THOUGHTS FROM RIVER

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Cryptocurrencies: are you all in?

Cryptocurrencies: are you all in?

If you’ve been watching the World Cup of late you may have seen an interesting ad during the break for Hdac: https://youtu.be/s8EcrSjb85o   As far as we know this is the first time blockchain technology has been promoted to the mass market via TV (in the UK at least) but it is certainly a sign…

Is this the Novel for Our Sector? – Review of ‘Satin Island’

Is this the Novel for Our Sector? – Review of ‘Satin Island’

I haven’t entirely decided how to take Satin Island. It’s either a clever and highly nuanced satire of the knowledge and consultancy sectors at their most beard-stroking and hubristic. Or it’s a rather abstract, beard-strokingly impressionistic musing on ‘the patterns that surround us’ and the connectedness of, well, everything. Either way, it’s an impressively imagined…

The River guide to consumer generated innovation

The River guide to consumer generated innovation

At River we don’t believe that you can package ‘innovation’. The approach you take depends on your product category, target audience and organisational culture – as well as the geographic markets you’re operating in. But there are some ground rules you should follow that our experience and expertise allows us to map out in or…

Research in Africa: a whistle stop tour

Research in Africa: a whistle stop tour

River has just got back from a whirlwind tour of South, Central and Sub Saharan Africa. We’ve talked Food, TV, Drinks and Technology. It’s been fun, exhausting, eye-opening and inspiring. A lot of trips follow the dull route of “hotel, cab, meetings and repeat”. But not Africa – Africa always has the ability to surprise…

Sorry To Be So Direct…

Sorry To Be So Direct…

I’ve always considered myself fairly tech-savvy, but First Direct have truly been challenging my levels of technological patience over recent weeks. For 15 years I have been a very loyal customer of First Direct – the UK’s first ‘direct’ bank – and was always proud to have been one of the first ‘online bankers’ in…

Humbled by Economy Strawberry Jam

Humbled by Economy Strawberry Jam

A while ago I was visiting Auckland in New Zealand and found myself in Ponsonby, a onetime working class inner-city suburb of unassuming, white weatherboard houses, which has since become an Auckland Greenwich Village or Notting Hill. You know: eye-watering real estate prices, power walkers, high end eateries and delis. I came across the local…

Urban lens: River’s Gen Y Brand Engagement study is here

Urban lens: River’s Gen Y Brand Engagement study is here

Gen Y or Gen Why? The digital natives, the millenials, the so called professional consumers…..To some they are the tech-savvy, well educated and ambitious youngsters who have the power and appetite to influence and change the world – Others, however, describe a fickle, disrespectful and hyper-demanding generation who have never learned to wait, work hard…

Could iBeacon technology change our shopping experience?

Could iBeacon technology change our shopping experience?

  Having spent the last few weekends roaming around car showrooms in a bid to help a friend select a new car, I found dealing with the sales staff to be more distracting than helpful. Granted, they have a job to do, but when you initially just want to mooch around the various cars at…

River’s Recipe For Successful Co-Creation

River’s Recipe For Successful Co-Creation

Over the years, River has been using co-creation for many innovation projects – from trying to design wearable technology to looking at new ways of cooking with cheese. We’ve co-created from Nigeria to Mexico with hipsters, new mums and problem-skinned tennagers. One thing has been consistent on all these projects: there’s no real consistency!   …

Smartphones in Beijing: Hello Xiaomi, Goodbye Apple

Smartphones in Beijing: Hello Xiaomi, Goodbye Apple

I took this photo as I walked through a subway in central Beijing, China’s fast-paced capital. The man in the picture, Gao Jie, was playing with his large screen smartphone as I walked past his stand. He runs a street stall, selling a range of products – Thai candles, phone screen protectors and decorative mobile…