The future of print media was a talking point at the annual Decoded Fashion event in London this month, alongside debates on the wider areas of publishing. Panels discussed ways in which the fashion industry has dealt with the rise of social networking, and why print media is still just as important as always. Sessions focused on how to get customers to notice your brand, empowering consumers by giving them ...

It may only be November, but the first signs of Christmas are already becoming obvious - Christmas lights are being switched on, the festive chocolates have hit the shops, and the shops are buzzing with anticipation as businesses get ready for the busiest period of the retail year. It's at this time that those of us at Flyerzone start thinking about the practicalities of Christmas. While it may be too early ...

Almost one-third of all customers - around 32 per cent - are sharing their experiences and feedback with companies via social networking websites and blogs, according to a recent survey by Verint Systems. The research, which was carried out using answers from over 7,000 people, was compiled into an infographic looking at how easily accessible reviews have made customer service a marketing form in itself. Th ...

Digital music streaming service Spotify is set to pull in around $100 million after a number of big investors, including Coca-Cola and Goldman Sachs, have provided a much needed cash injection to the business. This will bring the overall value of the company up to about $3 billion, according to the New York Times. Spotify was founded in Sweden in 2006, and eventually made it to the States last year after ma ...

There are so many different ways we can interact with people these days, whether you're looking to catch up with friends or contact customers. Between print media and social networking, we can be as formal or informal as we like - but when is each option appropriate? Many people are taking advantage of Facebook and Twitter's free instant messaging systems, allowing real-time updates and even events manageme ...

The Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) has released a white paper called "Advertising in an Online Audio Environment - The Consumer’s View", focusing on consumer perceptions of advertising in an audio context, for example through radio or streaming services such as Spotify. The report itself provides case studies, advice and creative tips from advertising specialists. The design is one of our favourites th ...

A recent report by Smarter Small Businesses has shown that less than 2 per cent of New York-based small businesses are using social media to connect with their customers, opting instead for more traditional forms of marketing. In particular, a technology gap was found to be age-related, with a huge drop in the number of "mom-and-pop" companies compared to those owned by younger entrepreneurs. While print me ...

A new survey by Barclays this week revealed that many business owners and entrepreneurs - as many as one in five -  considered themselves to be "playing it safe" as a result of the economic downturn. In addition, a quarter of the 1,000 people surveyed admitted that they were more hesitant about decision making, although younger entrepreneurs tended to attribute this to the Eurozone rather than the domestic ...

Tokyo's biggest trade fair, Tokyo Designers Week, sprang into action this year with a huge range of showcases and displays held at the Meiji Jingu Gaien in the Shibuya District. A rainbow-coloured "Hello Design" banner greeted visitors to the main show, and with two major themes - "House" and "Play" - there was plenty for design lovers to see and enjoy. Meanwhile across the city the design bug took hold wit ...

The fifth annual World Entrepreneurship Forum was held in Lyon, France last weekend (October 24-27), bringing together freelancers, small business owners, policy-makers and stakeholders to focus on new developments and sustainability. The main topic of discussion over the weekend was the idea of an "entrepreneurial ecosystem" in which small businesses could prosper and encourage more start-ups to flourish. ...