10 Questions with… Richard Buchanan, founder of The Clearing
In an attempt to showcase the personalities of the people behind the media and marketing sector, The Drum speaks to individuals who are bringing something a little different to the industry and talks to them about what insights and life experience they can offer the rest of us. This week's 10 Questions are put to The Clearing’s founder and managing director, Richard Buchanan.
What was your first ever job?
Stacking pet food at Fine Fare, where, back in the day, I could price 24 tins of Whiskas in under 10 seconds. Impressive, I know!
Which industry buzzword annoys you most?
'Deck' – a word usually used by people trying to be something or someone they're not.
Who do you find most interesting to follow on social media?
Accidentallywesanderson and bricklanebikes on Insta.
Highlight of your career (so far?)
Founding our brand consultancy, The Clearing – the awards that we've won and a client list our competitors would die for.
What piece of tech can you not live without?
My glasses, I'd literally be lost without them, while people would shout 'piggy eyes!' at me in the street. Technology shrinks my lenses don’t look jam jars.
Who or what did you have posters of on your bedroom wall as a teenager?
Nike's Cantona poster – '66 was a great year for English football. Eric was born.
In advertising, what needs to change soon?
All routes lead to a 30-second TVC! Seriously, when will these people learn?
What is (in your opinion) the greatest film/album/book of your life?
Star Wars; The Stone Roses: The Stone Roses; and 'Wild Thinking, 25 unconventional ideas to grow your brand'.
Which industry event can you not afford to miss each year and why?
DBA annual survey – the data's invaluable to running our business.
What's the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
The advice came from my father, Richard Buchanan senior, who taught me to take a genuine interest in people and collect business cards from everyone I meet. He encouraged me to write all that I learnt about that person on the reverse of their card and read it ahead of our next meeting. Trust me, picking up a conversation you had a month, a year, or a decade earlier is a powerful thing in business.
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The Clearing
The Clearing helps clients create clear defendable territory around their brands. We've been voted the UK's number 1 brand consultancy for two consecutive years...
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