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Shopping
The number of UK shoppers that will shop online this Christmas is set to hit 86 per cent, according to research from networking specialist VeriSign.
From a personal point of view - online shopping is extremely convenient and in my case quite dangerous as I like to contually click "add to cart" because I'm not physically carrying any of the shopping. I often have to go through my list of purchases and delete a few because I am just buying for the sake of it.
I was at lunch today with our good friends at OKI, and after some serious business orientated talk for the majority of the meal (ahem, honest) we turned our attention to the hard hitting subject of online shopping (among others).
Everyone was in agreement that it is a good concept, until I spoiled things by bringing up the problem of collecting the parcels at the other end.
Smart people get their goods delivered to their office rather than home, but if like me you commute and use a bike to get through central London - there is little point ordering a load of stuff and then having to lug it back - you may as well buy it in the shops in the first place.
So I'm not sure how convenient online shopping really is - unless I can guarantee delivery on a Saturday morning.
One thing is for sure - my poor neighbours are fed up with taking in parcels for me!
Channel Awards 2009
Sitting here nursing a sore head is a sure sign that the Channel Awards have been and gone.
It was another great night (so I've been told by loads of people already) and Rob Brydon went down well with the audience. He managed to get everyone to actually listen which is a feat in itself.
Having made it to bed at 5am today - I'm feeling a little delicate to say the least - as are the rest of the CRN team - but we are all sitting here (very quietly) at our desks wishing the day away so we can go to bed!
However I know there are quite a few people miffed about who won the awards.
All I can say is that the awards were won fair and square. Unfortunately it is a competition and not everyone can win something. We can't make everyone happy sadly.
The only way to change this is to ensure your customers and partners vote for you. It is no good making the huge effort to enter and then not to bother encouraging votes.
I'm sure we will deal with this issue many more times in the coming year.
Please let me know what you thought of the awards (within reason that is!)
Channel Awards day is here!
Another year has gone by and here we are - on the day of the Channel Awards 2009.
I have been gertting quite a few excited emails and phone calls - it seems everyone is looking forward to have a good old party and sticking two fingers up at 2009.
You will all be pleased to know I'm keeping the welcome speech nice and short with no powerpoint presentation - if you must talk - can I ask that you talk quietly?!
After that I will be mostly found near a bar!
Good luck to all our shortlisted firms and a premature congratulations to the winners.
A full list of the winners will be announced on ChannelWeb tomorrow.
Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen fights cancer
A speedy recovery is wished to Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft who has begun treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Employees at Allen's investment company Vulcan, were informed of the news yesterday in a company email, according to various reports.
Allen successfully won a battle against Hodgkin's disease in 1983 and is not planning to scale back on any of his activities or commitments during his treatment, his representative has said.
Best of luck to him from CRN UK.
Cutting Red Tape
The FPB in one of its many calls to action has asked the government to freeze small busines laws until the next election, claiming businesses are drowning in red tape.
Can this government really go until May without one of its many quangoes and thinktanks inventing another pointless piece of legislation that businesses have to follow?
How about a "You can only wear yellow clothing on a Friday" law? There doesn't seem to be one of those about at the moment.
This is a problem we have all become too aware of - it doesn't matter where you go - red tape is always there to try and trip you up.
In fact, if a manual explaining all the different laws that firms have to adhere to were ever released - it would give Encyclopaedia Britannica a run for its money in the volume stakes.
We live in a day and age of red tape.
It trespasses on our personal lives as well as our business lives.
Something tells me that regardless of how hard the FPB or other organisations shout - there will be more legislation coming out soon - General Election or no General Election.
Fair play to the FPB for having a go.
Star Spot
This was actually from yesterday - but both myself and a colleague saw Martin Freeman of The Office fame yesterday right outside our office.
He was playing the good Samaritan and helping out a lady who appeared to have been taken ill on our office steps.
So there are some nice celebrities out there after all.
Train efficiency
I cannot believe the sheer incompetence of my train company East Midlands Trains.
I had to renew my season ticket today (luckily I picked the day before it ran out) and along I schlepped to the ticket counter clutching a company cheque for over £6,000. RIP OFF.
They had kindly raised the amount of the ticket by over £300 a year.
After 10 minutes fumbling around with the computer, the guy behind the counter managed to get a ticket printed - but realised it would run out on November 10 2010 - effectively losing me a day's travel.
The system also didn't like a pre-written cheque - but I don't know many companies that would hand out blank cheques to employees - regardless of how trustworthy they are.
He just took one look at my face and didn't need to say anything else. My train was pulling into the station and I had no new ticket - I couldn't afford to miss it and wait for the next one because it would have made me late.
Due to the system the ticket could not be 'reissued' apparently so he reassured me he would get it sorted today.
So in effect, I've handed over £6,000 plus - money I will be paying heavily for throughout the year - and as yet have had nothing in return.
What a brilliant system.
The trains in this country are an absolute joke and I wish someone would do something about it. Commuters are ripped off horrendously, as are people just wishing to go out for the day - and nothing is ever done. It is a disgrace.
Does anyone know of any pressure groups that are forming to bring this issue to the fore? if price rises continues, nobody will travel on the trains because they cannot afford it.
Euromillions - lucky HP winners
Who said working in IT was for geeks?
A group of HP workers scooped a share of £45.5m last Friday in the EuroMillions jackpot - they are due to be revealed later this week.
If they need help spending their winnings - I can make a few good suggestions!!
Star spot
I have just seen Paul Bradley who plays Elliot Hope in Holby City walking around Soho. He is best known for his role as Nigel in Eastenders.
A colleague also saw Alex Kapranos from Franz Ferdinand.
Let's just say I don't win the prize for the best star spot today!
Fashion nightmare
I've just seen a bloke 'walking' up the road with trousers so tight that he could hardly move his legs to put one foot in front of another
Why do people dress like that? It is not that difficult to get clothes that fit - particularly as this particular person was extremely skinny.
Is fashion really that imporant?
I wish I could have seen him trying to walk down some stairs.
Rip off Rail
I am absolutely outraged today.
My rail season ticket is due for renewal and I stupidly thought that the ticket would not be increasing in price this year due to the economic environment.
More fool me.
I will now be £35 a month worse off thanks to the greed of East Midlands Trains. Yes, East Midlands Trains you should be ashamed of yourselves.
That is a ludicrous rise in my opinion considering the service is pretty average at best.
The problem is these rail companies have a complete captive audience - there is absolutely no alternative and they know they have commuters over a barrel.
It makes my blood boil to think of a further £35 of my money going into their pockets and there is not a thing I can do about it.
Something needs to be done about rail fares, and soon, before they price everyone off the railway completely.
