Lidl - the real threat?

The discounter as change-maker:

This week, why not visit your nearest Lidl and think about the threat to the major mults? Even better, follow it with a call on a nearby Tesco to heighten the contrast…

See how long it takes for you to appreciate that the hard discounters becoming more like supermarkets is not the issue... Of course they will add to their offering, especially to cater for upmarket clients…

But suppose their real impact is in making the consumer-shopper value a simpler, more limited choice, and in the process convincing us that we cannot perceive – and don’t always need – the ‘extras’ provided by equivalent brands at 30% more…

Causing us to ponder whether we are changing the discounters, or they are changing us?

Now that’s the type of competition the mults – and their branded suppliers - don’t need…

NAM-Tales: Winning and losing in Job interviews

The above* reminds me of a pal in a NAM-job interview who was handed a Biro by the Sales Director saying 'Sell me that'.

The interviewee examined it, snapped it in half and threw it into the waste-basket...

He then said: 'John, a man in your position should not use rubbish like this, what you need is one of these', taking a Mont Blanc pen from his pocket with a flourish...

No, he did not get the job...

Perhaps a lesson therein for both parties?

* HT to Gabi Ajulah

Public Wi-Fi hotspots and NAMs: Busting the many legal myths

Given the NAMs' dual roles of road-warrior and adviser to the retail trade, knowing the legal implications of using public wi-fi spots can help.

Nothing beats taking the time to read the full article by Ars Technica UK, but by way of encouragement, the following key points may whet your appetite:

-  "If there is no stated legitimate purpose for the processing of individual user information, the default position is that it must not be processed."

-  Some hotel Wi-Fi software records the URLs accessed by each guest (Held for legislative purposes, in case there’s a copyright breach or it’s requested by law enforcement or whatever).

-  Collecting and storing personal information brings responsibilities under the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA), soon to be updated. The more data collected, and the further its purposes diverge from what’s strictly necessary to provide a service, the more responsibilities the collector incurs.

-  A user "cannot be obliged to accept something that isn’t a necessary part of the service, and they especially cannot be expected to accept marketing as part of something else."


Note: The article deals specifically with the legality of public wi-fi in the UK. The rules and laws can vary wildly in other countries around the world.

NB. The article also adds much useful detail - and relevant links - for retailers setting up and managing a public wi-fi spot, a useful addition to a NAM's advisory repertoire.

A New Savings-account for unprecedented times?

A Shelf Half-Full, or Half-Empty....?

pic: Brian Moore

Amazon Dash = 'never forgetting' + 1-click 100% Availability = entry-level online...

Amazon Have Introduced Dash Device For Customers Of New Grocery Delivery Service

Following on from the launch its AmazonFresh grocery delivery service in London last month, Amazon has announced the introduction of its innovative Dash device, which it launched in the US last year.

The six-inch long device allows customers to scan a product barcode or say the name of a product to add items automatically to their Amazon online shopping basket. These items are then ready for purchase the next time the customer visits the Amazon.co.uk website or mobile app. Dash will be available for AmazonFresh customers, initially at no additional charge with their second AmazonFresh order, from now until 28 August 2016.

Amazon Dash

The company claims the device makes online shopping significantly quicker and easier for customers by allowing them to build their shopping list without having to browse its website. The device also learns as it is used, recognising millions of products including groceries, household, health and beauty products, enabling customers to keep track of their weekly grocery order.

“We’re all used to trying to remember the contents of the fridge and kitchen cupboard and scribbling down reminders on pieces of paper,” said Ajay Kavan, Vice President of AmazonFresh. “With Dash, at any given time, customers can keep track of products when they come to mind and scan to reorder groceries and household essentials as soon as they run out. At Amazon, we’re always looking to innovate based on feedback and Dash has been designed to continually learn as customers use it.”

AmazonFresh is now available in 128 London postcodes, allowing members of its Prime scheme to order a full weekly grocery shop from a range of over 130,000 products, which include major brands, Morrisons’ own label lines and offerings from local food producers.

NAM Implications: 

• Combine ‘never forgetting’, 1-click ordering and ‘100% availability’ for an appreciation of what this move represents for Amazon…
• …and other retailers…
• Are you absolutely certain that you/your company, are optimising Amazon’s full potential?

For the NAM who is still on the way to a work-life balance...

Pic: Fiona Cooper, Comelite Architecture and Structure, Edinburgh 

HT Iain Laing, Kickstand Marketing

This brought to mind a fellow-NAM driving home many years ago, noticing increasing degrees of paper rubbish blowing about the estate, becoming more pronounced the closer he got to home..

Eventually he reached his driveway and found his four filing drawers and a cabinet strewn about the garden...

A Drone-fleet in your street?

pic: Amazon

Amazon Prime Air getting serious....

According to reports today in The Verge, Amazon is partnering with the British government to expand its testing of delivery drones, paving the way for commercial air deliveries for UK residents.

The expanded testing involves Amazon working with the UK Civil Aviation Authority to focus on operating drones outside of the line of site of pilots, improving sensors for obstacle detection and avoidance, and having one pilot operate a team of multiple, semi-autonomous drones in unison.

This ground-breaking work will help Amazon and the Government understand how drones can be used safely and reliably in the logistics industry. It will also help identify what operating rules and safety regulations will be needed to help move the drone industry forward.

In other words, Amazon have a vision of replicating their traditional delivery system, via drone-fleet in the air...

As you know, home delivery works in terms of covering costs via high density geographical coverage - you realise they are No.1 when Amazon-man delivers your parcel along with one for next-door i.e. why not ask about the other package, next time...

Time to seriously elevate your partnership with Amazon, rather than following the competitive fleet?

See live footage Video

More detail here

Farm-brand authentication - a way forward from NamNews?

'Farm' packaging - an opportunity to sell more British meat?

Given the ‘dawning realisation’ that non-UK i.e. Brazilian and Thai meat, is being sold in Britain without its country of origin being declared, two options are available:

 - Reactive: Government insistence that country of origin be declared on all meat products…
 - Proactive: UK branded meat products to emphasise local origin

Given that this situation has been known to the meat industry for years without appropriate government action, perhaps Option 2 has more appeal?

In other words, there appears to be a real opportunity for local producers – and pro-active retailers – to brand meat heavily and emphasise local sourcing, and by inference suggest that competitor products not thus labelled contain Brazilian and Thai-based meat…

In the current climate, this approach should resonate with at least 52% of the UK population – after all, if Brexit was not about nationalism…? 

NB. According to packaging regulations, the country of origin is the last place where a product is processed....