Airbus wins patent for a hypersonic plane that could fly from London to New York in just one hour August 5, 2015 Just under 12 years after Concorde was retired, plans for a new hypersonic plane that could transverse the Atlantic in an hour have been made, with Airbus winning a patent for a new air vehicle. The US Patent and Trademark Office has approved the application made by Airbus for an “ultra-rapid air vehicle together with a [...]
Prestigious brands suffer falling sales in China – but luxury hasn’t lost its lustre just yet November 19, 2015 Fom Hermes handbags and Tiffany jewellery, to Moet champagne and Hennessy cognac, luxury companies have had a storming run on the stock markets since the turn of the millennium. Alongside high-end brands with very exclusive products, the luxury sector also includes names considered commonplace in the West, such as Nike, L’Oreal and Swatch – which [...]
Why the Rugby World Cup’s economic impact is nothing to get excited about September 18, 2015 The economic benefits of international sporting tournaments to national economies have been loudly trumpeted, not least by sporting bodies themselves. Whilst UK investors might witness some short-term movement in the markets following the Rugby World Cup, history suggests that the true lasting value on the UK economy is likely to be limited. Yes, the [...]
This animation shows how 12 iconic company logos have changed over time: Coca-cola, Nike, Google, Apple, Microsoft June 9, 2015 Logos are key to how customers remember and relate to a company – meaning many avoid changing them too often. However, Zing Ecommerce has put together an animation showing how much some of the world's most widely recognised logos have changed over time. "It might surprise you how the most recognisable logos of some of [...]
What UK businesses need to know to overcome export hurdles August 26, 2015 POLITICIANS’ reputations are made or broken on the back of self-imposed targets. Back in 2012, George Osborne called for a doubling of UK exports to £1 trillion by 2020. It was certainly a bold aim. But then I guess you don’t become the chancellor of the exchequer and the bookies’ favourite to be the next [...]
Twitpic shutdown: The companies that could be vulnerable to Twitter’s trademark clampdown September 5, 2014 Is Twitter getting twitchy? Picture sharing site Twitpic has revealed it is shutting down to avoid being embroiled in a costly trademark dispute with the social media giant – and it's not the first one to have done so. According to Twitpic founder Noah Everett, the Silicon Valley corporation contacted Twitpic's legal team “demanding we [...]
Michael Fassbender as Steve Jobs: First trailer for Danny Boyle biopic unveiled May 18, 2015 The first trailer for British director Danny Boyle's biopic of Steve Jobs has landed, with Michael Fassbender appearing in Jobs' trademark black turtleneck. Read more: Steve Jobs was an amazing businessman – but Einstein’s the genius behind the iPod Steve Jobs, the second feature film on the Apple founder's life, is written by Aaron Sorkin, the Academy-award [...]
Greece bailout crisis: EasyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou brings free lunch to the table July 1, 2015 While Eurozone finance ministers continue to try and come up with a plan to save Greece's economy, one billionaire is giving out free lunches on the street. Read more: Stelios Haji-Ioannou launches new easyBus Heathrow-London shuttle service Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, founder of easyJet, left Greece 25 years ago and now lives in Monaco, but [...]
Mike Ashley steps down from Newcastle board after demanding Rangers repay £5m loan June 10, 2015 Mike Ashley has stepped down from the Newcastle United board of directors and will be replaced by newly appointed head coach Steve McClaren. Former England manager McClaren has signed an initial three-year deal with the Tyneside club, after being sacked as Derby County manager last month. By combining coaching duties with boardroom duties, McClaren will [...]
Why bigger isn’t better in business August 12, 2015 Brands with a limited number of associations may resonate better with consumers The adage goes that the best things come in small packages. Larry Page, chief executive of newly-formed holding company Alphabet, seems to have taken this to heart. The decision to break down Google’s businesses and separate its more experimental arms from the [...]