Business gazeteer

Published on Wednesday 1 July 2009 20:53

BOY power wins the day at Kwik Fit

THERE'S nothing like a bit of competitive spirit to boost business.

Car insurance firm Kwik Fit has reported one of its strongest sales days since the business began 14 years ago – after it launched a boys v girls challenge at its call centre in Uddingston, Lanarkshire.

Almost 1,300 new policies were sold during the 12-hour "battle of the sexes", but it was the boys that triumphed.

It was the fifth best day of sales for Kwik Fit's car insurance, while home insurance policy sales rocketed – generating the second best day on record for the division. Alan Brown, director of operations at Kwik Fit Insurance, was "delighted" with the result of the day's activity. He would be wouldn't he?

Just in case we thought it was all about sales, male and female employees also pitted their wits against each other in a series of physical and mental challenges.

Brown enthused: "The success of our sales day does not happen by chance."

Perhaps if Kwik Fit Insurance bosses introduce the competitive element into all aspects of day-to-day work, we will see the results in next year's financial figures.

KILLER QUOTE

"ALL we can do is keep going at it, selling our Walkman, one at a time. Thirty years is a milestone for Sony. But we hope the Walkman won't be seen as just a piece of history."

Sony spokeswoman Yuki Kobayashi on the 30th anniversary of the electronic giant's iconic Walkman brand.

FACT OF THE DAY

1.04bn

THE financial downturn will see 1.04 billion fewer mobile devices sold in the next five years than had previously been expected, according to a new report by Informa Telecoms & Media.

The global economic meltdown has led the firm to revise device sales forecasts down for the next five years by 14 per cent, although growth is expected to pick up in 2010. Users will buy 6.39 billion devices between now and 2013.

GOOD DAY

General Motors

A RARE piece of good news for the embattled car-maker, which yesterday reported that sales in China jumped 38 per cent in the first half of this year, helped by strong demand for mini-vans and other small vehicles. GM sold a total of 814,442 vehicles in January-June.

BAD DAY

Vibe readers

VIBE, the popular hip-hop and urban culture magazine founded by legendary producer Quincy Jones, is shutting down. Vibe Media Group chief financial officer Angela Zucconi confirmed the closing and said most of the company's 50 or so employees will be laid off.