I am always dubious about discounted, low price or templated websites. Firstly a website that is just from a template is NOT YOUR BRAND – so why bother? It is a complete and utter waste of money to be doing the same as everyone else just because it is cheap. Your brand deserves more than that and so do you!

In my early to mid thirties, I lived on the Gold Coast and as I was in Marketing in the technology sector, became heavily involved. When I talk involved, I mean involved.

I ran the IT Awards, was the Secretariat for all IT Industry Associations Board that talked directly to government on industry based issues, spoke at universities and schools on careers in IT, and founded industry group e-Women and so on.

Yesterday the most unusual thing happened to me. I was in Byron Bay about to head to my accountant’s holiday retreat for lunch when I decided to do a spot of shopping.

Byron Bay has an abundance of boutique shops that often stock items that are made locally by talented people that just chose to live in this seaside township.

The newspapers would have us believe that NSW is in recession. But is it really?

Standing out from a crowded market is getting harder and harder to do.

Right now, the team at Marketing Eye are in brainstorming mode for the year ahead and we are trying to come up with creative for an advertisement in the Gold Coast Bulletin.

Brainstorming ways to generate more sales in the current economic times is a daily ritual for those who work at Marketing Eye. Our last quarter was still strong, but could have been better – like everyone else in the consulting game.

Having avoided heading to the office on the 5th January, 2009, by working from home on the company’s business plan for 2009, today I am now ready to get started.

I have to say, I am one of those suckers who buys by brand name. Whether it’s a can of baked beans (Heinz) or a camera (Canon), I am lured by the power of a brand name.