Dr. Neil Hair

Finally - something to shout about. One of the things that I hate most about living overseas is quite frankly the awful television I have to put up with. Not anymore it seems. Channel 4 in the UK has taken the 1st step in simulcasting both television and internet broadcasts of their programmes. The only problem is - the service is only available to people in the UK. However, they're promising an international roll out as soon as they work out their business model for it. Goal to England! With international competition it's probably only a matter of time before US, Australian, Canadian, Italian and German broadcasters try to re-gain lost market share in a burgeoning and potentially lucrative space. As a fervent member of the digerati I think Im one step ahead. Last month Slingmedia announced the launch of its UK offering which covers PAL signals (used by most of Europe). Nice thing is it has an inclusive free-view receiver built in (basically free cable offering 30 channels including the all important BBC news 24) so plug it in and away you go. Watching UK tv in America. All I need back home will be a wired laptop that feeds internet through to my main tv and bobs your uncle. Oh and it will work on the PDA phone as well

Wired magazine has done it again. I am consistently impressed with this publications ability to demonstrate it's finger on the pulse of modern tech society. I am also consistently confused by colleagues and students alike who often appear puzzled when I mention it to them as a legitimate source for information on post-modern consumerism. What I like above and beyond even Business 2.0 is its focus on the marketplace. Business 2.0 is also a must have magazine but tends to focus on non market related issued such as finance and general management. Marketing students take note - Wired Magazine is the way forward, it's also a damned good read. This time they've show cased the issue of Crowdsourcing. The British Times has also published an excellent article illustrating it's use through the originators [Jeff Howe] examples of stock photography and it's impact on a traditionally closed industry. Check his blog out at www.crowdsourcing.com for additional insights on this issue. Using the internet populace has the effects of dramatically reducing the costs of procuring stock photos whilst opening up the possibilities to the millions of amateur photographers who want to showcase their work. Check out my updated links section for other recommendations. For $30 a year and three subscriptions you can, as far as I'm concerned, get as close to bleeding edge understanding as possible.  

It's not that often I become so enthralled by a blog that I read the entire thing in one sitting (in fact this is my first). Whilst looking for sailing courses in the Rochester area I came across the Living Our Dream Blog. A couple from Rochester who sold everything and opted for life on the water. You can check it out for yourselves here but this comes with a warning - three hours will literally disappear. It got me thinking (again) about how easy it might be in this connected life to hold down gainful employment whilst pursuing an alternative lifestyle. The way mobile companies are rolling out internet national coverage the possibilities within my own profession seem endless. Online learning, streaming lectures and office hours off of the Keys, virtual teams submitting client reports and streaming presentations and so forth. It really is a possibility! However, one small problem, since my sailing skills have thus far been limited to my time in the bath it seems some prior training may be required. I wont get terribly far on the good ship Yellow Ducky. Incidentally, the COB is about to offer all of its core courses online. Yours truly will be heading Marketing Concepts. Look out for a cracking course.

You have to laugh - thousands of fans in their underpants at a world cup match. A strange sight and one brought about by one innovative company that decided to give away free orange laderhosen to Dutch supporters who bought their beer. So called 'ambush' marketing is as far as I am concerned - pure genius. Unfortunately the officials didn't think so and therefore ordered wearers to either take them off or be refused admission. What of the commando issue I hear you ask. We wont go there in this post. Amusingly, this little heard of Dutch Brewer has received more publicity in more nations as a result of news coverage then they could ever have achieved in their original aim. That is pure genius. I'd love to be able to tally the costs of this coverage on networks such as MS-NBC, SKY, and of course commercial free BBC, but unfortunately I cant - it's safe to assume its worth millions of dollars (probably far more then the rights Anheuser Busch paid for as official sponsors).

My favourite artist Banksy is at it again, this time in his home town of Bristol. Whilst many would argue he is first and for most an artist I would also hail his guerrilla marketing skills. He is rarely out of the media and seems to have a knack at drawing attention to himself with minimal effort. His recent targets (opposite the Bristol council) are now debating whether his work is art or graffiti thus prolonging his attention in the media. Brilliant!

A list of recommended texts have now been posted under 'Links'. I'm a firm believer of purchasing useful texts that are fit for purpose. I am also a firm believer in freedom of choice. None of my courses require any one text although I do recommend the Gilligan and Wilson book to all of my students as this outlines the 5 Questions.

So, on the 6th of June Rose and I got married, sealing a 7 and a half year relationship with nuptials. The day was first class, the sun was out, the venue at Baslow Hall was absolutely stunning and the food and drink to die for. Four Americans made the journey over for us, thanks Vic and Milagros, Debbie and Pam - and 31 other Brits including family and close friends. Several points worthy of immediate note;

• I had three best men dressed in black
• Rose had three bridesmaids again in black
• Six Tiffany boxes were given out, silver cufflinks for the men, silver pendants for the ladies
• The favors were miniature Bombay Sapphire bottles with instructions on how to make the perfect GnT
• We had a tower of white cupcakes for our Wedding Cake (how American!)
• Rose looked absolutely phenomenal
• She and her bridesmaids entered to the opening to the Verve's Bittersweet Symphony and Barry White and Frank Sinatra celebrated sealing the deal with a kiss and played us out, respectively
• The speeches involved a lecture from my younger brother and a 'how well do you know Neil' Quiz from my two best friends as well as words from the bride and groom
• A compromising picture involving the groom and Basil Brush was circulated

Pictures up shortly but not of the aforementioned.

One of the biggest surprises that the expat faces it seems is changes to ones homeland. I've only been gone a couple of years and Sheffield has continued to change markedly. Forget scenes from The Full Monty. Out of date by about 20 years. The city centre is thriving, it's littered now with sculptures and water features, cafe bars and plenty of eateries. Talk about effective repositioning. When I first came to Sheffield in 1995 the city was a boring concrete jungle plagued by crime and empty come 6pm. I missed Oxford (my home town) terribly. Work ended up here and everyone went home. A little over ten years later and the place has really changed. Now, the Peace Gardens, the Winter Garden, Sheffield Hallam's student Union, Millenium Galleries, All Bar One, HaHa!, and so on give people a reason to stay on after work and spend money. Check out the 3d tours here. What really impresses me from a marketing perspective is just what can be achieved when there is a clear plan in mind. The City listened to the concerns of residents, applied for every national grant going, and brought in investment from the commercial sector. The results are outstanding - Oxford can eat its heart out, I am staying up here. We now have an antiques sector, a cultural sector, an academic centre, several long roads that focus on foreign food restaurants and many many roads that are littered with pubs, bars and cafes. Think Park Avenue times 12.

What I hope you will find interesting is the fact that Rochester and Sheffield have a great deal in common. Similar population size, similar issues regarding the need for regeneration when major industries started to suffer (in Sheffield it was Steel), similar physical size. Similar need for a plan. I was really disappointed as were many at the decline of the High Falls area in Rochester. When I was last here in 2001 the area was thriving and many people saw this as the start of something great. An excellent micro brewery existed as well as several high capacity social arenas. What happened? One of the secrets I think for Sheffield is its decision to convert warehouses and build the latest apartment blocks therefore capturing a market that lives in the city 24/7. When people live in the city they tend to spend more, go out more, socialize more, enjoy life more. High Falls needed to convert its old cement factories into living facilities and provide adequate security. Based on Sheffield's experience, these tend to attract the 25-35's with high disposable income. The story becomes self supporting and thriving communities develop whilst retaining the brains of Sheffield's two universities and several community colleges.  

The High Falls area I would argue its very similar to the fate of the high speed ferry. High Falls suffered from a lack of clear vision and marketing skills. Where for instance were the free bus services that would bring in students from RIT, MCC, U of R and so forth? Where was the decision to accept Tiger Bucks at these locations? I bet if you asked the average freshman on campus whether they'd heard of High Falls they'd be clueless. Where was the promotion of this area on campus? Hopefully Rochester can learn from Sheffield's lessons. It's a well known fact that come summer time Sheffield becomes much quieter as its 15,000 students leave to go home. Thankfully over 50% of these decide to stay on and live in the area after they graduate. Lets not even bother comparing this to Rochester. Not yet at least. I'm hopeful and I think Rochester like Sheffield has the raw materials.