Kevin Harrington // marketing // blog

Is this a sign of the times; desperate telephone marketing? I’m receiving more rude sales calls now than six months ago.

The latest was to my mobile from 01792 862544, a company called Mobiles 4 You. Apparently they are based at Mobiles 4 You UK Ltd, 24 College Street, Ammanford, Swansea, SA18 3AF with Company No.06619827.

Mobiles 4 You make out they are working on behalf of Vodafone. To my knowledge they are not. I wonder if Vodafone realise this and appreciate the brand damage being done?

They start babbling in some unintelligible version of English and never listen to the reply. On their second call I asked the caller to remove my details from their database; he just hung up. Why would anyone buy from such a company?

Times may be difficult for some, or in fact many, vendors but surely now is the time to listen to customers and not talk at them and annoy them.

The next time your shiny white BMW gets covered in graffiti I suggest you thank Sytner BMW.

This fine example of a new BMW 635d was at the Big Day Out at South Hill Park in Bracknell this weekend. For some reason, best known to Sytner, they were inviting and allowing everyone to write all over their car (and a Mini that was also there).

I’m really not sure the artwork being applied to the car improved the brand image of Sytner or BMW. One thing is clear though; a number of locals were introduced to a new way to show their appreciation of BMWs.

Royal Berkshire Hospital waste

I  think our local hospital, The Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, is excellent. That said, at a time when we are all concerned about bugs being transmitted through wards I think they could manage the message a little better.

This photo shows waste bags piled up in a main thoroughfare. The yellow bags on the floor, and the overflowing yellow bin, are potentially infectious waste.

I have no idea whether this is a safe or good practice. My point is that it makes it look as though the hospital doesn’t care. My experience is they do care. Therefore they damage their image by this practice.

Photo taken 28 February 2008 at 18.56.