Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems A Meeting for Hikers in Huntingdon: Interest Check

Although a member of HHGTM since 2007 it is only very recently that I have participated in it in any sort of active way. I have been struck by the large amount of time that some people evidently devote to it, as my limited participation has called for a level of commitment that I find quite hard to accommodate with all the other interesting things there are to do in life.

I have also been struck by the great frustration at Meridian's behaviour (silence) towards a group whose natural stance is one of support for and engagement with the company and its products.

With these thoughts in mind I have a proposition for those of you who are near enough to Huntingdon to want to commit a day of your time to getting together and, at least, compiling a cogent and well expressed wish-list for delivering to the company (whatever that content might turn out to be - new products, changed behaviour, who knows what). It might also be fun simply to meet fellow enthusiasts.

Also, I would intend inviting John Buchanan to the session. My guess is that he would not wish to come, or perhaps even send his nominee, but it would be churlish, to say the least, not to invite him for an hour or two and he might surprise us all.

In Huntingdon there is quite a nice hotel called the Old Bridge Hotel, which, strangely enough, I got to know some years ago because I was invited to have dinner there with John Major (the ex British Prime Minister for those of you unfamiliar with British politics) - a very much more impressive man face to face than he ever seemed through the media when in office. I thought it was definitely above average for a provincial hotel.

I have established that a room can be hired for a day for up to 20 people for a reasonable sum, with morning coffee on arrival and tea in the afternoon before departure. I am willing to cover the cost of the room. Lunch can be had in various forms (sandwiches, or a finger buffet or, a two course lunch for £19 or 3 courses for £24). You would need to pay for the lunch (in advance) yourselves and we would need to agree collectively what form it should take.

Timing is currently fluid - we would just need to converge on a mutually convenient date, perhaps informed by Buchanan's reaction to our invitation in the context of his diary.

Is anyone interested in this idea?

Did you organise a place for people to buy their sticks and pikes from?

Good initiative. Should the logistics work out, I'd love to come. Given where I live, it will likely be difficult. I was going to suggest inviting Richard Hollinshead as he appears to be Meridian's de facto CTO now.

Good suggestion.

Russ

Count me in.

Given Bob's past support for the HH days it would be good to invite him also.

The Cromwell Museum is within walking distance - I seem to recall it has a suitable supply of pike and musket!

Being more serious. Yes, I would be interested in such a meeting. As a local, the Old Bridge Hotel is a very nice location. For visitors to the area, the Old Bridge in question is a C14 stone bridge across the Great Ouse, which is next to the hotel.

Many companies, including Meridian, have a social media / customer engagement strategy. Somehow, the fact that they already have the engaged customers that these strategies are supposed to deliver has gotten lost. (I have seen this issue in other companies, too). It is driven by the cost of new customer acquisition vs the retention of existing customers.

John Buchannan is probably well aware of the issue of customer retention vs acquisition as it appears in Harvard Business Review every few years.

Thinking about it, the strategy shift to installers may be related to this. If you get an installer signed up to use your gear as their preferred solution, you sell to most/all of the customers they install without having to engage individual clients directly. Changes the cost of good sold, and possibly the support costs. It requires competent installers. I have personally seen some interesting issues in the UK with trying to get the building industry to adopt new technology - try getting structured cabling installed in a new build house! Even offering to pay is not enough.

Things I'd propose covering:

• the types of audio (and video?) products we are buying (and just as important, why)
• specific requirements on Meridian's existing product line
• feedback from some genuinely interested people

Good initiative Nick, In principle I would be interested and would certainly attend if I am around....

In the months ahead I am out of the UK quite a bit - indeed most of the summer until early August.

I am guessing though it might take quite a while to get it organised. I will watch for further details if things move forward.

Best Regards
Huw

Subject to timing etc, I'm in.

I'd be interested and it's no more than a stone's throw.

Thank you for the initiative. Please also count me in, provided I can coordinate with a UK trip. The Cromwell museum sounds interesting too. Can't wait for series 2 of Wolf Hall.

Count me in too as it would be great to meet with some fellow hitchhikers. It would be great if Meridian picked up on this and suggested we met there, I have always wanted to visit the Meridian factory.

If not we could always start the day by playing Simon and Garfunkel's Sound of Silence as a tribute to the latest Meridian news!

That comment has probably got me thrown off the forum.

How can a brand that has so so many loyal followers ignore them in the way they are?

Count me in subject to date.

And thanks for taking this initiative.