Hi there and welcome to the place on the web where we get to talk about those business issues and ideas that don't really fit on the Backwards Business programme site.

As always our focus will be on discussing ideas that are designed to help you build products and businesses that your target customers understand, value and buy. That was you should survive and then thrive regardless of the economic conditions.

For around a quarter of a century the principal of the Marketing Engine, has been working with companies of all sizes and in a wide range of industries to help them increase their sales and profits. In that time one single and completely unbreakable truth has stood unchallenged and displayed below.

Companies that succeed listen to, understand and commit fully to their markets developing products and services that their markets buy. 

"This all seems terribly obvious," you say and we would agree. So why is it then that less than 30 percent of new businesses and products are surviving to their 3rd year? 

Even in these tough times, if the average new business was started on the back of real market knowledge and understanding you would still expect at least half to succeed.

If you are really interested in building the skills you need to 'think market' the Backwards Business programme is a good place to start. If you are interested in just understanding some of the things we notice in markets and what we think it means for companies then this is the space we'll use to discuss those topics.

By Tim Sandford