Cobus Loots, CEO of Pan African Resources, on delivering sector-leading returns for shareholders. Watch the video here.
And Bill Gates was on the radio this morning talking about global warming challenges, mentioning concrete. No doubt at all to the universe of opportunities; not enough appendages left to cross with the hope that VRS get the wind in their collaborations soon.
The 'at a glance' version would be marketing. Look at DCTA's website and look at VRS - and the utter car crash of the 'products' site. Apparently there was ad for a supplier stocking VRS masks in the Daily Mail yesterday. The VRS mask is there with the words, 'graphene enhanced' but this won't mean anything much to Joe Public. What's the point of that uni study if they're not going to use it to substantiate efficacy on Covid? The VRS site now has a 'videos' tab. It really couldn't get anymore painful - others are producing effect marketing assets on a slick site, with actual people wearing the mask (not a god awful photoshop number) and clearly defined benefit. VRS is posting Snoop Dogg videos - it's like being stuck in an episode of Black Mirror. NR makes bold claims about govt connections then tweets Boris Johnson and his local MP - it's like secondary school does marketing - and that's no doubt an insult to the under 16's. Then there's the mash up of 'my official work twitter feed' and 'beer and rugby feed' where he constantly forgets where items might be discussed. That his business, but it doesn't reflect well on an individual's ability to organise and use time effectively. A couple of years ago he wasted time engaging with protestors at Manchester Uni who were making unsubstantiated (I hope!) claims about VRS and the Israeli millitary; he could have just released a statement. Now he finds even the gung-ho investors who retored with 'bugger that, let's get on with developing' (as if effective PR is something to be sneered at) are chomping impatiently at the bit (I would have thought the adrenaline junkie types would love the ride). All the while we are told, 'if you knew what we know' etc - sure, we all get NDA's, but what we do know is the marketing is diabolical and as that's about all we do know I feel after three years sticking with it I will start to lower my exposure here. I genuinely hope I am proved wrong.
Posted by Davemac on the other forum - antiviral coated masks developed with NHS dr's - agree with his sentiments posted there too. https://brilliantmasks.co.uk/
Encouraged to hear NR say a new PR agency has been contracted. Hopefully they know some decent designers. A few thoughts NR - rather than glitzy 3D animations, use well designed 2D animations to clearly land the point of difference and scientific value - otherwise 'graphene' risks blending into a universe of techy vocab that isn't clear. If it's a shareholder portal you're creating, label it as such. Drop the shampoo ad copy of 'lifestyle' and 'you deserve' - it's doing your product no service at all. If it's for shareholders you don't need 'about us' or any kind of 'sell' - if it's commercial land the proposition/problem/solution clearly illustrating the proven benefit. All this matters, regardless of who it's for/whether or not it's B2C or B2B. Take a lead from AECOM's website, their layers of digital marketing staff. Look how slick it is. Sure they've got a bit more budget than you(!), but there's a world of hungry designers and strategists out there. Great design matters in our visually obsessive world. A shame for product engineering to falter at the final jump; esp amidst a strategy of commercialisation - the current effort illustrates neither world class strategy, or commercialisation - whatever's going on behind the scenes.
Some punters wonder where the name Versarien came from. Anagram of Arrse Vein, innit. You won't make piles with this share, but you'll sure get em what with all the butt clenching drops. Ah but seriously, sure NR spends his days more productively than me, despite the shonky masks website and 'govt connections'. Think I'd just send my MP a mask rather than jumping on twitter - and one of those thousands of out of work graphic designers could do a number on that website. No, it's not B2C but god it's painful - and everyone sees it. Christ only knows what the PR agency is upto. Maybe that's the angle - 2D materials? Well the marketing missing a dimension, that's for sure. Ask me where I got my mask t-shirt? Oh brother. It's like being invested in the kiss-me-quick hat of engineering. Hire a head of marketing, please, NR! Loyally holding and applying the salve.