Tag: marketing

Ads from the Outside

In the quiet, quaint, dry-until-a-year-ago town of Ephraim, Wisconsin, there is a soup bar called Czarnuszka Soup. A recent ad mentions that the restaurant seats 11, but having been there, I think 11 is a stretch. Weekly, the owner (Paul Wanish) publishes ads that would never be approved by anyone in advertising, ever. But as… Continue reading Ads from the Outside

GET NAKED!

And be disruptive. Yes, that was a disruptive headline and most likely got your attention. Now, I’m really not suggesting you get naked, but I do promise naked people will come in later in this post. But first, let’s talk about how hard marketing has become. Marketing is tough. It’s just plain hard, and there are… Continue reading GET NAKED!

5 Basic Truths for Marketing

Well, the secret is out. For decades, creative types working at agencies across the country knew instinctively a few secrets they could rely on to create brand stories, campaigns and messaging that would resonate with consumers. The Don Drapers of the world knew these little secrets could help sell more products. We knew if we… Continue reading 5 Basic Truths for Marketing

I think, therefore I brand…

I recently came across an interesting study that looks at the power of brand from a little different angle. Anyone reading this is probably familiar with the concept of the placebo effect. The subject of countless articles, it was first defined over 60 years ago. It identified the important role that perception plays in physical… Continue reading I think, therefore I brand…

Sustainability: A Deeper Dive

Case Study: Seventh Generation When it comes to household goods, specifically those in the cleaning, paper, and personal care product lines, I’m not sure if there is a better example of sustainability in practice than Seventh Generation. From the company name to their product ingredients, down to the containers their soaps and cleaners arrive in,… Continue reading Sustainability: A Deeper Dive

Sustainability: A Deeper Dive

Case Study: Patagonia While some companies incorporate sustainability practically into sourcing and shipping and others focus on the empirical side of things through product ingredients and consumer honesty, there is a third segment whose very brand essence relies on their inherent relationship to ethical consumerism and their perceived identity in the marketplace. Standing atop the… Continue reading Sustainability: A Deeper Dive

Sustainability: A Deeper Dive

Case Study: Crowd Cow Somewhere in no man’s land, between the entrenched forces of cooking meals at home on one side and ordering food in a restaurant on the other, lives a purchase variable that has been rediscovered in a big way: convenience. Walk into any apartment building, drive down any street, and you’re likely… Continue reading Sustainability: A Deeper Dive

4 Key Elements Needed to Understand How Data Metrics Create Value

For many marketers reading this column, data is fun! We love the challenge of figuring out how to find and use data to solve problems and drive all kinds of marketing initiatives. However, we also operate in a business environment and have to ultimately answer the question of value. How do we create true value… Continue reading 4 Key Elements Needed to Understand How Data Metrics Create Value