Category
In the News
A fascinating takeover was announced at the end of 2016 which, if it is cleared by the competition regulators, will significantly change the nature of competition in the UK takeaway ordering market.
Howard Schultz Steps Down as CEO of Starbucks
Farewell to one of our favourite CEOs - Howard Schultz - who is stepping down as CEO of Starbucks from April 2017.
Rental laws limit Airbnb's rapid growth
Here is a really good contextual example of how regulatory interventions affect revenues, profits and the rate of growth of a business.
The Economics and Business of Repairs
Save for the booming business of bicycle, shoes and clothing repairs , why is it so hard to recycle or repair anything?
Rail fare hike reveals burden shifting to passengers
The ever-controversial decision to hike rail fares has been in the news again, with unregulated fares rising by an average of 2.3%.
Tesco ends gender price differences for women's razors
Lots of people have got into a lather about this - the common practice of charging more for women's razor blades than for men.
Amazon plans for giant airship warehouses
Creative destruction gone mad? A barrier to entry? You decide - however, be warned, predicting the future is a fool's errand. Maybe 2017 will be the year when the drone you have just bought on...
Nestle gives 3-fingered KitKat the thumbs down
At least one brand has stood firm and resisted the temptation for a spot of 'shrinkflation'.
Impressive Numbers for the Amazon Echo
One of the hottest battles for market dominance in consumer tech products this festive season has been between Amazon Echo and Google Home. The Echo is emerging as a winner and the product is sold...
Inside a factory that makes 350 iPhones a minute
Nearly all iPhones are made in a facility in China that can churn out 500,000 devices a day (or 350 a minute) with the help of over 300,000 employees many of whom earn only around $1.90 an hour....
Marginal gains: Nutritional revolution at Liverpool FC
This article from the New York Times is brilliant on nutrition as a marginal gain. A fantastic read.
Lego's Logistical Challenge at Xmas
Seasonal demand is a common feature for many businesses and for Lego it is huge! This short video from the FT is superb in highlighting how Lego has located their factories in Mexico, China and the...
SWOTting Staycations
If the falling value of the pound since the Brexit vote in June has an effect on the tourism market, it is likely to make more people stay in the UK for their holiday as the cost of travel abroad...
Dynamic Pricing for Restaurants - An Anti-Uber Approach
CityMunch is a fast-growing app that provides real time discounts for people wanting to use restaurants at off-peak times when outlets have spare capacity but still have overhead costs to pay.
Nike's Profits Bounce Back
The world's largest sports footwear-maker has announced a rebound in profits.
Christmas cheer for gin distillers
Sipsmith was one of the first artisan gins to become well known, and has led a growing market. As reported in this week's Deloitte Monday Briefing, annual gin sales rose 16% in the UK in 2016, with...
Nestle loses trademark protection for KitKat
The battle between confectionery giants Mondelez (which owns Cadbury) and Nestle has taken a fresh twist with news that Nestle's trademark protection for their four-fingered chocolate bars has been...
How to grow a business idea
British inventors are renowned for having good ideas, and many of these come out of the research departments of British universities. There is a rich seam of potential new, dynamic businesses,...
Technology at Amazon
Amazon is yet again disrupting another industry with the announcement of Amazon Go, the “just walk out” supermarket with no checkouts. Whilst many are saying that in time, this will inevitably lead...
Are you loyal to your loyalty cards?
How many loyalty cards to you carry? And how many do you actually use?Sainsbury's Nectar, Tesco's Clubcard, Boots' Advantage card, M&S's Sparks, Morrison's Match and More, and Avios Air Miles...