RIOTS: The good and bad of social media

Last night, the 'riots' struck Manchester. With my offices and home very much in the city centre, it was a sleepless night to say the least and a worrying time for all.

 After venturing out for dinner at 6pm, it was evident that the city had shut down within a matter of hours. There was an odd, chilling vibe in the city centre and as I walked down into Deansgate further into Manchester city centre, it became more and more apparent what had struck this fantastic city.

I watched in pure amazement as gangs of yobs smashed their ways into the likes of Ugg, Artizan, HSBC, Diesel to name but a few and watched as a photographer was bombarded by bottles and branded a 'snitch' as he was taking photographs. It was then that I heard one looter say "We need to BBM everyone to get over here now".

During the past three days we have been watching Twitter closely – news headlines have been delivered to us in real time and without a doubt in advance of the main TV news channels. For example, the photo I posted to twitter early afternoon, taken from my office window had over 500 hits within 2 hours.

What is demonstrates is the sheer power of Twitter (in this instance) for getting people together to do something and it proved a major communication tool for rioters, looters, spectators, businesses, police and journalists.

BBM (blackberry messenger) was caught up in the centre of the riots. Unlike social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, messages sent through BBM cannot be traced back to the sender and so acted as an effective way for rioters and looters to communicate. One BlackBerry message urged people to arm themselves with hammers and to bring cars, vans and even trollies to help them cart off stolen goods. It added: ‘What ever ends [area] your from put your ballys [balaclavas] on link up and cause havoc, just rob everything. Police can’t stop it.’ 


Another message referred to Oxford Circus where a mob of about 50 youths attacked several businesses.
It called on ‘everyone from all sides of London’ to meet up, smash up shops and get some ‘free stuff’, adding: ‘if you see a fed [police] ... SHOOT!’ 

It is with satisfaction to report that at least five people have so far been arrested for inciting hatred and riots. A looter also handed himself into police after seeing pictures of himself on facebook. And with reports today in the papers that 'spooks' are on the case with the BBM crowd .. it looks like we are cracking down on these social media yobs. However social media was also well used by 'the other side.

In particular The Greater Manchester Police @gmpolice and MEN journalists on Twitter were fantastic in communicating information to the General Public before, during and after the riots. The tweets were effective, informative and non speculative which is what was needed. It just goes to show how everyone, aswell as NPOs have embraced social media.

@riotcleanup and @riotcleanupmanc have done a brilliant job organising troops to hit the streets the next day and start the clean up process. An early start this morning but it was well worth it ! This is what is meant by community spirit. It just goes to show - it doesn't matter how big the City is - we are a community and we will unite together to support those around us and keep our streets clean!

This proves without doubt that if you aren’t on Twitter in some way you probably should be as so much of the world uses it, but it also proves that ‘real time’ updates are far more swift than anything the news channels can compete with.

A thoroughly interesting story is of course still evolving but it makes me proud to be working in this field – getting a real experience with people we only know from our online work and like all those who have arranged a unit in their communities and used Social Media to round up helpers is truly admirable and shows a real human spirit!

Absolut Genius.

Artertising. Drinkspiration and Absolut Genius

The history of the Absolut vodka brand resembles somewhat of a Shakespearian play. Kings of Vodka, Vodka Wars and branded, a creative mastermind of its era. A brand, that inspires designers, marketers and most importantly, the consumer. For the past 30 years in particular, Absolut has led the way in marketing that blurs the lines between advertising and art... and the 2011 marketing campaign hasn't left anyone disappointed.

In collaboration with a new generation of artists, Absolut Vodka is introducing Absolut Blank; a global creative movement in which Absolut appears as a catalyst for cutting-edge creativity. The global initiative, which launched last month, comprises 18 artist collaborations, films, print and outdoor advertising, consumer experiential events and a digital art piece that lives and evolves on mobile phones.

Absolut has shaken up, not only the way in which vodka is marketed, but also marketing within the drinks industry and indeed, further afield. With more channels to promote via (social networks, mobile, apps, interactive billboards) it is becoming ever more important to offer an integrated, consistent and unified marketing campaign, so not to blur the brand message.

Art is Absolut's secret weapon. One simple design brings multi-channel marketing onto one page ensuring that the message of creativity, innovation and sophistication is not lost on the consumer.

Working Class Brands

 Working Class Brands

1. The Sun
2. Iceland
3. McDonalds
4. KFC
5. Asda
6. The Labour Party
7. easyJet
8. ITV
9. Alton Towers
10. PizzaExpress


11.4m of British people view themselves as Working Class, which is now less than 1/4 of the total population compared to 33.6m who views themselves to be Middle Class (71%). As a population we now aspire to climb the social ladder and put ourselves as far away as possible from “the Chav”, "Benefit Spongers" and Yobs of Society.

So surely it would make sense for brands and marketing agencies to be targeting the middle class, with more disposable income, higher aspirations for example. NO. Is the answer put forward by BritainThinks. The working class are more loyal to their brands of choice, are more willing to engage on an emotional level with their brand and 'believe that their brands of choice "understand" them better as people.


The Middle Class are now 64% more likely than Working Class to research and compare between brands before purchasing and wealthy families are the group that will cut their spending the most over the next three years – households with an annual income of £62,000 or above, will be spending £2,700 less annually on products and services in 2014-2015.

So despite decreasing numbers of working class people in Britain, it makes sense to keep these loyal brand warriors on-side! Effective marketing, understanding the consumer and strong relationships between consumer and brand is the way forward for our working class brand 'heroes'.


(July 2011, Marketing Magazine and Britain Thinks)

The Audi Spectacle

Audi, a brand that oozes with self confidence and associated with technological advances, creative, innovative and progessive thinking. It seems only right that the brand should be the pioneer of this entirely original concept ... what some might describe as ... the new breed of 'billboard' and with it ... the new way of marketing.

'It is a display of four life-size Audi cars, suspended inside the silver rings of a massive Audi symbol attached to an iconic bridge structure or in front of landmark spaces — the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge, Tower Bridge, Venice. The rings rotate around, light-up at night, and move up and down the bridge. Against the backdrop of spectacular urban architecture, the Audi installation reflects Audi’s continuous challenging of the status quo, its capacity to innovate, and its ability to avoid the bland and the ordinary.'

 Spectacular. Innovative. Exciting. Congrats Audi. You've got my attention.

An Introduction

Well... it's not a good start so far. There's been three failed attempts at 'all about me' and a dissapointing attempt at providing an 'alternative' approach to introducing myself in a blog. It just wasn't funny. So I've opted for the safe bet of posting a cliche black and white photo with a cheesy grin... fingers crossed... my inspiration and enthusiasm to blog will return tomorrow.