http://www.cocomment.com/comments/charlesfrith Copyright 2007 coComment.com 2009-11-22T14:42:29.160+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/images/logo4rss.gif http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=1581450&comment_id=30223859 Charles Frith Oh and for 2012 given that we haven't got 20 squillion to spend on the ceremony we should just give a free concert when the teams walk around the stadium. The fireworks might have been impressive but the walk round was the longest bore ever. Put some tunes to it. [Posted by 221.221.9.112 via http://algart.net/ww This is added while posting a message to avoid misuse. Try: http://webwarper.net/webwarper.exe Example of viewing: http://webwarper.net/ww/~av/lycos.com ] 2008-08-12T02:12:00.872+02:00 2008-08-12T02:12:00.872+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=1581450&comment_id=30223803 Charles Frith Ye Gods. You're digging a deeper whole for yourself this morning. Now you've even conceded that its a hellish wasted of fuel too! Seriously though, one of the complaints about the Chinese opening ceremony was the Goose Stepping by the People's liberation army and I can see 2012 trying to stay away from the military overtones. Although given that the whole thing is going to be terrorist bait central number one a bit of a RAF fly by might make sense. Now you've got me contradicting myself. Its contagious. 2008-08-12T02:10:39.563+02:00 2008-08-12T02:10:39.563+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=1558274&comment_id=30158001 Charles Frith L. Murray. Sorry for letting this go cold and I agree the picture is a little more complex than thye following: http://internationaltrade.suite101.com/article.cfm/chinas_top_trading_partners "China maintains a healthy surplus with the majority of its trading partners." More depth would be gained from knowing the type of goods imported and exported. Value versus pollution are not always the same. 2008-08-09T12:12:19.001+02:00 2008-08-09T12:12:19.001+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=1558298&comment_id=30017637 Charles Frith Amazing the amount of times Stewart Brand has cropped up in my life of late. From San Fran to Beijing! Sadly I can't watch Google video in China but I'm looking forward to catching up on these the moment I'm over the great firewall. 2008-08-05T13:02:44.761+02:00 2008-08-05T13:02:44.761+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=1558274&comment_id=30017401 Charles Frith The Elephant in the room is that most of the manufacturing for China feeds the Wests insatiable appetite for disposable goods. Nothing less than reduced consumption will resolve this. We're choking on growth it appears. 2008-08-05T12:47:39.535+02:00 2008-08-05T12:47:39.535+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=1459794&comment_id=28060329 Charles Frith Great topic to uncover Grant. It's a bit tricky getting onto your blocked site round the great firewall here in China but in case my comment gets through here goes. I think the trust dimension is crucial in categories of advertising where the creative isn't necessarily that strong. Just by appearing in broadcast media the implicit message is 'we can afford to buy this space' and thus are somewhat trustworthy. Secondly I don't believe what people say unless I know the methodology for the research but if people express a scepticism for celebrity endorsement then maybe the issue is that the brands are also saying. Not only can we buy the media space, but we can buy the celebs to go with it. We must be trustworthy. Maybe the outtake is that people trust the brands more and the celebs a little less from this process. Just a thought because with respect to 'media as trust' I've been thinking about this for some years now. Your post takes my thinking in another direction. Best from Beijing. 2008-06-25T02:17:40.883+02:00 2008-06-25T02:17:40.883+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=1459411&comment_id=28055137 Charles Frith But dbm wouldn't an evolved combination of Google Ad Planner and Adwords for Print TV Audio and ahem Cinema (that's going digital too isn't it?) be an automated hybrid of the 'distractive' advertising process. Sounds good to me. Still room for good work and automation of the creatively dull but contextually relevant. (Think Dell ads for a perfect potential client) The ad industry still doesn't acknowledge that Adwords is a $10 Billion + industry and is quite happy to spend a week in Cannes enjoying a selection of creative that always includes scam ads. Without mentioning that brands are not even part of this communication model. They're still selling brand ideas to there clients. Where's the brand idea in Adsense? 2008-06-24T19:31:55.427+02:00 2008-06-24T19:31:55.427+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=1433374&comment_id=27224284 Charles Frith In an attention economy that's unlikely but then I'm a professional Crowe de.licio.us reader 2008-06-12T00:09:09.622+02:00 2008-06-12T00:09:09.622+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=1425836&comment_id=27159013 Charles Frith Oh come on. Clubbing was a profound movement towards the freedom and ubiquity of dance. Something that was reserved for only those who could actually do it prior to that. The point about dancing now is not to do it well but to enjoy it. Bad dancers are actually brilliant entertainment when people are trying to be too cool. We do it all the time when I'm in Bangkok with a certain friend of mine. Whips up the crowd everytime. 2008-06-09T08:46:24.485+02:00 2008-06-09T08:46:24.485+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=1380407&comment_id=26383610 Charles Frith Similar debates on the definition of middle class go on in India and I had exactly the same questions on the definition of 'middle class' while working on a project. 2008-05-06T07:14:50.323+02:00 2008-05-06T07:14:50.323+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=1363807&comment_id=25849111 Charles Frith Useful post. Thanks 2008-04-27T00:47:58.046+02:00 2008-04-27T00:47:58.046+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=1363224&comment_id=25830506 Charles Frith I'm in Beijing right now and I have full access to Slideshare. SARFT the people who censor all media, intermittently block my blogging domain Blogspot and that is the method they would use for Slideshare. Its more than likely an individual(s) who hasn't had much exposure to the pluralism that Western democracies foster. Criticising China is poorly thought out thinking. The last thing anyone would want to see is the Balkanisation of the country because it suddenly gave the freedoms that we often take for granted. That would lead to a lot of death and misery (and massive economic migration) and frankly if that doesn't bother people, then that may well be those peoples motive in criticizing China. Not the freedoms you espouse. 2008-04-26T11:17:21.824+02:00 2008-04-26T11:17:21.824+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=1361727&comment_id=25707571 Charles Frith I think the crucial part is as you say in the comments. If we start thinking of movies in a different context as they are enjoyed traditionally, then it all starts to look a bit closer. And why not. Brilliant post David! 2008-04-25T04:40:16.488+02:00 2008-04-25T04:40:16.488+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=1356181&comment_id=25467474 Charles Frith We had some thoughts on this over here. http://tinyurl.com/35pc82 2008-04-21T15:33:37.105+02:00 2008-04-21T15:33:37.105+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=1350694&comment_id=25460899 Charles Frith Looking very natty in that cravat. Almost an ad luvvy! ;) 2008-04-17T08:12:57.910+02:00 2008-04-17T08:12:57.910+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=1296506&comment_id=24911159 Charles Frith Hi Rich. There's no doubt that China is set to be numero uno. I just don't think that while it relies upon numbers to punch its weight compared to say qualitative dimensions (which great brands bring to life) that China is going to reap the rewards of some of the story that is behind the hard work. China's dependence on the numbers is almost absolute. Now numbers have a beauty of their own, but as the demographic figures show, by 2025 China is in for the fastest and largest aging population in the history of the world. Those are numbers worth thinking about too. We've all looked at the miracle of the U.S. as an empire that is possibly in its last days but I can't help thinking that China may well be the fastest empire ever. Great blog in any case. 2008-03-21T09:35:03.145+01:00 2008-03-21T09:35:03.145+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=1296506&comment_id=24849232 Charles Frith Hi Rich, Yes indeed. Service sector and B2B can both be brands and I think your suggestion of Bank of China is prescient. They could easily be a global brand in terms of awareness in the next few years. As for the point on localization I think like 'think global, act local' its often an oxymoron. Regarding provenance I have read that customers are beginning to question the whole made in x country gig as a bit misleading. Particularly in the luxury end of the market. Great brand communications should be first and foremost interesting. The marketing machine has crushed this out of most brands through endless testing. Ergo lifeless brands everywhere! 2008-03-18T14:40:58.060+01:00 2008-03-18T14:40:58.060+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=1296506&comment_id=24772608 Charles Frith There is only one Chinese global brand. Its called Lenovo and it's arguable that it achieved this status by buying the IBM computers division and more importantly the Thinkpad sub brand (Some argue it was a good sale considering Moore's law and the diminishing profits in hardware). A global brand is one where between 15 - 20% of global respondents can recognise the brand. That doesn't even apply to the two likely runner ups Haier and Tsing Tao. Now if Tsing Tao had any marketing Cojones they would use the Olympics to launch the brand globally but instead they are embroiled like all Chinese brands in the myopic notion that the Olympics are all about China. It's not. Its an international event and more international people will be in Beijing for August then have ever descended on China in its history. A good time to launch a global brand? Yes, but as we have seen with all advertising campaigns for the Olympics they only feature Chinese athletes. Not the most global way to launch Brand China but, and here I get to the root of your question; China is still maturing in its marketing expertise. Its fair to say that brilliant marketing professionals the West set the bench mark as doing something different. Here in China without exception the rule is to do something that resembles there competitor - Nail that sticks out and so on. (It gets noticed if anyone is still reading) There will be no global Chinese brands that achieve dominance through the messaging communications model until a Chinese brand takes leadership and insists that it act differently and with a vision of its own brand DNA. Sadly most Chinese enterprises start and end with the spreadsheet and are thus doomed to global marketing mediocrity. The other end of this equation is that the product quality and innovation is crucial to brand leadership. But this issue is one where "all roads lead to China" has way more expertise in assessing than my own. 2008-03-14T08:35:14.795+01:00 2008-03-14T08:35:14.795+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=1286987&comment_id=24682247 Charles Frith I blogged about this back in May last year. http://charlesfrith.blogspot.com/2007/05/black-swan.html And then wrote a bit about how it can be part of the solution for an evolved agency model over here too. Likeminds? http://tinyurl.com/32c5yx 2008-03-08T08:02:52.544+01:00 2008-03-08T08:02:52.544+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=1196592&comment_id=23343466 Charles Frith Terrific post. Very informative. BBS plus SNS widget sounds like it would be a a hit if integrated with the blogging world. 2008-01-20T12:42:18.971+01:00 2008-01-20T12:42:18.971+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=1184925&comment_id=23110790 Charles Frith Of course this event is deeply upsetting. As a blogger in China I can only sympathise. However its 1.3 Billion people being managed here and of course there are wrong acts. But before the anti China crowd begin to sing in unison it would be wise to consider what a Balkanization effect would have on the world if the centrally controlled leadership were dismantled. 2008-01-14T11:40:02.711+01:00 2008-01-14T11:40:02.711+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=1184323&comment_id=23106904 Charles Frith Don't be so negative chaps. Never wanted to leave a shiny log behind for posterity? 2008-01-14T00:55:54.174+01:00 2008-01-14T00:55:54.174+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=1164914&comment_id=22875196 Charles Frith Lovely technology-in-action piece but a drive through the woods might have been a sweeter debut ;) 2007-12-31T13:37:09.965+01:00 2007-12-31T13:37:09.965+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=1156700&comment_id=22681968 Charles Frith Of course I understand your point although some serendipity can occur for randomness. However for the best poetry experience I had recently I can't recommend enough listening to this on some headphones while walking in the night. http://www.poptech.com/popcasts/popcasts.aspx?lang=&viewcastid=170 Let me know if the link doesn't work. 2007-12-22T17:35:07.411+01:00 2007-12-22T17:35:07.411+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=1142015&comment_id=22511261 Charles Frith Quality post Grant. I really enjoyed reading that. 2007-12-11T04:48:38.639+01:00 2007-12-11T04:48:38.639+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=1091103&comment_id=21926772 Charles Frith The mobile market in the US differs from most of the world. The service providers own the relationship whereas elsewhere like China, there is more freedom to choose the handset. Nokia sells a huge amount of phones in the entry level category of around 35 Euros and upwards. These customers are clearly not as valuable as the iPhone segment but in terms of volume its the contrast between say the rich elite and the modestly poor around the world. The ratios speak for themselves. 2007-10-29T14:02:36.940+01:00 2007-10-29T14:02:36.940+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=1007970&comment_id=18902715 Charles Edward Frith I love this post. But the question isn't binary. There's a bundle of context and frankly if we look at what the children did in Tuol Sleng they were even more vicious than the adults. So lets look at ourselves first. 2007-09-19T19:18:46.452+02:00 2007-09-19T19:18:46.452+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=984107&comment_id=18529528 charlesfrith I really like this effort. But i'm also curious about where this was filmed? 2007-09-02T22:14:40.666+02:00 2007-09-02T22:14:40.666+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=980530&comment_id=18516424 charlesfrith Good idea. Anybody know which creative team worked on this. JWT? 2007-08-31T10:25:55.291+02:00 2007-08-31T10:25:55.291+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=973916&comment_id=18434191 charlesfrith what part of the US is this dance style popular? 2007-08-27T16:14:20.407+02:00 2007-08-27T16:14:20.407+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=947798&comment_id=18113048 Charles Frith Customers. Not consumers please. 2007-08-07T22:07:41.232+02:00 2007-08-07T22:07:41.232+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=857439&comment_id=17901898 charlesfrith Just listening to this podcast about the homeless. http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/305/index.html 2007-07-29T16:54:58.423+02:00 2007-07-29T16:54:58.423+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=857439&comment_id=17486870 charlesfrith Came across this. I think there's something in it. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hMnk7lh9M3o 2007-07-21T00:15:26.705+02:00 2007-07-21T00:15:26.705+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=902991&comment_id=17486747 charlesfrith This is pretty amazing. Whoever runs CPDRC is a bit special. 2007-07-21T00:12:28.052+02:00 2007-07-21T00:12:28.052+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=874885&comment_id=16965003 Charles Frith Ask the hundred plus people in Baghdad who were killed over the weekend if its working. 2007-07-10T19:34:17.784+02:00 2007-07-10T19:34:17.784+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=857439&comment_id=16862831 Charles Frith Hi George. OK cool. Just throwing ideas into the pot but glad to hear you guys have thought of dedicated blog too. 2007-07-08T17:56:28.414+02:00 2007-07-08T17:56:28.414+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=857439&comment_id=16857315 Charles Frith Lauren and I thought it might be useful to set up a separate blog for this. Nothing fancy but easier to navigate than hundreds of comments. 2007-07-08T11:46:02.152+02:00 2007-07-08T11:46:02.152+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=857439&comment_id=16806478 Charles Frith Sure thing Lauren. No time like the present. 2007-07-07T01:11:41.904+02:00 2007-07-07T01:11:41.904+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=857439&comment_id=16806334 Charles Frith I still think its time to ask some homeless people about what is important. We're just pampered middle class problem solvers until otherwise. Maybe a public shower with a letter box. I'm being flippant but its time to ask. 2007-07-07T01:04:45.135+02:00 2007-07-07T01:04:45.135+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=857439&comment_id=16726227 Charles Frith How about doing a focus group with homeless people. I think Lauren and Marcus have both already suggested tip top ideas. But before running off and solving the problem. Lets define the problem. I'm happy to moderate. 2007-07-05T07:30:44.641+02:00 2007-07-05T07:30:44.641+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=857439&comment_id=16680703 Charles Frith I'm in. Homeless is a miserable existence and can happen a lot easier than many would think is possible. 2007-07-04T05:15:23.153+02:00 2007-07-04T05:15:23.153+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=856350&comment_id=16660317 Charles Frith I had a similar idea a couple of weeks ago! http://charlesfrith.blogspot.com/2007/06/is-blogging-new-tamagotchi.html 2007-07-03T20:11:27.845+02:00 2007-07-03T20:11:27.845+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=819738&comment_id=15972022 Charles Frith Hi Tim. You can always rely on the UK to be between the devil and the deep blue see! 2007-06-20T21:02:11.462+02:00 2007-06-20T21:02:11.462+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=809735&comment_id=15763378 Charles Frith Fresh!! 2007-06-17T17:54:06.433+02:00 2007-06-17T17:54:06.433+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=809155&comment_id=15752899 Charles Frith Thanks for coming all the way to interesting 2007 Grant! 2007-06-17T11:55:27.890+02:00 2007-06-17T11:55:27.890+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=673458&comment_id=15427010 (nobody) Bloody hell is this still going on? 2007-06-11T22:06:22.649+02:00 2007-06-11T22:06:22.649+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=788009&comment_id=15330963 charlesfrith Any constructive comments about Natalie on this post here would be welcome. thanks. http://tinyurl.com/23d5u7 2007-06-09T22:19:24.332+02:00 2007-06-09T22:19:24.332+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=771270&comment_id=15276098 Charles Frith The precis of that post is: Google does stuff. 2007-06-08T21:04:06.630+02:00 2007-06-08T21:04:06.630+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=769403&comment_id=14947507 charlesfrith i once had two handfuls that tasted exactly the same 2007-06-03T16:54:13.144+02:00 2007-06-03T16:54:13.144+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=charlesfrith&conv=719227&comment_id=14113833 Charles Edward Frith Brilliant. I'm a fan. 2007-05-17T02:28:48.685+02:00 2007-05-17T02:28:48.685+02:00