We’re a direct marketing and creative agency located in Kansas City, right here in the heart of the country. We consider ourselves a ‘hybrid’ agency. We combine the data-driven science of catalogs and direct marketing, and mesh that with the seductive storytelling of advertising and branding. It’s the best of both worlds.
Tag: branding
5 BASIC HUMAN TRUTHS
Recent studies in neuroscience have proven that all human beings have certain things in common. Our brains are hardwired to react to certain stimuli in the same way. These “Basic Human Truths” have implications on how to market to people. We’ve compiled a list of FIVE that I’d like to share with you.
Print is a Digital Champion
Why do you think so many digitally native brands are suddenly discovering print? Print is still the best ‘proactive’ method of getting your message in front of people. Studies show it’s far more memorable than a digital message read on a screen – people remember things far better when they’ve held it in their hands… Continue reading Print is a Digital Champion
IS YOUR BRAND CLEARLY DIFFERENT? A Lesson from Napa Valley.
Is there a clear difference between your brand and the competition? If people compare your brand to the other guys and they can’t tell the difference, the only thing left to consider is price. Join J.Schmid President Brent Niemuth with a branding lesson from Napa Valley.
WINTER IS COMING … TO A STORE NEAR YOU
What do Oreos, Mountain Dew, Shake Shack and Mack Weldon have in common? No, they’re not items from my Amazon wish list. Not all of them anyway. These are five brands that have tapped into the zeitgeist and attached themselves to the pop culture phenomenon that is the final season of HBO’s Game of Thrones.… Continue reading WINTER IS COMING … TO A STORE NEAR YOU
HUMANITY MARKETING
Too many brands make us feel indifferent. Or feel nothing at all. But some brands have a certain something – an emotional appeal. They connect. They feel more HUMAN. Your products and all of your data don’t come first. People come first. And brands that recognize that – and act more human themselves – are… Continue reading HUMANITY MARKETING
PASSIVE CREATIVE = PASSIVE RESULTS
They typically feature cool images and design intended to grab our imagination and build a bridge to the brand’s proposition. Frankly, they leave me confused. I call this approach “passive creative.” It’s creative work that forces the audience to move through too many “mental clicks” to understand what the brand is offering. It’s unreasonable to… Continue reading PASSIVE CREATIVE = PASSIVE RESULTS
HOW TO MAKE OLD NEW AGAIN
It seems like every other day we read about another storied brand going out of business, while at the same time, new upstart brands continue to gain traction. Much of this is fueled by evolving tastes and habits as each generation brings their particular and unique preferences to the marketplace. Millennials and Gen ‘Z’ buyers… Continue reading HOW TO MAKE OLD NEW AGAIN
HATERS GONNA HATE. And That’s OK.
Tattoos. Filet-O-Fish sandwiches. Dubstep. Kim Kardashian. CrossFit. What do they all share in common? They’re not for everyone. Why am I telling you this? Because neither is your brand. But before you give up on what likely just came off as a harsh or negative point of view, hear me out. Your brand can’t be… Continue reading HATERS GONNA HATE. And That’s OK.