David Parrish
international management consultant and trainer
Creative Advantage

Creative Focus Workshop

The Creative Focus TM workshop offered through Creative Advantage helps participants to run their creative businesses even more successfully. The workshop concentrates on developing a business strategy to make the most of your creativity in relation to competitors and markets in a way which is consistent with your overall aims and values.
This workshop is an updated and improved version of the original workshop called 'Creative Advantage'.

By the end of the one-day workshop, participants will have:

- Defined business success in their own terms in relation to creativity, lifestyle, profit and values.

- Used techniques to understand their own competitive advantage in relation to other creative businesses.

- Examined external forces in a systematic way to identify potential opportunities for their enterprise.

- Developed a unique business formula which brings together specific aspects of their creative potential with suitable customers.

- Devised action plans to achieve their business objectives.


What participants say about Creative Focus TM:

"Enlightening, and very productive. As a photographer, focus is everything and the course should allow me to be sharper".
- David Thexton. T & J Photographic.

"Very clear and methodical approach which requires you to apply it to your business. Lots of specific, practical outcomes to follow up with. Excellent workbook for future reference."
- Elaine Wise. Arts and Business North West.

You can also read what participants say about all the Creative Advantage workshops and mentoring support.

Creative Advantage now offers a new marketing workshop: Creative Marketing
(which has also been delivered as 'The Magic of Marketing'). >>> more

Creative Advantage also offers a workshop on finance and accounts: Creative Finance
(which has also been delivered elsewhere as 'Finance for Creatives') >>> more

I have a background in management as well as consultancy/training in the creative industries and through this site you can learn something of my experience and style.

As well as working in the creative industries, I have experience of business development across a range of industries and sectors which I bring to my training and consultancy work. I can also bring international perspectives and good practice from my work in China, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, India, Switzerland, South Africa, Egypt, Germany, France, Turkey, Italy, Singapore, Thailand and Denmark.

I have advised many clients in the creative industries and you can read what clients say about my work supporting creative businesses.

Business Development Tools and Techniques

Following recent workshops, some additional information which may be of use to creative industries practitioners is added below:

- Strategy in four simple steps
- Understanding the business environment using the ICEDRIPSTM checklist
- Distinguishing the 'important few' with The Pareto Principle (80:20 rule)
- Strategy by Saying No
- Internal analysis using the PRIMEFACTTM checklist
- Co-opetition: sometimes competitors can be co-operators!
- Anticipating competition using Porter's Five Forces Model
- Develop a The Learning Organisation

- many other ideas and techniques suitable for creative businesses can be found in the 'Ideas and Tools' section of this website.


Creative Focus TM is a trade mark of David Parrish.


Other links

T-Shirts and Suits: A Guide to the Business of Creativity
Creative Industries and Cultural Industries


Introduction

T-Shirts and Suits

Ideas and Tools

UNESCO project

Training

Consultancy

Clients

Creative Industries

Links

About David Parrish

Contact