http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/ Read Matt Johnson's business comment. The columnist's latest views on the business news. Opinion on business in the North West and around the UK. en-gb LDPbusiness no Read Matt Johnson's business comment. The columnist's latest views on the business news. Opinion on business in the North West and around the UK. Matt Johnson, business comment, views on the business news, opinion on business, business in the North West, business in the UK http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/12/31/street-spectaculars-could-end-up-counting-for-little-in-jobs-crisis-96026-22579778/ Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/12/31/street-spectaculars-could-end-up-counting-for-little-in-jobs-crisis-96026-22579778/ AS ENDS of years go, we are in uncharted territory. It has undoubtedly been a big one for Liverpool and the rest of the Merseyside region, but it’s been an even bigger one for the world’s economy. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/12/10/matt-johnson-despite-recession-there-appears-to-be-a-willingness-to-shop-96026-22443481/ Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/12/10/matt-johnson-despite-recession-there-appears-to-be-a-willingness-to-shop-96026-22443481/ UNDER a barrage of reports and statistics from a variety of sources, it’s becoming harder to fathom out exactly how our economy is faring. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/12/03/matt-johnson-business-priorities-may-not-include-carbon-emission-targets-96026-22397299/ Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:37:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/12/03/matt-johnson-business-priorities-may-not-include-carbon-emission-targets-96026-22397299/ AMBITIOUS is probably the best word to describe this week's proposals from the Government's Committee on Climate Change. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/11/26/matt-johnson-too-many-businesses-assume-customers-are-happy-to-queue-96026-22347480/ Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:36:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/11/26/matt-johnson-too-many-businesses-assume-customers-are-happy-to-queue-96026-22347480/ IN THE minds of many of our European neighbours, Britons are obsessed with two things: the weather and queuing. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/11/19/matt-johnson-enterprise-is-about-creativity-problem-solving-and-taking-risks-96026-22293826/ Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/11/19/matt-johnson-enterprise-is-about-creativity-problem-solving-and-taking-risks-96026-22293826/ IT'S hard to imagine a more volatile period in which to consider launching a new business or touting a new commercial idea around potential backers. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/11/12/matt-johnson-liverpool-can-expect-a-lot-of-stick-for-its-lack-of-sustainability-96026-22234266/ Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/11/12/matt-johnson-liverpool-can-expect-a-lot-of-stick-for-its-lack-of-sustainability-96026-22234266/ LEAGUE tables have become a core component of efforts to raise quality standards in many aspects of modern life, especially in public services. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/10/15/we-should-show-some-tolerance-as-tom-enters-the-lion-s-den-96026-22036324/ Tue, 14 Oct 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/10/15/we-should-show-some-tolerance-as-tom-enters-the-lion-s-den-96026-22036324/ AS ENTRIES into lion’s dens go, tomorrow evening at Liverpool Cathedral promises to be a spectacular affair. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/10/08/matt-johnson-new-business-confidence-should-see-region-through-hard-times-96026-21990408/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/10/08/matt-johnson-new-business-confidence-should-see-region-through-hard-times-96026-21990408/ OPINIONS are not hard to find in Liverpool. And the business community, like many others across the city, is not slow in coming forwards to offer its view of how the land lies. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/09/24/matt-johnson-time-to-build-on-2008-s-self-confidence-96026-21889899/ Wed, 24 Sep 2008 08:18:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/09/24/matt-johnson-time-to-build-on-2008-s-self-confidence-96026-21889899/ SOME may whinge about the acoustics, but St George's Hall will always be one of Liverpool's most impressive and imposing venues for anything "big". http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/09/17/vital-for-a-steady-hand-and-mind-in-volatile-times-96026-21842034/ Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/09/17/vital-for-a-steady-hand-and-mind-in-volatile-times-96026-21842034/ AS WALL Street went into meltdownon Monday, an auction room in London witnessed amazing scenes of its own. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/08/27/like-it-or-not-us-electioneering-is-the-shape-of-things-to-come-96026-21616626/ Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:18:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/08/27/like-it-or-not-us-electioneering-is-the-shape-of-things-to-come-96026-21616626/ Choosing a leader for what is after all the most powerful nation on earth is not a job to be done in haste. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/08/20/staging-the-greatest-show-on-earth-does-not-come-cheap-96026-21571508/ Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:40:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/08/20/staging-the-greatest-show-on-earth-does-not-come-cheap-96026-21571508/ WHAT price brand Beijing? Set aside the commendable achievements of the athletes currently competing in the Olympics, and consider how the host country, and in particular the leading host city, is faring. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/08/13/waterways-may-play-key-role-in-the-next-transport-revolution-96026-21527863/ Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/08/13/waterways-may-play-key-role-in-the-next-transport-revolution-96026-21527863/ THE BBC's new series, Britain from Above, got off to a spectacular start on Sunday as Andrew Marr took an unusual view of some of the nation's habits. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/06/18/dreaming-of-the-day-when-h2o-drives-us-all-forward-96026-21094216/ Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:14:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/06/18/dreaming-of-the-day-when-h2o-drives-us-all-forward-96026-21094216/ IT'S a long way from the gates of the Stanlow oil refinery to sunny California, yet the distance appeared to be covered in the blink of an eye earlier this week. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/06/04/confidence-is-the-special-ingredient-for-potential-investors-96026-21024342/ Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:37:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/06/04/confidence-is-the-special-ingredient-for-potential-investors-96026-21024342/ WHAT makes a business want to invest in one location, rather than another? It's not a question that has a simple answer. There are so many variables. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/05/21/prince-s-trust-celebrates-25-years-helping-companies-to-grow-96026-20942883/ Wed, 21 May 2008 11:15:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/05/21/prince-s-trust-celebrates-25-years-helping-companies-to-grow-96026-20942883/ BUSINESS support organisations have become a business in themselves in recent years. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/05/14/who-will-be-counting-the-cost-of-post-office-counter-closures-96026-20908881/ Wed, 14 May 2008 11:30:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/05/14/who-will-be-counting-the-cost-of-post-office-counter-closures-96026-20908881/ BEEN to a Post Office recently? How long were you there? Try as I do, I still find it hard to understand how such a valuable part of Royal Mail's business is in such a mess. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/05/07/this-is-not-just-a-green-campaign-it-s-an-m-s-campaign-96026-20873824/ Tue, 06 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/05/07/this-is-not-just-a-green-campaign-it-s-an-m-s-campaign-96026-20873824/ IMAGE and brand consultants must have been burning the midnight oil at the Baker Street, London, headquarters of Marks & Spencer. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/05/01/unbeatable-value-for-money-in-city-s-lavish-08-souvenir-guide-96026-20850262/ Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:09:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/05/01/unbeatable-value-for-money-in-city-s-lavish-08-souvenir-guide-96026-20850262/ BY ANY reasonable measure, the cover price of the official Liverpool 08 Yearbook makes no business sense at all. http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/04/23/drastic-measures-vital-to-salvage-customer-confidence-in-ba-96026-20807802/ Tue, 22 Apr 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://www.ldpbusiness.co.uk/business-opinions-blogs/matt-johnson/2008/04/23/drastic-measures-vital-to-salvage-customer-confidence-in-ba-96026-20807802/ YOU run a business. You have good days and you have bad days. Some of the bad days are long and they run on, one after the other, until it seems you are on a hiding to nothing.