled me to find out more about myself and what I need to specifically work on or change to achieve my desired outcome”….more.
...teer Role Models has been introduced to emphasise the importance of finding effective ways to communicate with and nurture our contacts and potential new clients on the new business journey. Nurturing in a meaningful and constructive way is a balance between the right level of contact and having something of value and relevance to share. In a time starved world, communicating brief insights on those we see in our industry that serve as role models – whether for their behaviours, actions, tools, intellectual property they create, etc – is one way of constructively expressing ourselves, communicating some value, standing out, and building positive perceptions....
“We worked with Simon for three years (Oct 2012 to Sep 2015) and his mission was to help us grow our business from a consultancy to develop a more design-orientated offer. He was instrumental in setting up, from scratch, a new environmental graphics & wayfinding team and taking our workspace design team into new areas”….more.
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Like most commercial organisations, design agencies are in business to see improvements in sales and profits. But how do design firms actually approach the task of exploring their options for strategic growth, and what are the typical options that can help them frame these considerations? As a starting point, there are perhaps four strategic options to explore: Option 1 – Market Penetration (increase market share) Current services/products into current market sectors to attract more clients = Low Risk Option 2 – Product or Service Development Develop new services/products for current market sectors/clients Option 3 – Market Development Current services/products into new market...
