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24 ways to start: The hunger of a real start?

24 ways to start: The hunger of a real start?

In December I was invited to write a blog post for a site called "24 Ways to Start". A sort of advent calendar for entrepreneurs. Here's what I wrote: My first start-up was eBay.co.uk way back in 1999. eBay was already a public company and also profitable. International expansion was eBay’s ... Read more »
Sell your first item on eBay video

Sell your first item on eBay video

Here's a little video I've made with a bit of help from courier company MyHermes. There are plenty more on Youtube. So click through if you ... Read more »
Looking Forward to Small Business 2.0

Looking Forward to Small Business 2.0

As the snow and ice thaws at last, we’re getting keyed up for Small Business 2.0 in London on the 23rd. We’ve got some great speakers, sessions and exhibitors and I’m looking forward to a great day at the Novotel in Hammersmith If you haven’t heard about Small Business 2.0, it’s a day ... Read more »
Enterprise Nation: Home Enterprise in the UK 2009

Enterprise Nation: Home Enterprise in the UK 2009

Last Thursday saw a great event held by the tireless Emma Jones and Enterprise Nation, champions of British homeworking. The great and the good (and a few folk like me who fell through the cracks) came together to hear predictions for the year ahead. Find out all about what 2009 holds for us all on ... Read more »
Small Business in 2009: Let's speak their language.

Small Business in 2009: Let’s speak their language.

One thing I earnestly hope to see in 2009 is a more honest and helpful approach from internet industry folk to small businesses (SMEs, SMBs, whatever term you fancy). Who's been doing it well? I can't think of any impeccable shining beacons although Microsoft and BT seem to have their fingers on ... Read more »
Royal Mail Christmas Arrangements

Royal Mail Christmas Arrangements

Last December, according to the IMRG, 24 million parcels were not delivered first time round. For online buyers, especially those like me who have tiny, tiny letterboxes, this represents a major annoyance and a schlep down to the sorting office. That's why the Royal Mail is to be commended ... Read more »
Smallbizpod Scribblings

Smallbizpod Scribblings

File under 'plugging'. I'm a huge fan of the urbane Alex Bellinger, smallbizpod and the superb smallbizpod podcasts. So it was a pleasure to scribble some thoughts for the smallbizpod blog about things people should know about eBay. In other news. The smallbizpod piece and my own post ... Read more »
Thanks Darling: Good news for SMEs.

Thanks Darling: Good news for SMEs.

Serious times call for serious measures. This is, as Gordon said, no time for a novice. While the Tories whinge from the sidelines (and what IS your plan, George Osbourne?), Alastair Darling unveiled the Pre-budget Report. A full Budget in all but name, and frankly more significant than any of ... Read more »
Sarah Willingham: J'accuse.

Sarah Willingham: J’accuse.

You can judge a man by the company he keeps. So what is Raymond Blanc, distinguished chef and successful businessman, doing in The Restaurant with the grating and graceless Sarah Willingham? I have previous with Willingham. It dates back a few years to the time she became Managing Director ... Read more »
Why isn't eBay promoting Skype?

Why isn’t eBay promoting Skype?

Spotted this on ebay.co.uk today. Isn't Skype the internet phone service for small businesses? ... Read more »
Pub's Clever £1 Credit Crunching Grub

Pub’s Clever £1 Credit Crunching Grub

I'm really interested in how small businesses are coping with the oncoming recession and the credit crunch. Needless to say, I'm even more passionate about how pubs are tackling the downturn: too many are closing already. The Four Crosses in Cannock is playing a blinder: bargain grub is getting ... Read more »
I'm Backing Britain, 2008

I’m Backing Britain, 2008

It turned into a bit of a farce in the end, but the 1968 campaign 'I'm backing Britain' sprang to mind when I was sat having my my hair cut at the barber's shop round the corner. Business is OK but people are scared, the barber opined. The man in the sandwich shop had said trade was very slow ... Read more »
Calling small businesses using Wordpress

Calling small businesses using WordPress

At the risk of sounding like a scratched record: I love Wordpress. Its simply superior SEO sexiness, the endless flexibility of the themes, plugins galore and the slick backend make it such a pleasure to use. But who's using it? I'm really interested in hearing from small businesses who use it ... Read more »
In praise of Seth Godin

In praise of Seth Godin

Commonsense marketing advice that isn't the usual dry didactic crap. Taking everyday examples to tackle everyday problems in a personal and often wry manner. Encouraging readers to look at problems anew by challenging orthodoxies and warning against relying on old assumptions. It can only be ... Read more »