UK debt is a hot topic in Economic circles and amongst academics. The blogging industry, never one to miss an opportunity, has latched on to this with a regular feature on Economics Help.

If I keep reading this I might begin to understand the size of the ‘Chancellors Challenge 2010′.

In the meantime I am reminded of Walt Disney ‘We owe, we owe, so its off to work we go’!

For young businesses part of the brand are the awards and prizes you have won along the way.

CMI have 11 National Management and Leadership Awards where you can nominate yourself or a colleague.

Even your local  awards, training and trade memberships may add value to your personal or business brand.

Davison is an invention and ideas development company. Inventors and small companies often find it hard to understand the innovation process. If that is your situation you could do worse than see how this American company performs. It starts with a confidentiality agreement.

Ideas are 10 a penny or should it be cent. Experience getting to market via retailers or licensing is worth lots more than a penny.

‘Davison does not perform analysis of the potential feasibility, marketability, patentability or profitability of ideas submitted to it. New product development is an uncertain endeavor and Davison does not represent or guarantee, expressly or impliedly, that an idea submitted to it will be licensed, sell on any market or provide a positive return to the inventor on money spent for development’.

The Department for Schools, Children and Families have 25 colourful brand guidelines (pdf). But it is only a crude image and stationery instruction manual.

Aren’t we the lucky ones to have paid for this!

When you think Lego have already been there and got the T-shirt albeit in plastic. Who dropped a brick (of dosh to the consultants).

I am pleased ‘The Department for Schools, Children and Families‘  was renamed Department of Education on 10th May  2010 but lets not spend money we don’t have on yet more new brand guidelines.

Domain management is a key activity for modern business and 123-Reg offer a useful tool kit.
Buying websites, Domains E-commerce or SSL products by clicking these banners pays Bonbrand a minuscule commission but it all adds up.

Alternatively you can become an affiliate if it suits your business model.

smarta

Emphasise your USPs in your audit of Intellectual assets.

’smarta’ the new business owners and entrepreneurs support organisation has an interesting USP page on its web site.

Celebrity Sells by Hamish Pringle , is a penetrating review of the complex world of modern marketing and the potential offered by subtle partnering with the right Celebrity.

Celebrity endorsement can enhance the value of a brand and speed up the ‘awareness raising phase’. A new product launch or young brand can earn a rapid market position but often at a cost.

Unlike a puppy a Celb may ‘just be for Christmas’ do not build a long term reliance on clay feet.

Not many companies can claim to be growing every year for 155 years but Seed Merchant Thompson & Morgan fit that bill admirably.

Not only that but they have an affiliate programme that helps sites like Bonbrand. If you buy your plug plants via the link below we get a commission to help defray our costs.

Thompson & Morgan plug plants available.

I received an email from a young business promoting it’s attendance at a National Trade Show. The strap line that caught my eye was ‘Best for Dummies’ but as I read further it was qualified with’ …. in the April edition of Mother & Baby. ‘

If you are in the Baby Business have a look at Clevamama, – sometimes it pays to email.

Consider using a form of publication of your prior art to avoid the cost of patent protection. It could, at worst, give you the opportunity to continue using your technology under ‘Prior Use’ rights that trade secrets may not.

Warning as with all things with a legal bias you need to take care in proportion to your risk and reward.
Prior-Art-O-Matic generates a bit of fun on the subject of Prior Art.