Great Ikea! A brand for all the people
Cyan Books, new edition 2008
Industry reviews
“Lively and intriguing book” Rita Clifton, chairman, Interbrand
“A great book about a great brand” Jean-Claude Larreche, Alfred H. Heineken professor of marketing, INSEAD
Reader reviews
“A cracking read. It’s intelligently written, insightful and compelling, a real eye opener into an otherwise insular brand. I’d thoroughly recommend this book not only to someone in the marketing arena, but to anyone that has ever visited Ikea and wondered what goes on behind the scenes.”
“The Ikea story as told in this book is far more fascinating that I ever imagined. This book is clear, well-written and full of interesting anecdotes. All the information you need about the astonishing rise of this unique brand.”
The eBay Phenomenon: How one brand taught millions of strangers to trust one another
Cyan Books, 2008
eBay is a mad, mad souk, present in 33 countries, where the public can sell and buy just about anything. Imagine strolling through a flea market where you could buy a Gulfstream jet for £3.5million, a bucket of seawater or a small town in California. Today, eBay has over 168 million registered users worldwide, six times the population of Australia. Although the vast majority have never met, amazingly eBay’s online community trust each other when it comes to exchanging goods and money. Elen tells the story of a brand that has changed society and empowered the ordinary person to compete in a universal market in ways that they could not before. Full of anecdotes and insightful analyses, this book gets behind what could be one of the greatest brands of all time.
The Resourceful Mum’s Handbook: Baby on a budget
Random House, 2009
Reader reviews
“How I wish I’d had this to hand when I had my first baby. The baby industry is a booming business and the author really strips away all the gimmicks and offers a concise guide as to what the necessities are when having a baby. It’s packed full of money-saving tips, including what to and what not to buy in terms of equipment. There are also loads of tasty recipes for quick meals and even household cleaning products. I loved the bit about having a first birthday party on a budget. The book is divided into easy to refer to chapters and is interspersed with first-hand advice from mums who have the wonderful benefit of hindsight. Several of the baby books I’ve read have been quite patronising. But I would say this hits the spot perfectly.”
“I bought this book for my daughter who has just found out she is pregnant for the first time. Having glanced through it I couldn’t put it down until it was finished, it was so interesting and honest. It is a minefield for new parents out there in the marketplace for baby products and it is easy to get carried away with the “ahh” and ultimately the high costs involved. My daughter has thoroughly enjoyed the book with its variety of chapters. Highly recommended.”
The Bard & Co: Shakespeare’s Role in Modern Business
Cyan Books, 2007
A 26 project in collaboration with The Globe Theatre
From the back cover
“Business managers should always be looking for new ideas to challenge themselves, their teams and their companies – but where? Look no further than these exuberant studies of the most fertile writer of human case studies ever, Shakespeare.” Simon Caulkin, The Observer
Reader reviews
“This collection of articles on Shakespeare’s plays is a gem. It’s a book for dipping into, not for reading through in one sitting. Choose your favourite Shakespeare play and see how a contemporary author has used it to explore business today; or choose one you have always found difficult, perhaps, since all these articles are witty and full of insight and you are bound to find the play illuminated in some way.”
“This anthology makes a refreshing change from all those unconvincing business writing publications that seem to fill the bookstore shelves. Its premise feels fresh, and each chapter feels fresh: a different play and a different actor is considered by a different writer each time. The contributors are published novelists, poets, playwrights, journalists, editors and commercial copywriters – a rich mix of 26. An inspiring gift for word-weary clients.”
To buy these books, visit Elen’s page at Amazon.co.uk
