Square Holes

Our methodology comprises of three stages: exploration, testing and monitoring. Exploration is a deep dive into your customers, markets or culture to underpin strategic planning and build the innovation roadmap. This is what you would undertake when you want to strengthen your strategic plan, innovate, enter new markets or remain agile to the changing needs of your consumers. Output: Innovation / Growth Framework, including: Category / culture exploration Personas / journey development Brand positioning and growth drivers Product innovation roadmap New market entry pathway More > https://lnkd.in/gmWEXndt

Over the past 20 years, we've focused on making a contribution, building trusted relationships, and believing that "little by little, we will make a difference." We are ever passionate about the role of the research we do in driving positive change. Yesterday, our team gathered for our annual lunch at the wonderful Sofia's. The lunch is always a highlight, offering a chance to reflect before we take a well-deserved break. This year felt especially rewarding. It's been a significant year, with an extremely busy conclusion. We've wrapped up several large research studies before Christmas and secured exciting new clients set to commence in January. Heading into the break with such projects, and supportive clients, is truly gratifying. Have a great Christmas and see you in 2025! (thanks for reading)

🚨 Voice Reveal 🚨 Deadline Today!🚨 We know it’s been a big year, and you’re ready to wind down. But what if you did 1 x action today that could set the tone for an even bigger 2025? Today is the last (!!) day to: 🎟️ Secure a mega-value FESTIVAL & FESTIVAL [+] ticket. 🎤 Apply to pitch in our startup showcase. 💡 Apply for a scholarship to join us. And to mark the occasion, we’re beyond excited to unveil the first wave of voices who’ll be joining us next March - sharing their knowledge with you. ✨ Mike Scott – Serial Founder & Scaling Coach @ SMB Mastery ✨ Julie Demsey – Rapid Results Mindset Coach & Hypnotherapist ✨ Paz Pisarski – Strategist / Co-Founder @ The Community Collective ✨ Dave McManus – No-Code Pioneer & Founder Lightning Products ⚡️ ✨ Paola Piccinno – Fractional CMO, ABM Specialist ✨Mike Kelly – Founder / Host Unmapped Media + Meditation Teacher ✨ Joel McKerrow – Poet, Author & Creative Specialist ✨ Matt Agnew – Founder @ Pash Beverages + Science Communicator ✨ Chanelle Le Roux – Digital Marketing + Growth Expert / Founder @ NINKI ✨ Shilpa Mohan – Head of Operations @ ProcurePro & Ecosystem Champion ✨ Nicole Dyson – Founder @ Future Anything / Pioneer in Education ✨ Zachary King – Founder, Fractional Specialist & Community Builder …and this is just the beginning. If you’re serious about your growth in 2025 as a human, business leader, founder, investor and/or creator - you'll want to be at _SOUTHSTART. Buy your ticket 👉 www.southstart.co/tickets Meet the voices 👉 www.southstart.co/voices Apply to pitch 👉 www.southstart.co/pitch We’ll see you in March! 🚀 Enjoy this throwback to our last festival for a taste of what's in store.

Closing off Square Holes' series of Monday 'as we hit our 20TH BIRTHDAY and near the end of 2024' updates, today we outline our tailored methodology to transform your strategic vision.

In edition 375 of Think! we are exploring new Square Holes innovation + business confidence. “Dagwood Dog is the perfect blend of creativity, precision, and efficiency. It’s a game-changer for businesses wanting to continuously innovate. By combining 20 years of research expertise with cutting-edge AI, we’re empowering brands to move faster, smarter, with greater cost-efficiency and confidence — delivering insights that truly make better products.” Jason Dunstone Have a read, share with your friends and don't forget to subscribe if you haven't already.

Building on our series of recent Monday 'as we hit our 20TH BIRTHDAY and near the end of 2024' updates, today we clarify our fundamental purpose - 'WHY Square Holes exists'. Square Holes is a human-centered research agency working to optimise growth and innovation, through tailored market research and cultural insight. We are here to transform your strategic vision with human-led insights, creative out-of-the-box thinking and decades of experience. Make 'RESEARCH' Step 1 of your strategic planning and innovation roadmap.

In edition 374 of Think! we are exploring innovation driven by market research + clichès. "In another study it was revealed that companies that effectively harness data and analytics are three times more likely to report significant contributions to earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), highlighting the value of data-driven market research in enhancing business performance and fostering innovation." Have a read, share with your friends and don't forget to subscribe if you haven't already.

I wrote the below article 'three reasons to get a new logo' several years ago partly as a reaction to a seemingly stupid at the time logo revolution of a local brand. Too often brand design agencies seemingly unnecessarily blow up the equity when given the chance or client gets bored, or there’s a much more strategic rationale, that's not obvious. In many ways it’s quite boring. Brand critiquing, with no skin in the game. “When is it time for a brand to get a new logo? The fundamental answer is never unless absolutely necessary, yet three reasons follow … 1. The logo redesign is about evolution not revolution 2. The brand’s reputation is an unfixable mess 3. The brand is neglected with no equity to lose Please allow me to unpack each of these …” I’d add to the three above, that it can also be a sign of revolution, a new era, closing the old. Time for spontaneity to keep it fresh, to break the rules. As rules, marketing or otherwise can be boring. “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist” is a quote by Pablo Picasso Copy Nothing https://lnkd.in/gNSp6NRU Many are seemingly experts, with a opinion about why such a logo change is wrong. The logo revolution that makes seemingly no sense, but perhaps dramatic change is the sense. Blowing up the old narrative. A line in time marking past and future. Square Holes dramatically changed our logo at the end of 2022 (Read > https://lnkd.in/gk_HfzXm), after 18 years of existence, seemingly hypocritically revolution not evolution of our logo, "changing the youthful look of the previous logo to a more structured typeface set in upper case created a sense of increased authority, confidence and expertise, ... a more mature and established brand style to help reposition them as a modern, global leader." ‘A brand is not a logo’ is cliché in marketing. The brand name contains meaning past, present and future. And, sometimes it's time for something new. https://lnkd.in/gy8kKaFk

Building on our last three Monday 'as we hit our 20th birthday and near the end of 2024' updates today we provide more on cultural insight to inspire innovation. Cultural insight refers to the values, traditions, behaviours, and social dynamics of people within the places they live and the businesses they interact with. For businesses looking to innovate, understand trends and shift narratives – cultural insight is fundamental.

Thanks The Research Society For this Highly Commended Award (aka Second Best). I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the contributors (Ray Poynter, James Fergusson, Ben Page, Fiona Blades and Ainslie Williams) and Mark for the inspiration to springboard off. 🥂