PROFIT FROM PARTS DIARY OF A SEASON - LONGHAM MOWERS FACE TO FACE - KUBOTA'S DAVE ROBERTS TRAINING & EDUCATION LAUNCH OF BUSINESS MONITOR INDUSTRY AWARDS INFO BTME & LAMMA REVIEWS PRODUCT NEWS JIM GREEN
Now I know what all those wannabee graduates have been doing after gaining a 2:1 in human sciences, parapsychology; oragami or (heaven forbid) media studies.
They have become researchers or 'survey-ologists'. You cannot turn on the TV or open a paper today without being regaled by one learned group or another reporting on their findings about yet another facet of human life.
Only this week, five-a-day has been replaced by 10 a day (at least bringing a smile to the faces of the UK’s carrot growers). We are regularly being told that coffee is good for you / bad for you; that statins are a wonder drug / harmful; that red wine (now its getting personal) is beneficial to your health / harmful - and as for the whole sugar, salt, hi-fibre, fat content debate, frankly it suits headline writers with nothing else to write about and lines the pockets of authors cashing in on the latest fad.
A survey by a marketing company in the US recently, included the question “Does it make sense for your company to maintain a relationship with a customer after a sale?” The answer options were Yes, and three variations of the answer No!
Guess what? Yes got a 100%. But what ‘muppet’ would even include such question?
Only last year, Birmingham City Council conducted a survey on rubbish removal amongst residents - and requested information on whether the respondent was straight or gay.
Then the hotel chain survey which reported that an equal percentage of men and woman get locked out of their room - and that '32% are less than fully clothed’.
So on the basis of “if you can’t beat them . . .”, I hope the dealers amongst you will find a few minutes to complete our dealer survey for Jan - March (details in this newsletter). We intend to take the temperature of the dealer trade every quarter which I am sure will be of interest as a benchmark of business activity throughout the year.
And I promise we won't ask about your sexual preferences, or whether you are fully clothed whilst completing the form!
