Blog
What the Professionals Partnership event feedback told us
The recent Shropshire Chamber Professionals Partnership session prompted a wave of thoughtful posts, and the consistency in what people said was striking. Across industries and roles, the same idea kept appearing: people respond most when communication feels human,...
Jon’s 2025 marketing wrap
As this year draws to a close, I have taken a quick look back at the ideas, questions and conversations that came up most often across my newsletters, client work, blogs and LinkedIn posts. Think of it as a lighter version of a Spotify wrap, but for the things that...
Five B2B marketing ideas for 2026 that might actually be useful
Each year brings a wave of predictions about the future of business marketing. Many are impressive, some are sensible and a fair few seem designed for companies with larger teams, larger budgets and a level of spare capacity most smaller firms simply do not have. This...
When being nice replaced being useful
We all want to be seen as kind and socially aware. But have these qualities become part of a ‘performance’? The business world now applauds not just good work but visible goodness – the kind that photographs well and gathers likes. It’s not that...
The race to ‘bang average’
Somewhere along the line, progress started to polish the life out of things. From football’s data obsession to cars that drive themselves and music that never skips a beat, everything now seems smoother, faster and strangely less alive. Is there a growing ‘slide...
From static to soul: what vinyl records can still teach us about connection
This is the third article in my series exploring how the things we love – football, motoring, and now music – have all been shaped by technology and control. Each in its own way shows how progress can polish away the rough edges that once made them feel alive. I’ve...
When the room does the talking: why the venue sets the tone before you do
I’ve been wondering about something quite simple – does the choice of venue change the way we behave at an event? Corporate hotels are often the safe bet. They’re easy to find, the coffee is on tap, and the Wi-Fi usually works. But they can also feel like walking...
From switches to screens: have cars and motorbikes lost some of their magic?
My Honda GB350S in the Tanat Valley, mid Wales – a reminder that the best rides are about experience, not just technology. This is the second in my short series looking at how data, technology and business thinking have made some of the things we love slicker… but...
Perfectly predictable? The slow death of drama in the English Premier League
This is part one of a short series exploring whether technology and efficiency - in football, in motoring, even in music - have come at the cost of authenticity. Because in the end, authenticity matters more than control. That’s as true for the clubs we follow as it...
What a fall in supermarket sales can teach us about better marketing plans
Supermarkets aren’t usually in the habit of reporting sales drops without a fight, but that’s what’s been happening recently. Reports suggest that some people are buying less food, linked to a shift in health behaviour and medical treatment. It’s not the kind of story...