Archive
Year: 2020
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Brand Marketing & Consumer: Committing to long term change
July 15, 2020
In 2020 we’ve seen the world step up to spotlight systemic racism and the beginnings of a revolution for change for Black and Brown communities. During this time, we have been reflecting and have identified that there is an immediate two-fold problem: Brand responses are more performative than revolutionary, lacking the infrastructure in place to authentically comment on anti-racism The communications industry is still nowhere near being representative of the communities it serves Black Lives...
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Maintaining relevance is essential for postponed and cancelled tournaments – here’s how to do it.
July 13, 2020
By Alastair Lyon, Senior Account Executive. Since the COVID-19 pandemic locked its talons into the sports industry, those involved in showcasing tournaments have been confronted by an array of sobering questions. One of the most under-discussed of these is how the many competitions that face their first ever ‘fallow year’, can remain relevant without any live action to satisfy fans with? Many of the organisers, brands and broadcasters to whom this article applies are struggling...
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Don’t dismiss the tin foil hat: what communicators can learn from conspiracy theories
July 8, 2020
By Charlie Crossley, Account Manager Misinformation can do massive damage to an organisation’s name. Good reputations are hard-earned, but audiences can be quick to judge. Rumours or half-truths can undermine years of hard work in an instant. Conspiracy theories are arguably the most extreme form of misinformation. These campaigns often start at the grassroots level, based on unfounded or unscientific claims, yet can grow to have global influence. One theory currently circulating contends that the...
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The heightened importance of localisation during a global pandemic
July 6, 2020
By Claudia Bate, Head of Technology, Director and Partner I consider myself very lucky to have lived and worked in London, Paris, Rome and Singapore during my career. I have experienced different working cultures and approaches that have helped to shape my perspective and the counsel I now bring to my clients. Having advised technology brands headquartered all over the world – in UK, Germany, US, Singapore, China, Taiwan and Japan – I have always...
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An Uncomfortable Truth
June 16, 2020
John Saunders, FleishmanHillard president and CEO, shared the note below with global employees. “I could share a list of every micro-aggression, every slur shouted from a passing car, every time I felt harassed, exoticized, tokenised, too dark, every time I had security guards follow me around a shop, every time I was randomly selected by police on the street to show my ID and asked if I had drugs on me.” – the words of Sean...
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Fixing the roof whilst the sun is shining – why tech companies need to act now to consolidate their post-covid political capital
June 12, 2020
By Alex Burchill, Account Manager The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the political reputation of the technology industry has been nothing short of astonishing, but companies should be wary of heralding a “new normal” A change in Government attitude? Before the crisis, techlash was in full swing. Fueled by concerns over issues such as election interference, privacy and security concerns, (lack of) platform moderation and D&I challenges, consumers and decision makers alike were demanding...
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The Challenges of Non-Essential Retail: What’s Next?
June 10, 2020
By Sarina Kiayani, Graduate Trainee COVID-19 has undoubtedly posed a significant challenge to the retail sector. With lockdown forcing the closure of several non-essential businesses, the business survival came down to three factors: their e-commerce operations, support from consumers and the state of their finances pre-lockdown. With the COVID-19 pandemic heightening the growth of e-commerce, along with continued uncertainty over the future of the UK’s relationship with the European Union, clear winners in retail will...
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Travel & Tourism: Put people first and the rest will follow
June 5, 2020
By Rebecca Macintyre, Senior Account Executive Travel and tourism was the first industry to be hit by Covid-19 and it will be the last to be freed. We already knew the industry was fragile in parts, with the collapse of some of the industry’s biggest and longest standing players. But Covid-19 has brought immense and unprecedented challenges. In the UK, Visit Britain has estimated that the pandemic could cost the tourism industry around £15bn in...
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‘Building Back Better’ in the Food and Drink Sector
June 4, 2020
By Victoria Murphy, Account Manager The impact of COVID-19 has been felt substantially across the food supply chain. Retailers have seen dramatic changes in the way consumers are shopping, eating out-of-home has been shut down and will feel very different upon reopening in the months to come, and food inequality has risen significantly as households feel the pressure to feed their families during lockdown. Whilst the current challenges faced by the industry are vast, every...
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Changing voices of climate change
June 2, 2020
By Holly Rouse, Director & Partner Friday will be World Environment Day, with the annual awareness-raising initiative focused this year on nature. In these exceptional times, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on nature and the environment in ways that we could never have been predicted in such as short space of time. From falling CO2 emissions to clearer waters and bluer skies. The question playing on our minds however, is whether COVID-19...