That's Christmas 365: Could Christmas Deliveries Be at Risk? What Allege...

That's Christmas 365: Could Christmas Deliveries Be at Risk? What Allege...: As the festive season approaches, shoppers expect their online orders to arrive in time.  But recent reports suggest that Christmas deliveri...

How Silly Design Mistakes Spoil Otherwise Good Products

There’s a proverb that goes: for want of a nail the shoe was lost, for want of a shoe the horse was lost… until, eventually, the battle was lost. 

Also, the maritime version, don't spoil the ship for a ha’p’orth of tar.

They are reminders that small oversights can cause big consequences. In business, especially in product design, this lesson is just as relevant today as it was centuries ago.

Take a recent example from my own life: assembling a treadmill. The product itself was sturdy, well-engineered, and clearly built to last. Yet, when it came to putting it together, the experience swiftly fell apart. 

The screws were supplied with an Allen key, straightforward enough you'd think, but the plastic cowling around the frame meant that the Allen key couldn’t actually fit properly. The result? Half-turns, scraped knuckles, unnecessary frustration and several swearwords. I completed the task eventually but it took longer than it should have.

That single flaw undermined the entire customer experience. For want of a few millimetres of clearance in the cowling, the treadmill felt clunky, fiddly, and less premium than it should have. 

And that’s the key point for businesses: you can invest heavily in quality materials, branding, and marketing, but one small design mistake can damage the customer’s perception of your product – and, by extension, your brand.

Common Culprits in Business

We’ve all seen it before:

Packaging that requires scissors or knives, even when the product is meant for quick use. Highly frustrating when you buy a pair of scissors but actually need scissors to open the packaging. 

Remote controls or apps where the most important functions are buried.

Stylish kitchen appliances that are impossible to clean properly.

Furniture kits with “all the parts included” but tools that can’t reach the fixings. Or a set of instructions in a multiplicity of languages, but not one you are fluent in.

Each of these examples has something in common: they were designed without enough thought about real-world use.

Why This Matters for Business

In a competitive market, the small details are what build loyalty. Customers rarely complain about the headline features that work – they complain about the one detail that doesn’t. And thanks to reviews and social media, those complaints can echo far and wide.

Worse still, these issues are often avoidable. They’re not caused by budget constraints or lack of technology. They happen because teams don’t take the time to step outside the design process and test products like real users.

The Lesson for Entrepreneurs and Product Teams

If you’re developing a product or service, ask yourself:

Have we tested this in real-world conditions, using only the tools we provide?

Have we asked someone outside the design team to assemble or use it?

Have we stripped away assumptions and looked at the customer’s actual journey?

A few hours of user testing can prevent years of bad reviews.

The Bottom Line

Silly mistakes don’t just spoil products – they erode trust. Customers may forgive a missing feature, but they rarely forgive needless frustration. 

The good news? Paying attention to the small details, and testing them properly, can turn a good product into a great one – and give your business the edge.

That's Food and Drink: Why It’s Not Too Late to Stage Your Own Oktoberfes...

That's Food and Drink: Why It’s Not Too Late to Stage Your Own Oktoberfes...: October is here, and you might think you’ve missed the boat on hosting your own Oktoberfest celebration.  But don’t pack away the lederhosen...

Hosting Catered Poetry Readings for National Poetry Day: A Business Opportunity

National Poetry Day, held every October, is a celebration of words, ideas, and imagination. For businesses — especially those in hospitality, catering, retail, or event management — it’s also a golden opportunity to connect with your community, showcase creativity, and attract new customers. 

Hosting a catered poetry reading can set your brand apart and build goodwill that lasts long beyond the event itself.

Why Businesses Should Get Involved

Supporting National Poetry Day isn’t just about culture — it’s smart business. A well-organised poetry event can:

Boost footfall: Draw people into your café, restaurant, pub, bookshop, or bar.

Enhance brand image: Align your business with creativity, inclusivity, and community engagement.

Encourage partnerships: Work with local poets, schools, libraries, and cultural groups.

Generate publicity: Local press, social media buzz, and the #NationalPoetryDay hashtag can amplify your reach.

Turning Poetry into a Business Asset

Catering adds another layer to the experience, and it’s where businesses can shine. By offering food and drink alongside the readings, you make your venue not just a host space but a destination. Think themed menus, bespoke drinks, or exclusive offers tied to the event. For example:

A café could launch a “Poet’s Coffee Blend” or “Verse & Biscuit” deal.

A wine bar might create “Sonnet and Shiraz” nights.

A pub could stage Poems and Pints events.

Caterers could offer packages specifically designed for cultural events, with branding opportunities built in.

Planning a Successful Event

If you’re a business owner considering hosting or partnering on a poetry event, here are some steps to maximise impact:

Define your audience – Is this a family-friendly afternoon, a university crowd, or a more refined evening for professionals?

Choose the right venue – Bookshops, cafés, and community spaces often work best.

Partner locally – Work with poets, writers’ groups, or even schools for performances.

Curate the catering – Align food and drink with the event’s theme and your brand’s strengths.

Market effectively – Use social media, email newsletters, flyers, and partnerships with cultural organisations to spread the word.

Branding Beyond the Day

Don’t treat National Poetry Day as a one-off. Businesses can build it into an annual event, establish a reputation as a supporter of the arts, or even create regular poetry nights. Offering loyalty discounts, merchandise, or themed menu items tied to the occasion can reinforce your brand’s cultural identity.

National Poetry Day isn’t only for poets — it’s for businesses too. By hosting or sponsoring a catered poetry reading, you can engage your community, enhance your brand image, and create a memorable customer experience. 

It’s a chance to show that your business values creativity — and to enjoy the rewards that come when customers see you as more than just a service provider, but a cultural contributor.

Celebrating International Podcast Day: Why Podcasts Matter for Your Business

Every 30th September, the world celebrates International Podcast Day—a day dedicated to recognising the power of podcasts in connecting people, sharing stories, and building communities. 

But for businesses, large or small, it’s also a reminder of just how valuable this medium has become for brand growth, customer engagement, and thought leadership.

The Rise of the Podcast

Podcasts are no longer a niche hobby. Millions of people in the UK and around the world tune in daily, listening on their commute, at the gym, or even while cooking dinner. 

Their popularity lies in their accessibility: podcasts can be consumed anywhere, anytime. For businesses, this makes them a powerful way to meet your audience where they are.

Why Businesses Should Pay Attention

So why should your business care about podcasts?

Authenticity and Trust

Unlike a quick advert or social post, podcasts create space for deeper conversation. Listeners feel like they’re being spoken to directly, which builds trust and authenticity around your brand.

Establishing Authority

Hosting a podcast or guesting on one lets you showcase your expertise. It positions you not just as a seller of products or services, but as a trusted voice in your industry.

Networking Opportunities

Podcasting is inherently collaborative. Inviting guests onto your show—or joining theirs—opens the door to valuable business connections.

Evergreen Content

A podcast episode isn’t a one-day wonder. Listeners often go back and discover older episodes, giving your content a long shelf life.

Ideas for Getting Started

Not every business needs a full-scale podcast, but there are plenty of ways to join the conversation:

Start Your Own Show: A regular podcast sharing tips, stories, or interviews relevant to your industry.

Guest Appearances: Offer to appear on established shows in your niche to share your expertise.

Internal Podcasts: Some companies even use private podcasts for staff training and communication.

Promote Podcasts You Love: Simply recommending relevant podcasts to your customers or team can position you as a resource.

Celebrating International Podcast Day in Your Business

Today is the perfect excuse to dip your toe into the world of podcasting. You could:

Share your favourite business podcasts on social media.

Record a short audio message for your customers or followers.

Host a Q&A session or a behind-the-scenes chat to test the waters.

Recommended UK Business Podcasts

If you’re ready to get inspired, here are some of the most popular and insightful UK-based podcasts for entrepreneurs and business leaders:

The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett – Honest conversations with entrepreneurs, creators, and thinkers about the realities of business and success.

Business Daily (BBC World Service) – A global take on the big issues affecting businesses today.

The High Performance Podcast – Focused on leadership, resilience, and mindset, with guests from business, sport, and culture.

How I Built This with Guy Raz (BBC Sounds) – Fascinating stories behind the world’s best-known companies and brands.

StartUp Stories UK – Real-life journeys from entrepreneurs navigating the UK’s start-up scene.

The Bottom Line (BBC Radio 4) – A sharp look at business challenges, opportunities, and trends with input from leading figures.

Final Podcasting Thoughts

International Podcast Day isn’t just about celebrating podcasters—it’s about celebrating the power of voice in business communication. If you’ve been thinking about podcasting, today is your reminder: start small, but start. Your voice might just be the one your audience is waiting to hear.

Why Brand Consistency Matters More Than You Think

What if the colour or logo is wrong? 

A while ago I was involved in a situation that perfectly illustrated why brand consistency is absolutely essential. 

A batch of printed garments had to be trashed. Not because the material was faulty or the printing poor, but because the person who ordered them wasn’t authorised to do so. 

Instead of using the approved logo and designs, they had created their own off-brand version. The result? Dozens of unusable items, wasted time, wasted money, and a branding headache.

It may sound like a small misstep, but it highlighted a bigger truth: when your branding isn’t consistent, your business suffers — whether you’re a sole trader or a major company.

What Brand Consistency Really Is

Brand consistency isn’t just about slapping the same logo on everything. It’s about ensuring that every element of your business reflects the same identity and values. That includes:

Your logo, colours, and fonts

The tone of your marketing materials

The way staff interact with customers

Even how your packaging or uniforms look

When all of these align, your brand becomes instantly recognisable and trustworthy.

Why It’s So Important

Trust and Recognition

Customers buy from brands they know. If your logo, colours, or messaging vary depending on who created them, people start to question whether you’re the same business they trusted last time.

Professionalism

Inconsistent branding makes you look disorganised. A polished, unified identity says that you care about details — and by extension, about your customers.

Efficiency and Cost

As the misprinted garments showed, ignoring brand guidelines can lead directly to wasted money. Clear, consistent branding prevents those mistakes.

Emotional Connection

People form bonds with brands over time. Familiarity makes them feel comfortable and loyal. If your branding keeps shifting, that bond weakens.

Consistency Online Is Just as Critical

It’s not just physical items like uniforms or printed materials that matter — your digital presence is often where customers see you first. Imagine visiting a company’s website that uses one logo, then heading to their Instagram and seeing a different colour scheme or style, and then getting an email written in a completely different tone.

That inconsistency creates confusion. Customers may even wonder if they’re dealing with the same business — or worse, suspect a scam. Online, where competition is fierce and attention spans short, one off-brand social post or mismatched graphic can cost you clicks, conversions, and credibility.

Consistency across your website, social channels, email marketing, and even digital ads ensures:

Customers instantly recognise you, no matter the platform.

Your messaging feels reliable and professional.

You stand out for the right reasons — as a brand with a clear identity, not a scattered one.

How to Protect Your Brand

Develop clear brand guidelines — covering colours, logos, fonts, and tone of voice.

Limit decision-making power to those authorised to approve designs.

Make official assets easy to find so staff don’t need to “make it up” themselves.

Educate your team on why sticking to the guidelines matters.

Audit your online presence regularly to make sure your profiles, images, and content stay on-brand.

Final Branding Thoughts

Consistency isn’t about stifling creativity — it’s about protecting the hard work that went into building your business identity. Whether you’re a start-up or a household name, your brand is one of your greatest assets.

And if you ever wonder whether the rules are worth enforcing, just think of those wasted garments: a stark reminder that brand consistency isn’t a “nice-to-have” — it’s non-negotiable.

Be That Writer: How to Launch Your Own Online or Print Writing Mag...

Be That Writer: How to Launch Your Own Online or Print Writing Mag...: Do you dream of creating a magazine dedicated to showcasing new writing?  Whether it’s poetry, short stories, essays, or experimental forms,...