Author Archives: Mike Parsons

About Mike Parsons

A lifetime in outdoor activities ( bike, ski , climb, mountaineer, kayak, backpack) and creating some iconic products - Karrimor; Karrimat, KSB, Haston Alpiniste, Jaguar, Hot Ice, KS-110e, KIMM, followed by a new start up in lightweight gear, OMM based on the original 1968 2 day mountain marathon. A chance phone call in 2000 from a certain Mary B. Rose of Lancaster University Management School resulted in me becoming co-author on the first history of outdoor product innovation which then lead on to a teaching collaboration, teaching innovation as a subject to u/grads and p/grads and last but not least being appointed 'innovator-in-residence'.

KEEPING DRY #2

Posted on June 14, 2013 by Mike Parsons

KEEPING DRY in the outdoors #2 All product reviews talk about what the product does for you. Have you ever thought about what you can do for the product? This blog guides you on the principles of fabric function and … Continue reading →

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Reshoring, is the new manufacturing trend and the opposite of offshoring

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Mike Parsons

Mike Parsons: “I have been a UK based manufacturer and product innovator all my life and after a recent April 2013 visit to China I have come to the conclusion that :“reshoring is no longer in question, its a necessity”. Continue reading →

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Understanding Innovation, Apple case study

Posted on November 14, 2012 by Mike Parsons

UNDERSTANDING INNOVATION, Apple case study. Its a buzz word but still for most people a mystery and something that only either the genius’s or the high techies of this world can can do? Here is an overview intended to make … Continue reading →

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The power of platforms: a blog around the Google Android platform.

Posted on June 15, 2012 by Mike Parsons

The power of platforms: a blog around the Google Android platform. This covers Google engineer, Steve Yegge’s G+ posting of Oct 2011, my personal experience, origins of platforms, use in IT hardware and reflections and my findings on the Android … Continue reading →

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David Brailsford, Performance Director, Great Britain Cycle Team

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Mike Parsons

  Dave Brailsford, is son of John Brailsford, ( a mountain guide and bike racer; innovator of the MOAC nut and designer of the Curver ice axe) was brought up in Deiniolen North Wales and speaks Welsh and French. He … Continue reading →

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Blacks – the definitive 160 year history.

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Mike Parsons

BLACKS - the definitive 160 year history.  On Friday 6th January 2012,  Blacks Leisure Group plc went into receivership and the viable assets ( several brands, amongst which Blacks, Peter Storm, Eurohike are the key ones) were purchased by JD Sports … Continue reading →

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IEED – 2011 Innovation report # 2

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Mike Parsons

IEED – 2011 INNOVATION REPORT #2 Google plus  and social sites overview (# 3 follows and will review cloud computing which is closely linked.) See # 1 for discussion of Google + Collaborative and Social media overview, putting  Google + … Continue reading →

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Keeping dry # 1

Posted on July 6, 2011 by Mike Parsons

Mike’s Mountain Marathon blog. Keeping dry #1 KEEPING DRY on the TGO-Challenge 2011 KEEPING DRY – backpacking across Scotland – TGOC #1 report on protecting pack and contents. Here is a short gallery of our first 4 days pictures There … Continue reading →

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IEED Innovation report # 1 – Google plus project

Posted on July 5, 2011 by Mike Parsons

IEED – 2011 INNOVATION REPORT #1 Google + project and social sites overview (# 2 will be social overview # 3 will review cloud computing which is closely linked.) Today is an appropriate date to blog about social media and … Continue reading →

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Mark Sumner; M&S sustainability Plan A

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Mike Parsons

This video presentation by a UK based and world renowned retailer, surprised many by the depth and breadth of their actions. view slides below alternately.

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