Retail and the Good Life

A long break was just what the doctor ordered and now the New Year has well and truly begun it’s a pleasure to get back to the blog.

While I’ve been away Tesco have been hard at work.  Not content with their shops being open day and night for most of the Christmas Break, this retailer also has a new website called Talking Tesco.

It’s a fascinating concept; a content rich website completely dedicated to gathering views from the public on Tesco and the company giving a direct response.  Let’s not forget that Tesco takes 30 per cent of everything spent on UK groceries.  Is this a case of Tesco being innovative and leading the way to get a real understanding of their customers’ needs and concerns?  Mmm, well not exactly. 

Taking Graham Hoenes comments he must think it is more of a place to worship at the church of the holy Tesco than a place for balanced and informed views. He comments:

“They should rename it Talking B****ocks”

Tesco view it more of an opportunity to “put the record straight”. 

Depressingly anyone wishing to leave a comment on the Talking Tesco site must first agree to their legal terms and conditions.   The entire site has the feel of a PR vehicle to promote Tesco and help its case before the UK Competition Commission.  However, it is an indication of how large companies are adapting and using new technologies to communicate with customers.

On a lighter note one couple will definitely not be in any rush to visit Tesco.  They are taking the route of self sufficiency.  Noteworthy in this case as they actually live in the original property used in the Good Life series.  For those who don’t know this comedy series contained four of the UK’s best loved actors and actresses and made self sufficiently famous in the UK 30 years ago.   

I remember watching the series thinking the whole idea of self sufficiently was quite barking mad.  It’s strange that with the Eco and Organic movements how things have changed.

Technorati Tags: large business sme retail blogging accountants  sme-blog  technology

Philip Woodgate

Comments

[Heather]

Heather (also of EF of course)

I decided at a very early age I wanted to be Barbara, she looked great in wellingtons and was a trendy organix before it was trendy! - and lets face it what male of the late 70's wasn't in awe at how just how Tom had managed to pull her!

Tesco will take advantage of every avenue - technological, PR, whatever -- I'm surprised they aren't on myspace and in that virutal world thing too (can't remember what its called) to be the biggest virtual store there - ever on the lookout at how to harvest customers up - I shop at Tesco and am appalled at myself because of it - Barbara wouldn't have been so fickle!!

[Philip Woodgate]

Hi Heather

Tesco make it so easy for us. It's a bit like putting cakes in front of children. Where I live there are two Tesco stores nearby. One of them is a monster. Rumour has it that they want to make it the biggest in the country. The town it is starting to take second place.

P.S. Liked your comments on the Good Life. I've added a clip to the post for good measure.

[Matias Wigozki]

I am the Business Development Manager with Careerbuilder.com. We are currently looking for new sites to partner with, and we believe that your site has a unique audience that is of interest to us.
We are interested in partnering with your organization to power a Jobs Channel on your site. In addition to providing your users with a valuable employment resource that over 19 million people access monthly, we would pay your organization a fee based on how much traffic is directed to Careerbuilder. You would also share a percentage of any e commerce revenue that is generated.

When you have a moment, please contact me at your convenience and we can discuss the details further. Thanks.

Sincerely,
Matias Wigozki
773-527-2429

[Philip Woodgate]

Hi Matias

Thanks for thinking of me, but it has never been my intention to create income out of advertising/directing traffic.

I only have one ad (top right corner) and that's only there as it is something I'm involved in day in day out and believe is a real benefit. I can't see any more in the foreseeable future. Good luck with your site.