What’s the secret to a successful marriage? OK, confession. I’m not married, so really how the hell would I know? Just bear with me here. This is going somewhere. Thanks to copious amounts of TV and movie viewing, along with observing my married friends, I’ve come to see what contributes to a good marriage. Like […]
What does it take to make a great catalog cover? Do you have the backbone to put some big ideas into practice?
ARE YOU DENSE? Well, are you? Pick up your catalog. Flip through the pages. (Go ahead, I’ll just wait here.) What do you see? Do you see a beautifully spaced and paced experience that takes readers on the scenic route through your brand, a leisurely drive through your assortment? Or, do you see dense congestion, […]
Working with catalogers and marketers of all kinds in all categories all across the country, it’s amazing how much a recurring theme manifests. No matter what they sell or who they sell it to, at some point in our creative collaboration, some version of the following questions arise: “How can we be more like the […]
You’ve all heard the doomsayers. The plaintive wails of prognosticators, tolling the bell for our beloved medium. They shout: The end is nigh! Catalogs are obsolete! Print is dead! Might as well call it a day then. Time to find a new line of work. Pulp all your print catalogs to line your hamster cages. […]
Kansas City is known for its barbecue, and there are plenty of places to indulge in this local specialty. So how does an operator stand out from the crowd? Here’s how three of KC’s most notable eateries each deliver their own unique take on what barbecue means. Jack Stack Dresses It Up White linen […]
A large group in Boston for a trade show visits a local restaurant for dinner. Clients, customers and vendors all savor a respite from the day’s scheduled events with a dinner of shared stories, networking potential and a relaxed drink or three. The waiter overhears a gentleman at the table commenting on a particular wine […]
On an episode of AMC’s “Mad Men,” the irascible and ubiquitously intoxicated Roger Sterling prods the precocious Peggy Olsen to hire a new copywriter. Peggy cringes, concerned that the potential new Mad Man might be a little, well, mad. “Define crazy for a copywriter,” Roger retorts. “Sleeps all day? Disrespectful of authority? Drunk half the […]
Customers … why don’t they just do what we want? That would make direct marketing so much easier, wouldn’t it? Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. In today’s marketing climate—with so many choices, technological devices and brand messages bombarding the senses—it’s more difficult than ever to get customers to do anything, let alone what you want […]
