A weekly roundup of talking points, sans effort
Greedy politicians or underpaid professionals? Image source: BBC.co.uk
Thought for the week
“Hiking politician’s wages at a time of pay freezes, benefit caps and necessary spending cuts would be completely unpalatable to taxpayers.” Chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, Matthew Sinclair, commenting on off-the-record requests for MPs to receive a 32% pay rise, taking some salaries up to £86,250.
Weekly high
January is always a difficult month for the travel industry. Christmas has consumed every last penny , and summer is far enough away for people to hold off booking their annual escape. The Caribbean Holiday Company is hell bent on ensuring bookings are high regardless, mind, by allowing customers to ‘bid’ for holidays, the best offer winning the trip of a lifetime. A jetsetters eBay no less, it’s also a genius marketing push.
Make them an offer the can’t refuse- eBay style bidding introduced by exotic travel firm The Caribbean Holiday Company.
Weekly low
What should KFC do if a UK customer believes they have found a brain in their meal? Well, probably not apologise and issue a few vouchers to them. Still, as the fast-food giant’s spokesperson explained: “Although we haven’t received the product, it appears from a photograph that unfortunately on this occasion a kidney, and not a brain as claimed, was not removed in the preparation process.” What an explanation.
Intelligent food: Animal organs fail to be removed from British fried chicken. Image source: Mashable / (C) Ibrahim Langoo
Things that might happen next week…
Australia may face renewed bouts of forest fires amid a 50 degree heatwave as danger levels reach two points below ‘catastrophic’, British tennis hero Andy Murray will face Dutchman Robin Haase, ranked 54th in the world, and on Friday 18th the highly anticipated eighth feature-length film from Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained, will arrive in UK cinemas
Dates for your diary
Tuesday 15th January; TBC, Manchester; NABS ‘Telling Stories: building brands with words- Dan Germain, Creative Director of Innocent Drinks, descends on the North West to discuss the benefits of narrative for business.
Wednesday 16th January, Sheffield University, Sheffield; CIM Ask The Expert- David Chapman, The Chartered Institute of Marketing’s South Yorkshire branch president, leads a panel fielding questions from local Chartered Marketers.
Friday 18th January, Leeds Art Gallery, Leeds; Leeds Print Festival; Back for a second year, the Leeds Print Festival takes over the city’s impressive flagship gallery to celebrate all that is published and printed.
If there is a success story, blunder, or news event you’d like to see included email helloATsmokinggun.co.uk or tweet using #blaggersblog. Happy Friday!