Consulting

We can almost definitely help you as we have so many others.

Do you want an expert’s opinion? Do you want to pick our brains? Do you want us to give you some analytical tools that you or your colleagues can use?

So, who are these “consultants”?

We’ve unusual backgrounds for people involved with creativity. None of us have degrees in art or english or anything remotely creative. Clients find this a source of curiosity and sometimes amusement. They also find it reassuring that we’ve run our own businesses and been around for a bit, so, unlike many people in consultancy, we have experienced the real world and what we say, recommend and do is never based on obscure theory, but on hard facts and tested ideas.

Also:
1. Everything is overseen or contributed to by Robert Shaw. He doesn’t just lend us his name.
2. You always deal with the people who do the work for you – not a junior consultant.
3. If your job needs more people, we cooperate with several partners. Some are listed below. They are all leading names in their respective fields. So we build the team around your project, calling in the people who are best for the job (not just those who are free as sometimes happens in large organisations).

How can we help you?

What’s the problem? Accountability.  Efficient Advertising. Efficient Branding.  Forecasting.  Efficient Media selection.  Metrics.  Optimisation.  Performance.  Efficient Pricing.  Efficient Procurement.  Efficient Promotions.  Strategy?

What would you like?

Exploratory Diagnosis: we resolve your doubts and worries

Experienced Guidance: we show you how to cut costs, reduce bottlenecks, improve compliance and free your team from distractions. Everything we suggest is based on fact. Most importantly, what you get out of it is not a strategic report, but many helpful suggestions that you could implement straight away and that are proven to get better results.

Technology: we cut through the jargon and hype, evaluate what systems if any you really need, find the best solutions, check vendor credentials and suitability, set up the system to fit your organisation.

Change management: we map the optimum process, evaluate roles and responsibilities, assess capabilities and skills gaps, plan internal communications, manage the programme.

Want to read about us?

Robert Shaw – the nuclear physicist

Robert has been a consultant for longer than he cares to remember, including 19 years running his own firm. Before that he spent a decade in various commercial roles. He writes a lot – books and press articles mostly – and has been honoured with various professorships (currently at Cass Business School) and speaks at conferences all round the world; currently collaborating on an article with Philip Kotler.

David Merrick – the mathematician

Making business models and marketing models ever since 1970, David has worked in R&D, as a marketing director, head of training and in charge of denationalising a national treasure. He has run his own businesses too. So he has first hand experience of client and consultancy sides of business, understanding the practical as well as the theoretical. Worked with Robert on and off for 30 years, co-authored a book with him, and has written Sudoku solving programs as what he enigmatically calls “relaxation”.

Bryan Finn – the economist

Bryan’s one of our qualified economists, and regularly talks about the economy and economic forecasts, when he isn’t playing poker that is. Employed as a commercial economist for many years, in the food and the telecoms sectors, before switching to consultancy. He’s also a football coach.

Simon Brodie – the philosopher

Simon has 20 years’ consulting experience, and is a leading expert on retailing. Also spent several years in the Boots Group, most recently as New Business Development Director, but also Group IT director and Chairman of handbag.com. The only qualified philosopher among us, he’s a useful person to have on your side when a logical argument is required. When not consulting he’s looking after his many horses on a large farmhouse in central England.

Steve Wilson – the engineer

Steve has been a consultant for 20 years, after switching from an engineering career. Brings with him the numeracy and discipline of an engineer, while at the same time understanding the creative marketing process. This blend of right and left brain thinking makes Steve a well balanced guy prepared to challenge anything or as one satisfied client once said “he is the grit in the oyster”. When Steve is not being a humble know it all consultant he spends his time relaxing, doing what comes naturally – telling his kids what to do.

Julian Berry – the entrepreneur

Julian and Robert have know each other and worked together for over 20 years. As well as working as a consultant, hes a software entrepreneur, running a company that develops and commercialises systems to automate marketing activities. He’s working with Robert at present on a confidential project to develop some new software.

John Dawson – the Tottenham Hotspur fan

John’s our second economist. He’s another entrepreneur, like Julian, and is developing and commercialising software to automate marketing analysis. He’s also a Tottenham Hotspur fan.

What do we charge?

Depends on volume and complexity and how many meetings are involved. Generally the smaller and less bureaucratic the client, the lower the charge, but we almost invariably charge less than big firms.

Want to get a quote – just send us an email.