Dr. Neil Hair

Just returned from the 16th ICRM (International Colloquium on Relationship Marketing) 2008 which was held in Swansea in Wales. Three papers being presented - one on B2B web experience with colleagues at Henley, and two poster sessions with former RIT students Ryan Kearns and Melanie Cufio (e-word of mouth and 2-brand communities alike). A very rewarding conference as usual - single track which means everyone presents, listens and comments on your work (far more rewarding than the usual multi track affair). The conference dinner was excellent - we listened to a Welsh Male choir - a first for me - and tucked into rare Welsh lamb cutlets. The relative smallish nature of the colloquium is what makes it so special - in the past it's seen me deep in research conversation with such gurus as Ballantyne, Lobler, Gronroose, Hunt and Gummesson. All of which are demigods in the relationship marketing space. You dont get that at the Summer or Winter AMA's I can tell you. An additional two papers have come out of the conference for me as well - one methodological and one an extension of a survey study into the Asian / Australasian markets. Good to also see the family and especially good now to be home in Rochester (the best thing about travel is coming home).