Our Changing Values

I have now finished 'Spend Shift' - great book about how we haven't been forced to sort out our values.  Until now.


So many of the examples in the book talk about cafes and food being the engine of regeneration in some tough places.
Two points that I found of especial interest:

• 73% of folk are "willing to pay a premium for companies that contribute to my local community"
• "The key to moving a customer is a good story"

The ten point summary (page 208) is somewhat American but applies just as much to us Limeys.
Read the book, assess your values and consider changing your business.

You Need To Cheer People Up

I don't often get around to reading a book but 'Spend Shift' by Gerzema & D'Antonio really gets you thinking about how the world is changing and what businesses are doing to adapt.

Detroit gets a bad press but the book details how low rents and local passion are creating some success stories - Le Petit Zinc cafe was set up by Charles Sorel and "the secret of his success is even more basic than good food and service.  To succeed, he says, "You need to cheer people up"".

A pretty good motto for us all in 2012.

Happy New Year