When you run a business, it’s important to remember that what you see as an insignificant decision could completely alter the image of your company. For this reason, each time you make a decision, you must consider how it will be perceived by the outside world; or better still, consult your public relations agency. A PR consultancy has the expertise to know how a decision can affect your image and your brand as a whole so if you are ever unsure, then you should always consult them for their expert knowledge. There have been plenty of examples of bad PR recently. BP’s handling of the oil spill and Apple’s reaction to their faulty phones are all examples of how public image can be transformed. But one PR mistake that really caused a stir was a decision made by Buckingham Palace to invite Nick Griffin to the royal garden party. It was argued by the Palace that the BNP leader was already eligible for a ticket to the party because he was elected as a Member of the European Parliament. But with the BNP being completely defeated at the general election, surely it was obvious that this was a bad move from a PR point of view. The Palace eventually decided to withdraw the invite having seen Nick Griffin use it as a way of promoting his controversial party. Perhaps if they considered their decisions a little more thoroughly in future, they would not have to worry about damage to their own PR.