“The first aim of business is to avoid making a loss” – Peter Drucker. Here’s one way many firms muddle their way to catastrophe Have you ever seen this TV show? Kids love it; but I think it has lessons …
Read MoreAuthor: Drayton
The Pretension Trap: an excellent piece – all the way from Melbourne, and full of good sense
How is it that most agencies trot out exactly the same meaningless bilge? I don’t know, but here’s a pretty good guide to what to avoid One day I must create a very large file called “Stuff Drayton wishes he …
Read MoreFrom the dung-heaps of the web rises the stench of vintage poppycock and hypocrisy. But some mugs inhale it gladly
“If you believe that, Sir, you will believe anything” said the Duke of Wellington when a man asked if he was Mr John Smith At the time this exchange took place, the Duke of Wellington was the most recognised person …
Read MoreA little bouquet of posters – the good, the bad the brilliant – and the same old, same old: with my usual crappy photos
Schools, shoes and cliches: what I saw in New York – and when I came home As usual I must apologise for my shaky hands, bizarre sense of perspective and complete lack of any vestige of a clue about composition. …
Read MorePhoney University awards MBA to dog – and my experience of business studies in Tehran
The magical day I became an MBA – and a DBA, too. And why you shouldn’t hire me or my four footed fellow academic The dog, who is called Pete, lives in Battersea Dogs’ Home, and he must be the …
Read More“It’s one of the best times ever to be in advertising but why is the work so poor?” – Hegarty
“I don’t know of any other industry in the world that would say the way to succeed is to make a worse product.” My favourite restaurant in London is Shampers in Kingly Street. I’ve been going there since 1977. I …
Read MoreDavid Ogilvy on how to handle clients
This applies to any kind of business. I recall breaking two of these rules Never submit an advertisement unless you honestly think it is good. Tell clients what you would do if you were in their shoes. Always put your …
Read MoreWhere to find your missing profits – for the umpteenth bloody time
Almost every business I know makes this crass mistake. That doesn’t mean you have to. But you quite probably do I often wonder where more money is wasted: on advertising that doesn’t sell, or on a failure to follow up …
Read MoreOh, if only I could get paid for coming up with brilliant creative masterpieces like this
When in doubt, how can you go wrong with a re-brand and one genuinely inspiring word? A triumph for Lloyd’s Bank brilliant marketing “team” and their even more brilliant agency During my EADIM event one delegate asked me if I …
Read MoreIntroducing London’s Hotel from Hell: The Imperial, Bloomsbury. No service – just nightmares
Crazed gremlins take over venerable hotel in frenzied bid to sabotage London’s tourist trade If you read this regularly you know that every year I run my EADIM event in London. I find the best speakers I can, and that …
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