Glass half-full
Days since redundancy: stopped counting Best purchases: fingerless gloves Offers of paid work: 2'Out of the blue' leads: 2
The first snowfall of the year induces a slight sense of panic at Shiel Comms HQ. There's no denying that Christmas and the end of the year really are just round the corner and, despite some new expressions of interest and a growing list of leads, I'm unlikely to find a juicy contract in my stocking next month .
It's been a good week, though. My local paper, the West Sussex County Times, stumbled across "Glass Half Full" in the blogosphere and has now posted it on its own website. This seems, for some reason, to carry more kudos with my sons than my Morning Advertiser presence, earning me a grudging acknowledgment that I'm "not a complete loser" despite being out of work and therefore lacking the necessary funds for their X-Box games and gig tickets.
I send the link to just about everyone I know in Horsham. Which includes a friend in a marketing role locally who, as chance would have it, is reviewing her PR spend and might just need a freelance. As previously blogged, you don't know where the leads will come from, so be sure to cast your net far and wide.
Spurred by this local media coup, I investigated local business opportunities more closely. After years of commuting to London, I feel a little unconnected to my town, but why wouldn't I want clients on my doorstep, if they can offer interesting work and a decent day rate? And if there's work to be had in the current climate, I should find it more easily in Horsham, recently billed as "the UK's 8th most recession-proof town" than anywhere else.
Attracting smaller, local businesses will mean presenting myself in a different way, as a communications expert with transferable skills rather than a specialist in the drinks industry. Having said that, the town is home to a couple of brewers. I move "local research" up several places on my "to do" list.
A friend of a friend who runs a marketing business in the town suggests I join a local networking group, and I resolve to get to one of their meetings soon, despite the 6.45 am start. I'm all for an early start to the day, but that slot doesn't allow for any last-minute wardrobe indecision or mislaid car keys, does it? I also scan the Business Link website, which offers useful, free advice on tax, VAT and the like and is worth spending more time on.
One of the nicest things about the drinks business — apart from the drink — is the people. I've known this for a while, and yet I've been pleasantly surprised by the kindness shown me by many industry friends and contacts over the last month. Busy people have taken time out of their day to meet me, suggest avenues to explore for work and generously share their contacts. You all know who you are. And I know I owe you a drink once the business starts to come in.
Prices
In an idle moment, I google "glass half full". Thrillingly, my MA blog appears at the top of page 3. More popular items include the Cadbury's website, a poetry anthology and, more relevant, a debate on the Guardian website about off-trade beer prices (click here).
It's interesting to read the posts from these 'beer advocate consumers'. And heartening to see such passion for beer, as readers recommend their favourite beer pub or specialist off-license. It's not all positive though; there is criticism of the limited selection of beers available, particularly in the on-trade, and a view that the way beer is presented in the average British pub still lags behind the way it is served across much of Europe.
I'm still thinking about this article when I walk into town at the weekend, to meet a friend in one of the clutch of coffee shops that have sprung up over the past five years. I ask myself why I'm not meeting her for a beer in the pub instead. It can't be the price differential that's putting us off, as we're clearly prepared to spend £3 on a coffee that would cost, what, 10p to make at home. What is it about the coffee shops that makes them more appealing, despite the queues and inflated prices? The range of coffees - but so many pubs can offer equal now? The comfy sofas? The newspapers? I resolve to suggest an alternative, licensed venue next time. There might even be a blog in it, 'Shoppers Half Cut', perhaps?
Ros Shiel was public relations manager for the industry's beer image initiative Beautiful Beer. She was made redundant by the British Beer and Pub Association after members slashed funding.
• Glass Half Full — part III.
You can leave your comments for Ros by hitting Post a comment below.
