Hitting All The Right Notes

Joshuah Kalsi is a talented musician and lyricist. His ability to capture different musical styles, moods, atmosphere and the moment is clearly reflected throughout his work. A real 'force' to be reckoned with, he plays so many more instruments than the Grand Piano, and all brilliantly. Josh is committed to his dream and is in the middle of producing a new album....not for himself but for his daughter, Hannah. "This is her record of who I am, if anything happened to me this would be a way for her to know me," he tells me,which I think says so much about him - a personal reflection of the man behind the music.

Avant Rock is the style but I feel that it is difficult to restrict Josh's work to a genre - he is incredibly diverse - muscially and personally (in a good way).

The band is Joshuah, the music is great, go dip into www.soundclick.com/joshuah listen to the snippets and you will hear what I mean.

I 'Wish' you would put my favourite on as the mainplay Josh.

Helen

A Winning Streak For Pilkington Aintree

Recently the glass industry was jolted by the purchase of Cervoglass Ltd by Pilkington Glass. In a move that bolstered the building products division an agreement between the two companies now places Graham Price as Commercial Director of Pilkington Aintree Ltd.

Previously Managing Director, Cervoglass, conservatory glass roof and side frame glazing products Graham has proved to be a man with great vision. The evolving IG market in respect of thermal, solar and self-cleaning properties remains a challenging concept to a man who saw so much more than the simple glazing aspects of a company he has reformed over the last 20 years.

As my client and friend he recently made some keen industry observations on the insulating glass sector as a whole.

A brief synopsis follows:

"Many procedural advances have occurred in respect of IGU manufacturers as well as some industry directives that have had a major impact on insulating glass manufacturing. Whether looking at a window or sealded conservatory roofr unit, these changes have been introduced to improve the market for the installer and ultimately the end user.

The introduction of new industry regulations will continue to have far reaching consequences for many manufactuters as production methods must accommodate BS EN 1279 and other European directives. This mandatory legislation affects IGU production on a number of levels but in particular in relation to gas filling and retention.

New guidelines from the European Union dictates the European standards that must be adhered to in respect of CE markings. This now places additional pressure on manufacturers in particular regarding Low-E glass and IGU production methods. According to the dictate by the CEN most glass products that are CE marked and sold in the European Union must now conform to the directive.

According to Graham particular attention should be focussed on Part 3 of the legislation as this refers to the measurements of gas concentration and gas leakage within a units. This requires that performance data for certain high performance products must be presented at new levels.

With nearly all glass processors using Argon gas as standard to improve the overall U value, manufacturers have previously made technical calculations based upon 100% gas filling with a glass unit.

With the introduction of EN 1279 the European Union has declared that a gas filling level of 90% must be used. Obviously, this has an impact on the declared U value of most high performance, low-E products despite the fact that physically they have not changed.

Graham concluded,

The insulated glass unit industry has seen radical transformation in the UK in recent times and the new directive will undoutbtedly ensure the highest results regarding performance and stability of all IG units. The industry however, is facing hard challenges if steady growth is to continue in such a fiercely compeitive market. With consumer awareness increasing the industry marking and production methods will have much more meaning in relation to profit margins for those who fail to recognise their value!"

Prior to the buy-out Cervoglass was recognised for innovative development by winning 'Best New Product' at the leading UK glass industry event - Glassex.

Graham! Congratulations! continue with your vision, values and 'flare' Helen :)

Help Madeleine

For those who read this blogspot please pass the picture of this child onto anyone you know ...every single thing helps.

Abducted during a family holiday in Portugal, this innocent child remains missing. As a parent I can only imagine the anguish her parents and family must be feeling.

Please help find a way to return this child to her family and relay her picture to everyone you know. Should anyone have any information please pass it on to the Portuguese or English Police. Thank you.

I pray for her safe return.

Helen

How to market yourself right?

Hi there Helen and thanks for your invitation! OK, first, the difference between marketing and advertising has to be stated clearly:

Marketing is one of the terms in academia that does not have one commonly agreed upon definition. Even after a better part of a century the debate continues. In a nutshell it consists of the social and managerial processes by which products, services and value are exchanged in order to fulfill individual's or group's needs and wants. These processes include, but are not limited to, advertising.[1]

Advertising is paid and/or sometimes free communication through a medium in which the sponsor is identified and the message is controlled. Variations include publicity, public relations, product placement, sponsorship, underwriting, and sales promotion. Every major medium is used to deliver these messages, including: television, radio, movies, magazines, newspapers, the Internet, and billboards. Advertisements can also be seen on the seats of grocery carts, on the walls of an airport walkway, on the sides of buses, heard in telephone hold messages and in-store PA systems. Advertisements are usually placed anywhere an audience can easily and/or frequently access visuals and/or audio, especially on clothing.

So as an example: What is this Video? Marketing or Advertising? Of what?

Marketing! ...Hype or Happening?

Hello

Welcome to HSC talks - an open forum regarding all aspects of marketing, for those who understand its relevance as well as for those who want to learn more. I put myself in both categories, as marketing is an ever changing, creative medium that constantly teaches.

Depending on the company, in my experience there appears to be three main categories of understanding when it comes to the importance of marketing. i) those who feel it is an expensive commodity that is required but fundamentally that it is hype which is not understood; ii) those who want to utilise its benefits but cannot develop a strong on-going foundation strategy either through fear of expense or the lack of resources and iii) those who grasp it!...with both hands!... knowing that marketing can make things happen. It does not have to be expensive. It does not have to be complicated ....and with a little professional, creative expertise and structure...quite simply, marketing works.

A good colleague recently reminded me of the familiar story associated with RJ Wrigley, former CEO of the famous chewing gum company. When asked on a transatlantic flight by another passenger why Wrigley's contintued to invest in high profile marketing and advertising campaigns, when the company was in leading market position, he replied:

"I continue to support brands with consistent marketing for the same reason the pilot keeps this plane's engines running even though we are in the air."

Astute man, but I guess as the then CEO he would be wouldn't he? He grasped that marketing maintains a presence, for whatever the size, budget or perception of the company it is imperative to stay ahead.

Now think of Golden Wonder. Who? Exactly. They were the main brand challenger to Walker's crisps and were pretty much level pegging in the positioning stakes, until they decided to drastically reduce their marketing strategy a number of years ago. In 2006, the adminstrators were brought in....and the company was bought by Tatyo.

In April 2007 it was announced that the Golden Wonder range will have new packaging and flavours that will be supported by a new advertising campaign. Press, tv and a deal with a newspaper group - all to raise awareness. I rest my case.

Not everyone can afford a huge advertising and pr campaign I know. I know! But....not everyone needs that...the key to working marketing is tailoring and structuring according to budgets through effective and innovative creative campaigns.

Quite simply, without it or with it....marketing makes things happen.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and I look forward to receiving your views.

Helen Stanley