It’s easy to underestimate the huge changes that have taken place in the dynamics of the brand-customer relationship in recent years. Brands and consumers are now engaged at whole new levels of familiarity. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn et al haven’t just brought people closer, they have enabled entirely new types of brand community to evolve and […]

Habits are powerful, but occasions may be even more so. I think they engage us so effectively because they combine time and focus. And because of that, they provide permission – it’s OK to behave this way or that. It’s OK to do something you wouldn’t do on any ordinary day. If you’re a smart […]

by Mark Di Somma This article in Harvard Health Blog in many ways mirrors why consumers take comfort in choosing branded products generally: Having a brand name means they know what to ask for They believe in the quality that they associate with the brand The distribution system believes in the brand It got me thinking […]

It appears that doing nothing can be the best way to achieve results.  Owen Sound proved it with the March 2013 MoneySense magazine’s annual list of the 200 best Canadian cities to live.  Using the high risk ‘do nothing’ approach, the city’s gamble paid off improving its ranking by 166% in just one year. To […]

When is a public forum a waste of time?  You’d know the answer If you attended the recent Mayor’s Forum hosted by the Owen Sound Chamber of Commerce.  Their intention was good, but regrettably inadequately planned, managed and moderated. The Chamber believes that hosting the annual forum fulfils its mandate of advocacy and leadership in […]

The Mayor’s Forum, an annual event hosted by the Owen Sound Chamber of Commerce was promoted as an opportunity to hear the Mayors of Owen Sound, Georgian Bluffs, Meaford and Chatsworth talk about “ways to cooperate” and to “create common efficiencies” among their municipalities. It did more to highlight the dysfunctional relationship between Owen Sound […]

Over the last hundred years Owen Sound has experienced many powerful storms fed by its proximity to Lake Huron and location on Georgian Bay. Today new and established businesses are experiencing a different kind of storm that threatens their ability to compete in this community. What’s causing this storm? Local and county government, as well […]

Use these 15 questions to discover whether a prospect will buy from you before you waste time on the opportunity. During initial conversations with a potential customer, your most important job is to find out: A. Does this prospect really need my offering? B. Does this prospect have money to buy my offering? C. How […]