Metro Bank - Failure or Potential Success

Metro Bank is set to launch on to the High Street in Guildford soon. 

With the new arrival of a new high street bank underway, it makes you wonder is this really the right time to do so. The high street is quickly becoming a deserted place, with the imminent departure of 66 HMV Stores across England and many other retailers facing uncertain future. With the ever increasing threat of online e-commerce we ask does this provide the right judgement for a chain to launch on the High Street? 

Is customer service over competitive rates the right way to attack the Banking Crisis?  

The high street bank which offers a range of savings and current account products believes that typical household names, such as Nationwide and Barclays, lacked that customer service factor. They felt that if they thrive on this aspect people will flock to their branches instead. Anthony Thomson, Metro's Bank CEO said 'We always said there was a real opportunity for a bank offering a real customer experience. People said it wasn't possible, that all customers cared about was rates, but we've been proved right.'

According to one source the recently opened store in Croydon opened 500 accounts on its first day. This  successful launch marks a potentially big risk and threat to competitors but one which could have the potential revive the high street. 

Metro Bank offers 7 day banking convenience with many branches open on a Sunday to cater for every need. Yet with advances in telecommunications and more and more people managing their money online, we have to consider whether we really need to visit the high street to manage our money. Furthermore customer service can be somewhat inconsistent from branch to branch, therefore it probably won't take too long before someone puts a spanner in the works and they become another casualty of the continuing failing high street. 

It remains to be seen whether their rates will be competitive with other high street lenders and this will ultimately sway people to use the Bank. 

John Lewis & Waitrose Warms our hearts again this Christmas

It appears that Christmas is in full swing with the Halloween outfits packed up its time to dust down the Christmas box of treats and decorations. No doubt you will have seen the constant stream of supermarkets and department stores gaining air time in their battle to get your money this Christmas.

One advert that in my mind marks the start of Christmas is the John Lewis advert. With strong stance on togetherness and unison John Lewis has many created living room memories and even propelled newly signed artists to the top of the chart list. Amazingly soundtracks recorded for John Lewis TV commercials have already sold more than 1 million units since 2009 . 

This years advert showcases the need of togetherness showing the lengths and breadths that people will go to give gifts this Christmas. The soundtrack of the advert is sung by a relatively unsigned Gabrielle Alpin, to the lyrics of power of love, this is sure to kick start her music career.

Marketing Director of John Lewis Craig Inglis, said that whilst last years advert was an instant success this years advert still packs in that heart felt seasonal cheer 'We know that our customers put real effort into finding the perfect gift for their loved ones at Christmas. This year’s ad brings that to life, with a creative twist.'

art of the John Lewis Partnership group includes Waitrose and whilst the John Lewis advert is the creative one this year Waitrose's is more subdued. Brand Ambassadors Heston Blumenthail and Delia Smith present a heartwarming but budget conscious open film setting that focuses on donating to charity organisations this Christmas.

Whether or not both these adverts will ring the cash registers in the stores remains to be unknown just yet, but what is for sure is that they have certainly put their mark on Christmas this year. 

Superstorm Sandy & The Presidential Election

Its election time in the United States and millions of voters are expected to cast their votes on who should be the next president, yet the effects of superstorm Sandy and the way the president has behaved in the after math of the event could have potential positive impacts in the running for his re-election. 

On Monday 29th October a terrific and unprecedented superstorm hit the east coast of the United States.  Still today many people are without electricity, many homes have simply vanished from existence, where once stood bustling communities now see burnt out wasteland. Whilst people see vast destruction of Atlantic City and New Jersey the worst affected areas, they are slowly beginning to pick up the pieces left by the storm and the re-build process is becoming a reality for many. 

The swift pre-cautions taken including shutting and protecting the network of underground subway, tunnels and roads meant much of the devastation has been reduced. Moreover daily media updates from the affected counties have meant a swift and coordinated approach which have helped the relieve efforts by the American Red Cross and other partners.

Barack Obama's immediate concern was one of 'togetherness', in an early statement he mentioned that 'We pull together. We leave nobody behind. Whenever an American is in need, we stand together'. Standing by this statement re-certifies the fact that the people of America can re-build and put their lives back after this unprecedented disaster. The statement also adds further evidence that whilst the election is still on-going he is still concerned for the American people affected. 

The presidents plaudits have not just come from his own people but from both sides of the fence with many democrats speaking out about his 'outstanding response', including Chris Christie, governor of New Jersey, one of the worst hit areas of the storm. Christie, who recently slammed Obama in a major speech at Romney's nominating convention, said he spoke with the president three times on Monday, the day the storm hit, and thanked the president for promptly declaring the state a federal disaster area so it could get federal help without the "normal FEMA mumbo jumbo."

Obama's tenancy as president might soon run out of gas but his swift and dedicated commitment to bring peoples life's back together, could keep keep him in political power for a further four years. In comparison what Mitt Romney could have done in such instance would have been limited but his whereabouts and comments maybe reserved for another day when he may too be in the eye of the storm.

Whether Obama has won over his critics that say he hasn't done enough and should not be re-elected remains to be seen and in truth we won't find out until later next week. Obama's controlling and caring approach has certainly been noticed, but whether the American people believe in his political views is another. However what is for sure is that whilst the election is still on-going there remains a major re-building process for either candidate when they re-enter or enter office in January.