There has to be a billion stories telling of bad customer service, and, also I'm sure, the indifference of business owners who can apparently afford to throwaway potential sales - especially at a time like this - floating around. We were in a tidy, well maintained café enjoying some reasonably nice food when a lady came in and asked the owner a question. After a short conversation, the lady ... Read full entry

Last link of the day/week. I think I've been here for about four hours this week. Apologies for the delay in following up comments and replying to email. That's what weekends are for, right? Makes me wonder though, given the chance, would you change careers? A specific piece of career advice my dad gave me was "Don't be an accountant!" A career he'd been in for decades. So why, ... Read full entry

Japanese temple building company Kongo Gumi was established in 578AD and ceased trading in 2007, after being overwhelmed by debt, and an apparent downturn in the temple building industry. Aside from the inauspicious final chapter however, what was the key to remaining in business for almost a millennium and a half? Other than favourable economic and trading conditions, family ownership seems to have played a big hand in their ... Read full entry

Transplant is a "creative centre" in Norway where people who primarily transact, or do business online, can meet and work face-to-face. With a gradual move away from traditional workplaces, and working arrangements, it's a concept that could become a lot more widespread. With an increasing set of mobile businesspeople, places where idea creation and collaboration can occur will be jewels in the landscape. These individuals are not interested in ... Read full entry

When it comes to closing business deals it seems chocolate digestives can be a real winner, certainly in the UK anyway. (So much for overpriced hamburgers then?) About four out of five UK businesses believe the type of biscuit they serve to potential clients could clinch the deal or make it crumble, a survey says. The outcome of a meeting could be influenced by the range and ... Read full entry

The Girl Effect: invest in a girl and she will do the rest.

What's your apple pie? Oliver Sweatman asks: what is the attraction of your business that keeps bringing clients back for more? For a café in Jordaan, Amsterdam, for instance, it is their apple pie. Literally, everyone in the place (except us) was wolfing down apple pie! Of course we had to try some, and it was excellent. Well worth a 20 minute bike-ride through the pouring rain. Turns out people ... Read full entry