Being thrifty gets taxed! Is this the end of the side-hustle?

By Professor Sarah Montano, Deputy Head of Marketing and Dr Inci Toral Manson, Senior Lecturer HMRC have announced a “side hustle tax” for online sellers. This will predominately affect retail outlets such as Vinted, Depop and Ebay, sparking a significant conversation within the online selling community. Amidst a thriving second-hand market, this move raises pivotal … Continue reading “Being thrifty gets taxed! Is this the end of the side-hustle?”

Bublé, Snapper and Kevin – Did the Christmas Ads Bring Christmas Cheer for Retailers?

By Professor Sarah Montano, Deputy Head of Marketing Every year we anticipate our favourite Christmas ads and wait to see which ones will spark off our emotions! As always, John Lewis’ ad is highly anticipated, but do emotional ads result in spending in-store for the retailers? Let’s look back at the Christmas ad themes of … Continue reading “Bublé, Snapper and Kevin – Did the Christmas Ads Bring Christmas Cheer for Retailers?”

New Year, New Job? How the hyper-networked world of Public Relations could offer clues about the gender pay gap

By Anna Atkins, PhD student, Department of Management Many people wake up on January 1 with one resolution – new year, new job. Job hunters often turn to their personal network of colleagues, former co-workers, and LinkedIn contacts for help with their next career move. Or, if they are lucky, a new job opportunity will … Continue reading “New Year, New Job? How the hyper-networked world of Public Relations could offer clues about the gender pay gap”

The Season for Spending 2023 – back to the store, Barbie and a Panettone!

By Professor Sarah Montano, Deputy Head of Marketing It is that time of year again! For TV channels it is the time of quaint small towns and snowy scenes, and for retailers it is the Golden Quarter when they seek to maximise their revenue streams. But what does this mean for customers? Given the cost-of-living … Continue reading “The Season for Spending 2023 – back to the store, Barbie and a Panettone!”

Challenges in the Festive Market: Sluggish Sales, Soaring Grocery Prices, and the Cautious Consumer Approach to Christmas Spending

By Isabelle Szmigin, Emerita Professor of Marketing, Department of Marketing. The countdown to Christmas has begun. Advent calendars are being opened, elves are on shelves, and there has been a flurry of Christmas ads . Meanwhile on the high street and the internet we have had Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and now the pre-Christmas … Continue reading “Challenges in the Festive Market: Sluggish Sales, Soaring Grocery Prices, and the Cautious Consumer Approach to Christmas Spending”

COP 28: Why understanding how SMEs transition to net zero is pivotal for a faster transition

By Dr Roshan Boojihawon & Dr Carole Couper Department of Strategy and International Business SMEs are the backbone of the UK economy, and the same is true for many economies globally. Their operations and supply chain activities contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. The British Business Bank conducted a survey suggesting that 43% – 53% … Continue reading “COP 28: Why understanding how SMEs transition to net zero is pivotal for a faster transition”

COP28 and the economics of climate change

By Professor Robert Elliot, Director of Research – Department of Economics The United Nations (UN) annual climate change conference (COP28) is coming at a time when the implications of climate change for the global economy are becoming increasingly evident after a period of floods, wildfires, and other extreme events. COP28 will once again bring together … Continue reading “COP28 and the economics of climate change”

Bublé, Snapper, Kevin and “Christmas Your Way” – it’s Christmas Ads time 2023

By Professor Sarah Montano, Deputy Head of Marketing It’s that time of year, when we anticipate our favourite Christmas ads and wait to see which ones will spark off our emotions! As always John Lewis’ ad is highly anticipated. So, what is the reason that we see such an investment in Christmas ads, what do … Continue reading “Bublé, Snapper, Kevin and “Christmas Your Way” – it’s Christmas Ads time 2023”

King’s Speech – Economic Impact on the West Midlands

By Alice Pugh, Policy and Data Analyst at City-REDI This week the King delivered the first King’s speech since 1951, though the King has previously done the speech when the Queen was unable to attend. However, the speech is not written by the King, it is written by the government of the day. The purpose … Continue reading “King’s Speech – Economic Impact on the West Midlands”

Saluting our Sisters – beyond a month

By Jeannyfar Gelpcke, Senior Executive Advisor to CEO of The E.ON SE Group & Birmingham Business School Advisory Board Member Dear [insert your name here, yes – this is for you], When it comes to things like “Black History Month” I tend to avoid engagement. This is the bitter truth. Although I understand and appreciate … Continue reading “Saluting our Sisters – beyond a month”