Do Business Advisers Help or Hinder?
I heard recently from one of the Enterprise Islanders in Irvine Bay – Gordon Brown.
Gordon designs the most spectacular Tree Houses and he was doing a bit of market research and – well why am I telling you – when he has done it, he very well himself.
Anyone else experienced this kind of thing?
“I went to the local business enterprise office in town to take advantage of their research department. They gave us the contact details of the research department in Glasgow that deals with our request.
Our brief was very clear, we where looking for a list of hotels, B&B’s with a 3-5 star rating in Scotland as well as, and more importantly the contact name of the hotel manager or MD( The person that makes the decisions) so that can mail shot them directly. “Yes no problem Mr Brown we can do that for you”
A few hours later I received a email.
“I understand you are looking for a list of Hotels (4 and 5 star) in Scotland” please refer to
www.yell.com
www.thomsonlocal.com
We also requested information regarding Finance and leasing companies that specialize in our specific type of business. Again please refer to
www.yell.com
www.thomsonlocal.com
Are these people serious? Do they think I’m some sort of brainless halfwit or something. Is it just me or do these enterprise folk need a serious kick up the ass. I really am getting to the end of my tether, we need help with regards to a few aspects of our business which we really know nothing about, we try and seek help from the institutions that are set up to help in these regards and they continually amaze me with there incompetence. I’m discovering something very quickly, if you want something doing do it your bloody self!!!!!!!!!
Has anyone else came across this type of sarcastic and, I was going to say half arsed ( but it’s not even that) reply??????”
Gordon’s wonderful designs-should you be in the market for a tree house can be found at www.treasureddreams.co.uk
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I suspect that what might have happened is that advisor #1 says “sure we can help” then supervisor looks at it and says “wait a minute, we don’t provide direct mail marketing lists”.
Direct mail marketing lists is big business – I can’t see enterprise agencies having (let alone giving away) that kind of data?
This does sound like a BAD case of incompetence!
I have just been with some information staff in business support talking about their role in understanding what the entrepreneur is trying to achieve – getting beneath the surface of the initial request – and responding in a way that will add value.
If they had explained to Gordon that he would have to buy that type of data, roughly how much it costs, and the risks around quality of data would that have done the job?
What if they had helped him with the process of choosing and using a data provider?