Demise Covid-19 spells the demise for firms in some sectors more than others. Most at risk: energy (oil price slump), retail (non-food), airlines, travel, automotive. Likely to thrive: healthcare (virus-facing), utilities, telecoms, communications media. But for all firms, survival will matter more than profits or growth for the next 2 years. All firms can go…
Killed Killed by Covid-19: forecasting experts, extrapolating into the future, based on the past. Better to embrace uncertainty, build resilience & stocks, allow a margin of error, and respect diverse views. Revived by Covid-19: common sense & trusting our own instincts Guessed the Word? Series 56 (4/8) …
Collapse Which firms will collapse first? Zombie enterprises propped up by repeat loans won’t stagger on through the pandemic. Nor will their main clients & key suppliers. Despite government rescue packages, it will be corporate undertakers & wind-up merchants who stand & deliver Guessed the Word? Series 56 (3/8) …
Order in Lockdown = order in some food! Online orders boost sales, but to pivot to delivery, a restaurant must overhaul menus with transit in mind, coordinate couriers, absorb delivery firms’ 30%+ fees, re-jig kitchen layout to include dedicated production lines to fulfil digital orders, & install pick up units in place of tables &…
Let up When to let up Coronavirus restrictions? There’s proof that lockdowns slow down the spread & ease pressure on health services, but no evidence of what happens when normal life resumes. Businesses should expect tough social distancing measures until Autumn 2020, with some timed/ targeted relaxations thereafter Guessed the Word? …
Wait Coronavirus is teaching us to wait: to hear if workers have recovered; to learn if social distancing is enough to stop the spread; to achieve ‘herd immunity’ in populations; to see how long nations can sustain restrictions; to test when economic harm to quality of life exceeds health gain in length of life. On/off…
Other side Coronavirus: how will it be on the other side? Unwillingness to commute far for work. No need for big offices, or to live in costly city houses. More home cooking & buying online. No dividends. No interest from savings/investments. Higher taxes. More health spending. And no faith in insurance, which turned out not…
Need Coronavirus: when we need people to comply, 2 ways work: Monitor them & punish those who break the rules. Or give them the facts, earn their trust, & they will do the right thing. Billions of people wash their hands – not because they’re being watched, but because they know it stops the spread…
Guess the Word and Contact Us for Prizes! Series 56 starts soon….. 1st letter of each Post Title (in a Series) spells a business word – spelt correctly or jumbled up. Previous answers: Series 55 spelt D-R-S-I-T-U-P (DISRUPT) Series 54 spelt S-W-I-N-G-S-U-P (UPSWINGS) Series 53 spelt L-O-O-K-O-U-T (OUTLOOK) Series 52 spelt R-O-B-B-I-N (RIBBON) Series 51 spelt …
Positioning Coronavirus: agile firms shift gear fast & position themselves differently Think laterally, pivot & step out with more. Flex business assets & service delivery. Vans can take groceries from local shops to customers stuck indoors. Face-to-face courses morph into webinars. Cafes can take online orders. Hotel rooms can store goods. Warehouses can be healthcare…