Why Discount Supermarkets aren’t All They Seem

Why Discount Supermarkets aren’t All They Seem

The news today has been dominated by the announcement from the UK’s biggest supermarket chain that their profit fell by 6% to £3.3bn. Having just been invited to participate in a discussion on national radio about this news, what intrigued me was the psychology of the debate. The results create a negative prime and most of the callers into the radio show started their ‘reaction’ with a stinging indictment of Tesco’s customer service, products or prices.  In fact, had a Martian been listening to the vehement critique of the retailer he would surely have assumed that the company was down to it’s last store and that tumbleweed was blowing down the aisles where shoppers used to be! In reality, Tesco still meets the supermarket shopping needs of more customers than any other company. Undoubtedly they have struggled under the competitive pressure from both sides of the economic spectrum: Waitrose has […]

Not Getting Shot and the Magician at Nando’s Restaurant: Retail Review

Not Getting Shot and the Magician at Nando’s Restaurant: Retail Review

I’m quite partial to a bit of magic. Quite a lot of the psychologists I know have a passing interest in the subject. I think it’s all part of a fascination with how the mind works: that balance between our willingness to believe the incredible, it only works if you suspend your disbelief, coupled with the side darker side of human nature – our enjoyment and skill at deceiving others. Of course the fun with magic is wondering how it’s done. Even though we know it’s a trick, and even when you know how a trick is done, it’s still entertaining. If you do know what’s happened you get to swap sides as it were and enjoy the experience as the magician would – the pleasure comes from seeing the other people baffled and amazed. I vividly recall watching a magician on a cross-channel ferry; the room shape wasn’t ideal […]

Shuropody (August 2011)

Shuropody (August 2011)

“Yes!” That was my first thought as I watched my golf ball fly towards the 200 yard marker at the driving range; the first successful launch from new Taylormade R9 5 wood. My previous attempts had travelled the kind of distance better measured in inches. My second thought was “Ouch!”  My foot was hurting with the constant pain that I imagine would be the consequence of getting whacked on the heel with a sledgehammer. The pain eased a little in the next few moments, and so with the mindlessness that would delight a regimental sergeant major but cause a physician untold despair, I carried on trying to get the long stick to propel the ball to the end of the driving range. Two days later I was forced to accept I’d done something hurty to my foot; the pain was still present and I needed to do something about it. […]

The Name’s Not Bond: Christopher Ward Watches

The Name’s Not Bond: Christopher Ward Watches

I’ve been having some trouble with a couple of Eastern Europeans. You know the types; a beautiful woman who, it turns out, is actually a spy, and a ruthless maniac who wants to take over the world. Being a secret agent myself (something I normally only mention when checking into hotels or introducing myself to villains) it’s beholden on me to step in if I get wind that there’s a move afoot to take over the world: it usually only takes a couple of hours to sort it out. Of course, there are various tools of the trade that help me in my endeavours. I’ve equipped my car with a few natty gadgets: a satellite navigation unit that doesn’t just tell me where I am and how to get where I’m going, it also falls off its mount as I drive along and, at night, if I leave the mount […]