Where is the recovery?

The recovery is in the financial markets, in the banks and maybe even in the property market, but where it is NOT, is the more telling news.
The recovery HAS NOT and WILL NOT hit unemployment figures, GDP and the general population for a while yet - maybe in 12 months time we can talk about the economy being on the mend for those other than in the privileged banking sector.
There is merit in 'talking up' the economy to help build up confidence, but we mustn't behave like the problem is over, as for many families, the problems are very real or may even be yet to come.
The UK and the US are bracing themselves for record unemployment figures which can only lead to misery, poverty and financial ruin for many. This crisis is being freely described as the worst since the Great Depression, but the situation we find ourselves in is very different from the 1930's. For a start, the abject poverty of those days was characterised by ill-health, death and homelessness. The lack of material goods suffered included clothing and the basic needs that today we take for granted. Without a complete collapse of the Western economy, we will always be in a position to prevent a repeat of the poverty of the Great Depression simply because even our poverty is wealth compared to the genuinely under-privileged.
We in the West are outrageously wealthy in world-terms and we would do well to remember that when we complain about how badly things are going for us. Similarly, we would do well to remember that when we have a chance to voice our opinion on the way bankers are paid, and the general growth of greed throughout our society. So no, the crisis is not over, but even the poorest of us is still better off than the majority of the world's population. There is a slim chance that the financial crisis has enabled some people to re-evaluate their priorities and put money into perspective - if not brace yourselves for another crash in a few years time.

New Banking rules to be phased in...

The FSA (financial services authority) is to give banks time to phase in alignment with the new rules on liquidity. The upshot of the new rules is that banks will be required to hold a better equity-to-risk ratio, however time is being given so that banks are not prevented from lending to aid the long-awaited economic recovery. After the concerns following the Icelandic banks collapse, the new rules will apply to foreign banks that have branches in Britain.
In tandem with the new rulings, the Bank of England will be expanding deposit facilities to smaller banks, thus preventing the need for smaller banks to keep deposits with larger commercial banks who themselves may suffer at the hands of a future financial breakdown. The smaller banks have been dependent on commercial banks for liquidity, in future they will be able to access funds directly from the BoE.

Competing for Business

There is no doubt that the current economic climate has not been kind to companies that cannot react quickly to changes in the market place. Competitive companies that have been able to adapt their operations will be the survivors, able to take a larger market share due to the demise of the competition.

One of the ways in which the surviving companies will win through, is that they will create the right impression throughout their business. The marketing budget may come under close examination, but it is worth noting that creating the impression of a clued-up dynamic company is not expensive and should not be an area of spending that is compromised.
Joined-up thinking in the area of a logo that appears across all your stationery and your website, your business cards etc.., consistent themes and colours, text, icons, graphics and fonts all combine to give the impression of a well-thought-out individual image which supports the idea that your products and services are solid and worthwhile.

If your company is heading towards an identity crisis, don't immediately head for the free business cards ads, get some professional help in sorting out a suitable image for your company that tells your clients something they want to hear. It is not prohibitively expensive to have some professional outside input from a reputable company, and it could well separate your company from the competition.