Back in the real world of work after the long weekend. Pensive chipmonk-alike Jaqui Smith has cleared her desk and is off to buy "Value Range" tissues for her hairy palmed husband. Was the internet their downfall? They are not the only ones!

The bread and butter of small agencies is the ability to use creativity effectively to drive client objectives. Recent years have not been kind to those who have fallen behind in the internet age. Now, thanks in large part to the current downturn, clients and agencies are having to look much harder at their budgets, their job cycles, and their end result.

If you would like to do more marketing electronically but feel that the e-world is changing too fast for you to keep up, here is another idea from the Tree House mob!

This week we launched our POINTPOSTAL server to deliver targeted email marketing on behalf of our clients. One client already has her own portal and can add recipients to her mailing list at the touch of a button. When the situation improves and the luxury of a print budget comes back recipients can be polled via the same route with a yes or no vote: "Do you really need a hard copy?" If the answer is yes then we have an excellent short run system in place that can do you one or one thousand.

NO EXPENSIVE DESIGN FEES APPLY to our PointPostal service and if you order any print at all for your campaign we throw it in free. Because we're mad.

Finally, just to let followers of this page know, OFFICE IS CLOSED ON FRIDAY 12th JUNE. Kim and Zig's daughter Angela is getting married. As always, we have somebody amazing to record the happy scene and his link is on the Tree House List.

http://twitter.com/kimspickett

PREVIOUSLY IN THE TREE WORLD...

Enjoyed the bank holiday. Wondered if the Dishonourable Members are heading for the new B & Q store in our little corner of South London now they have to DIY like us proles.

Bringing us neatly round to the state of play in the RETAIL SECTOR. Andy Bond of ASDA said the recession has accelerated this trend. “The consumer may be ready to shop again but the recession has led to long-term, permanent behaviour change. And the change in behaviour is being led by the consumer, not us. We are following consumers, not leading, and as an industry we need to get ahead in order to stay in the game.” He said social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter are enablers to transparency as consumers speak to each other and share information. After exiting the “era of abundance” Bond said consumers are moving from DIY to CIY – create it yourself.

We pretty much see the game from all angles here. The consultancy side of our activity is retail and commercial refit and rebranding; however, we are retailers and consumers too! Talking to customers and potential customers on a weekly basis and offering moral support won't cost your business anything. Encourage, offer incentives and be flexible on price. Put yourself in somebody else's shoes once in a while - it's only fair!

Our creative spent some time this week with our IT company ESSENTIAL SECURITY (featured on the left in our TREE HOUSE LIST). We were introduced to each other in early 2008 via some rather ingenious (from Latin ingeniosus, from ingenium natural capacity) networking by the cats. I don't fancy the idea of Bill Oddie coming round to kick my arse so The Point cats are fitted with collars that give off warnings to wild birds and mammals. Unfortunately they have the expensive habit of losing them too. We are lucky enough to be surrounded by good natured souls who find them and drop them in to us. Mr Tabs, the Essential Security cat likes to leave his collars on our wall. By calling the number on the collar I got to meet the gentlemen at ES and it was most fortuitous for us and for Meg and Mr. Jack, who now have Mr. Tabs as a playmate.

Our new SunSpot printing system is going from strength to strength as we face more pressure over lead times. With no drying issues we can produce printed material at a faster turnaround than previously. Quality issues that many clients have with plateless printing? Nothing but positive comments so far. If you have a question about this side of our service drop us a line

Hooked up with a brilliantly talented illustrator this week. Follow the link in the TREE HOUSE LIST; it's a hoot!

http://twitter.com/kimspickett