Entries Tagged 'Business Knowledge & Knowhow' ↓

Property consultancy Drivers Jonas, that is in the process of merging with Deloitte, has been found guilty of “parasitisime” or parasitical behaviour by the Paris Tribunbal de Commerce. Rather than pay for a stand at an exhibition they hired the nearest restaurant to entertain conference delegates. In France that is ‘just not cricket’ according to the 100,000 euro judgement.

I have had clients who have done a similar thing in the UK to contain overall costs and wonder where we all go from here? Take up Boules perhaps!

Yorkshire – God’s Own County

Mill towns, Ship builders, Building societies and Car manufactures have all benefited from locating their businesses near  similar  activities.  Science and technology parks are the new Glasgow or Coventries and it still makes sense to locate your business where industry talent is being developed.

Coal, Steel and Textiles may be synonymous with traditional Yorkshire businesses but this article highlights some of the many  sweet brands that have been developed in Yorkshire.

The European Commission is at it again with an investigation sparked by three of Google’s potential competitors. Alleging ‘abuse of its dominant position’ this investigation is a penalty of having over 80% of the UK search market.
Google’s customer loyalty has been earned through technical excellence and a customer service that provides a high level of satisfaction such that customer eschew other offerings.
Customers can always vote with their feet or a click of their fingers in this case.

Julia Holtz, senior competition counsel for Google says ‘increased scrutiny comes with the territory when you are a large company’. Envy and commercial practice can attack your Intellectual Assets.

T-Mobile

The proposed joint venture between Orange and T-Mobile looks like it will get clearance from the European Commission despite consumer champion Which, The OFT, Ofcom and our Competition Commission.
As the Sunday Telegraph put it ‘Based on the Lisbon Treaty, the European Commission has the ultimate power to decide on such issues.’

Side agreements have and will be done to sweeten smaller mobile competitor  3.

Knowledge of and engagement with the power bases can be an important part of your Intellectual Assets.
It is an international market out there ’so mind how you go’.

Two American gurus of New Product Development Dr. Robert Cooper and Dr. Scott Edgett have badged their business as the Product Development Institute Inc.
Great for a consultancy business and the ‘world’s most widely implemented innovation system, Stage-Gate®’ must also benifit.

New product development is crucial to the health of business so keep up with the latest thoughts:

Winning at New Products: Accelerating the Process from Idea to Launch by Robert Cooper

Innovation Management and New Product Development by Dr Paul Trott

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Wampit.com claims to be a leading UK business search directory. The unique selling point is its capacity to include “rich” content such as video on free adverts; ‘you tube for business advertising?’

Time will tell if the intellectual offering meshes with both market demand for directory search and business promotion. In the meantime some businesses may wish to register.

One

North East

New financial support for innovation may be found in the North East

* A £7.5 million Angel Match Fund that will offer early-stage investments ranging between £50,000 and £150,000.
* A £15 million Technology Proof of Concept Fund targeting very early-stage technology businesses with investments ranging between £20,000 and £100,000.
* A £20 million Growth Fund for mature companies at the development and growth stages offering investments between £50,000 and £400,000.
* A £20 million Seed Fund for pre-start and early-stage firms that can invest between £50,000 and £750,000.
* A £25 million Technology Fund providing investments worth between £50,000 and £1.25 million to technology-based companies at any stage of development.
* A £20 million Growth Fund 500 that will invest between £350,000 and £1.25 million into relatively mature companies that need growth capital.

This Government quango, part of the Technology Strategy Board ‘wants to make the UK a global leader in innovation. To do so we need ensure the UK is a place where:

* business is successfully competing at the forefront of technology and innovation developments globally;
* Government provides a supportive and coherent environment which allows innovation to thrive;
* society understands, embraces, values and is excited by innovation and technology.’

Fighting infection through detection, Crop Protection, Plastic electronics and other R&D projects are funded via competitions with up to £29m available to fund feasibility studies, fast-track projects and larger R&D projects. Read more

Kraft are looking to buy Cadbury for approaching 800p per share. In mid 2009 Investors Chronicle reported Cadbury’s total net assets were 259p per share of which 292p was for intangibles! In other words the value of factories, stock and equipment was less than Cadbury’s liabilities.

So Kraft are buying the hope value, the right to future earnings and cash-flows plus the brand franchises and getting nothing ‘tangible’ for £8 per share.  However you Crunchie the numbers Kraft may end up with Chocolate Egg on their faces unless the Curly Wurly intellectual assets perform.

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It is argued that there are ‘riches in niches’ and that a rifle will be more effective than a shotgun so your niche strategy is a crucial part of your Intellectual Property.

Niche customers will be happy if someone serves them well, you can own the niche and make it expensive or not worthwhile for competitors to target your niche,  your marketing investment will be totally focused. If you are mass market or focused too generally you may be niched by others who will target your profitable customers.

A well defined niche can produce a great business,  Tetra Foods make 80% of the worlds tropical fish food. Read more about niche branding.