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Crow Chronicle, Autumn 2026

Would you believe it Crow Friends, the summer holidays are over, the inbox fills up again, and suddenly Christmas doesn’t seem quite so far away?

Attention turns to what still needs to be delivered this year – and, increasingly, to what next year needs to look like. Plans need writing. Research needs commissioning. Strategies need sharpening. Portfolios need sorting. And leadership teams need to agree what really matters. It’s an important moment.

But it’s also an easy one to get wrong, because when time is short and there’s a lot to do, the temptation is to add more. more projects, more priorities, more activity, more things to put in the plan.

At The Crow Flies, we think the opposite is often needed: step back; work out what’s really going on. Decide where you can make a difference. And be ruthless about what matters most. That’s what this Autumn Crow Chronicle is about. Five considerations for the run-in to Christmas – and the run-up to 2027 – on making better decisions about research, strategy, planning and portfolios.

No crystal balls or 47-point frameworks. Just a few questions worth asking before the year gets away from you. Because good brand building isn’t about fitting everything in, it’s about knowing what matters enough to leave everything else out.

Here’s our latest Crow Chronicle on the topic – short read: Crow Chronicle

Crow Chronicle, Autumn 2023

Yes, those bikini clad days are now a receding memory. The warm evenings sipping a Piña Colada with crunchy worm wafer are – alas – gone for another year. But the upside is that Crow has been busy, busy. It’s interesting how tough times have really underlined the critical importance of innovation to businesses – not just to grow the top line, but also to refresh, revitalise and reinforce precious brand assets.

So here are a few thoughts on overcoming common innovation mistakes to help set you on a straight path to long-lasting brand success. As always, pull up a chair, pop some twig topped bread into the toaster, then smear on a generous dollop of crunchy worm butter because, yes, it’s here, it’s the Crow Chronicle Autumn 2023!

Caw! It’s the Crow Chronicle, Autumn 2022

As if by magic, the leaves are turning brown, the last flowers are blooming, and brand builders start thinking about the run into Christmas. Well, here’s some light reading, the latest Crow Chronicle in which we *cough, cough* humbly show off about some recent successes we’ve been part of helping to get to market. And, we talk about some of the considerations to be thinking about during these ‘interesting times’ we’re living in.

Make a lovely warming Twig Broth, pop some Worm Bites in the oven and put your feet up to enjoy the latest… Crow Chronicle AUTUMN 2022.

Change of Crows!

I’m delighted to announce that Gael Laurie is joining The Crow Flies as Brand Building Director from 1st September. Gael and I worked together 20 years ago but fortunately having scared her away once, she’s still happy to work with me again! Gael has what we look for in all the Crows: a wealth of experience working on leading FMCG brands (across drinks, Pharma and personal hygiene) and with her previous creative consultancy experience, helping smaller and challenger brands build a strong platform for growth. As well as that, she has, by her own admission, a naturally nosy nature into what drives people’s behaviour – perfect for when we look to apply research learnings and insights into brand strategy and innovation plans to deliver brands with foundations of stone.

Gael takes over from Rob Parker – Rob has had a long term ‘itch’ around education and teaching. For many years, he’s been a leader in the Scout movement and took the opportunity of lockdown to start the process of training to be a teacher. He starts today (*gulp*) and whilst he is a loss to the Crow team, he will make a passionate, committed and inspiring educator and leader for young people. A cliché, but truly meant, our loss is education’s gain. We wish him well, but we know with his attention to detail and commitment to a cause he believes in, ‘good luck’ is something he will create for himself.

David Preston, Founder – The Crow Flies

david@thecrowflies.co.uk | +44 (0) 7885 408367
gael@thecrowflies.co.uk | +44 (0 7515 491252

General enquiries:
caw@thecrowflies.co.uk | +44 (0) 1889 725670