In an earlier post I discussed P&G’s experimentation with lower cost offerings. The company’s recent analyst call confirms management’s commitment to chase the growing pool of frugal buyers, a response to what the P&G CEO’s calls “the new normal.” On a recent shopping trip with my daughter in advance of her return to college I easily identified other companies that “get” and do not get the new normal. BBCG, the brand my daughter yearns for yet cannot afford (unless there is a really great sale or a birthday check is in her hand) significantly lowered its entry price points on this season’s clothes. Same great look and high quality, and what I suspect is a less expensive fabric and simpler lines to sew. The saleswoman at SAKS (where we ended up after outlet stores turned up no shoes that fit) reminded us that…
Growth Strategy During a Recession
Image via Wikipedia The rock face has many parallels to business’ external environment. Rock climbing starts by understanding it. Stand back too far, you see everything, but can’t see initial steps up the rock. Stand too close, you’ll likely climb to a dead end i.e., without safe steps up the face. With the right distance (the one that an exciting new growth strategy is discovered from) you see a promising directional route. B2C companies should throw out existing assumptions about customers. A 20% and growing decline in household wealth is transforming our consumption patterns and preferences. We’re at a pivot point where change is non-linear, not trend-like. The greater your insight into this transformation, the stronger your organization will be. Your B2B strategic planning should focus on this question – What can or could we uniquely do to help a target market become…
Business Model Innovation – About My Blog
It’s gotten harder and harder to succeed in business for a long list of reasons that, like gravity, pull leaders into a short-term focus. Our planning deceives us into thinking we’re being strategic when in reality we’re just working at different degrees of tactical. The end result is that we’re too often operationally terrific and strategically shortsighted. Are you ready to unearth an exciting new growth strategy versus incremental improvements to today’s business? If so, you’re ready for business model innovation. My blog uses the lens of business model innovation to help you radically rethink what your business is all about in order to see previously hidden growth opportunities. Together, our conversation will help you create the mindset, mental-wandering, strategic thinking and knowledge that produces better growth strategy decisions and faster execution. Every organization has a business model whether or not leaders articulate…
Are You Aspiring to Strengthen Your Strategic Leadership Skills?
You know in your gut that you and your organization aren’t the best they can be and will be someday. You’re seeking thinking partners to help your team and your organization realize their full potential. You want to strengthen your strategic leadership skills. Business models look to be a promising or at least intriguing avenue of discovery. You’re an organizational leader or you work with them as a management consultant. You’re curious and a voracious learner, drawn to ideas, tools and information that will help you make a greater positive difference for others. You’re anything but narrow. You know that a lot can be learned outside ones own specialized expertise. In fact, your ability to see past the 3-foot deep concrete wall in front of you and cut a door through it creates your success. There’s so much strategy and management literature being…