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The new manufacturers The new manufacturers

A great British renaissance has been taking place. From Aberdeen to the West Country, the zing is back in manufacturing. It’s about time this spectacular story was told.

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Ask Timpo: seeing the bigger picture

by John Timpson - Thursday, 6th September 2007 -

How much strategy do you need? You are making life too complicated.

I understand you have 60 shops and that you haven’t visited some for over a year – that is not good enough. You make your money out of selling the right product and providing a good service, so it’s the staff in the branches that create your profit – go out and talk to them.

Aim to visit each shop at least three times a year so your people know you and trust you. They will give you more hints about strategy than you will ever find in the office.

Get a driver and a BlackBerry to help you keep working while you are on the move. Plan your diary so that you are out at least two days a week.

After a time, you will find you know so much about the business that you won’t need a lot of the details currently supplied by your FD, and the strategy will become so obvious you’ll be able to work it out in the bath.

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