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Wednesday, August 15, 2012

While the Penn State scandal and abdication of leadership is deplorable and unfortunately merits its sad attention, what happened at the venerable University of Virginia this spring is, in another way, astounding. It laid bare the unrelenting business assault roiling educational institutions, their custodians and their brands.

#FounderBrands: Microsoft

Monday, August 6, 2012

In its August issue, Vanity Fair charges Microsoft with losing its mojo, pinning much of the blame on CEO Steve Ballmer. While the article makes some useful and valid observations, it never completes the circle, relating them back fully to the larger, underlying issue that ails brand Microsoft: the company has strayed far from the management and proper deployment of its founding vision.

From Bots to Spimes: Emerging Technologies Offer Early Glimpse of Our A.I. Future

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Web bots, the “internet of things”, machine learning and other converging technological advancements offer an early glimpse of our artificial intelligence future. And marketers need to start paying attention.

Marissa Mayer Brings Brand Capital to Yahoo

Monday, July 16, 2012

Marissa Mayer's move to Yahoo as CEO made me reexamine the question of personal brands. I maintain my position: they don't exist in any meaningful way. They are just (not terribly) fancy jargon for bloggers. What Mayer brings to Yahoo is not her personal brand, but the brand capital of Google.

StandUp: Can a Sports Brand Unite Gays and Straights?

Monday, July 9, 2012

The LGBT equality movement has entered the mainstream. Now that we are here, I think there is a new type of work to do. As a long-time brand strategist for some of the world's leading companies, I believe our next steps are in the consumer marketplace. We must unlock the full power of influential marketers, going beyond sponsorships alone.

JC Penney and the Courage of Relevance

Friday, June 1, 2012

In what can be described only as a singularly courageous move, the new JCPenney unveiled a Father's Day ad featuring real-life gay dads Todd Koch and Cooper Smith, and their children, Claire and Mason. It is widely considered a direct response to the failed hysteria of the "Million Moms" boycott of the retailer after it named Ellen DeGeneres its spokesperson. And, indeed, this read of events is likely. Something more is going on, though. The ailing retailer has found the courage to be relevant, and with bold social intent.

The Guggenheim Effect

Thursday, May 10, 2012

The term "Guggenheim Effect" used to denote the positive role the brand played in Bilbao's resurgence as a destination site. It became well accepted vernacular, not only in the museum community, but among the wider community of brand and marketing experts. In recent weeks, however, the term has been re-appropriated by European media and citizens to express a much more negative and even sarcastic view of the cultural institution.

Culture Clubs: Creation, Navigation, Conversation

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

There is certainly humor to be had watching, sprawled out in the comfort of another century, the way previous generations handled – or didn’t – destabilizing changes that we now take for granted. We are now obligated to live in a culture of conversation with its simultaneous flattening of things like expert culture and its ever-expanding choice of content providers and options.

How Google Will Shape CMO Strategy

Monday, April 9, 2012

The ultimate proactivity of the Web is the semantic future of marketing. Every interaction is about data, and with enough of it, predictive analytics are possible. Is Big Data simply an idea to you - or do you have a plan to activate around information?

Tesco: Let the Store Come to the People

Friday, April 6, 2012

QR codes have become ubiquitous and so has the term digital strategy. Both are often treated by businesses as "silver bullets" without much understanding how to leverage either. QR codes, in particular, have been reduced to gadget status with little meaning but to annoy the consumer.

Brand Capital in an Age of Discontent

Monday, April 2, 2012

How can a business respond to both the radical changes in the market as well as the human challenges in the wind? Without a doubt, the blue ocean opportunity of the moment is trust.

Community Is As Community Does

Monday, November 21, 2011

“Building community.” It’s become a mantra. You can’t go a day of digitally deposited trade reading without gurus across the board - from HBR to Ad Age - opining on how brand building is linked to community building. The devil, of course, is in the details.

Coupon, If You Dare

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

The endless-loop news of Groupon's financial bleeding — largely self-inflicted — brings no joy to those who thought they were on to the next big thing. As Sunday's New York Times points out, the daily-discount site was all-too recently offered a stunning $6 billion from Google, but the time-tested combination of corporate hubris, greed and flimsy accounting got in the way of all of that.

Google+, Minus Active Users?

Friday, September 16, 2011

Public posts to Google+ have decreased 41 percent month over month, according to 89n data cited on TechCrunch. After a fast start out of the gates, quickly gaining 25 million users, is Google+ losing steam?

Fashion and Feminism - Without the Fuss

Rachel L. Newman

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Kara Jesella's informed and insightful look at fashion and feminism and Tavi Gevinson's new online magazine, Rookie, are well worth the read.

Digital: A New Playing Field for Ralph Lauren

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Fast Company's cover story in the September issue is a must-read for any marketer, no matter the industry.

A Note of Thanks From the CEO

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

A note of thanks from World Market's CEO reached inboxes across the U.S. last Thursday, August 11, while financial markets around the globe were on a roller coaster ride and London experienced the worst riots in decades. At first blush, World Market's move was unusual and timely. Unusual, because consumers don't typically receive "personal mail" from a corporate leader and timely, because the note acknowledges the current economic woes. Unfortunately, these are the only two "positives." Ultimately, the note is memorable for all the wrong reasons.

Physics of Culture

Monday, July 25, 2011

Davis Brand Capital friend and collaborator Kevin Slavin spoke at TED Global this month about how algorithms are increasingly shaping our world. Think that doesn't concern you, your business or your life? Think again.

The Market Made Me Do It

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Slate's insightful piece by Annie Lowrey, "Readers Without Borders," highlights one of the most cringe-worthy excuses for failure: the marketplace.

Real-Life in Dialogue: Does Open Innovation Work?

Monday, March 28, 2011

Unbound Edition today launches a new type of marketing interview: one focused on the struggles of bringing great ideas to market, not just recounting the successes of a few big winners. Our belief is there might be more to learn -- and share -- when talking about the roadblocks to “obvious” successes than merely celebrating them after the fact. We think even Starbuck’s CEO, Howard Schultz, might agree, having recently pondered why his next big hit, the Sorbetto, fell flat with consumers. Our first subject: an alternative flour that has made its way into big food companies but not yet to store shelves.

Starbucks @ Work

Friday, January 14, 2011

Starbucks earned the “Best Gift to American Workers” award this holiday season. And we’re not talking caffeine or gift cards. While corporate America grinched out, laying off staff, refusing to tackle the ballooning unemployment rate and hoarding cash like Ebenezer Scrooge, Starbucks was there: a 21st century Statue of Liberty, opening its arms to the tired, huddled and suddenly office-less masses and their laptops. Day after day it was hard to find a seat in many Starbucks cafes, co-opted as they were by new, uncertain entrepreneurs trying to get a gig off the ground or scanning the Help Wanted listings.

Books Unbound

Friday, August 27, 2010

There may be more bears in publishing than there are on Wall St. This isn’t new to the current recession; as Ken Auletta recently noted in the New Yorker, “publishing exists in a continual state of forecasting its own demise.” Now add to that traditional gloomy propensity today’s market conditions - a period when most industries are wrestling with digital disintermediation and even wholesale redefinitions of function. You get a complete meltdown.

Coming Soon to a Theater Near You – Nothing Much

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

This past weekend, the Wall Street Journal included a neatly illustrated article by Joe Queenan on the dearth of imagination in Hollywood in 2010. The Worst Movie Year Ever? lamented recent storytelling efforts in Tinstletown, painting a picture of movie theaters around the country where audiences sit “listlessly through a series of lame, mechanical trailers for upcoming films that look exactly like the DOA movies audiences avoided last week.” I’m familiar with the feeling that the popcorn is the only thing to be happy about in theaters this summer. But as I was thinking about it, I started to wonder: is Queenan simply describing the state of entertainment, or is he actually providing a metaphor for the state of business lately?

Iced Capades

Friday, June 18, 2010

"My dad just got iced." I saw this status update on Facebook the other day and knew it probably had nothing to do with hockey or joint pain. A wee bit of research revealed that Icing is a new drinking game wherein someone gives a Smirnoff Ice to someone else, who must get down on one knee and chug it. If the person being "iced" pulls out their own concealed Smirnoff Ice, called "ice blocking," the icer has to drink both bottles. People are icing and getting iced all over the country largely due to the promotional efforts of now defunct website www.brosicingbros.com. Whether the game (and website) was conceived by Smirnoff parent Diageo (they deny having any part in its creation or promotion), or bored frat boys isn't important. Icing reveals the value of understanding complex social relationships, not simply studying (and catering to) demographics.

Twist Focus: On Basic Materials

Monday, June 14, 2010

Twist Worldwide, a global visual intelligence firm, presents quick views and insights into the moments that are working in today's retail environments. Enough with self-impressed trend consultants who claim to see the future: Twist sees the present with clarity and provides practical intelligence on how to make your business better today. Over time, patterns emerge and possibilities get realized. But first we have to see what is right in front of us. This week: back to basics.

Defining Reality – The Augmented Kind

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Last week, Santa Clara hosted the first global augmented reality event - gathering the developers, creative directors and engineers from around the world who are driving nascent “augmentation” technology into our immediate reality. If you said “Say what?” to that sentence, you will appreciate the following. In the first keynote of the conference, WIRED’s contributing editor Bruce Sterling defined a singular challenge for the assembled that had very little to do with technological wizardry and everything to do with communication: create and shape the language of this brave new world.

Twist Focus: On Transparency

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Twice each month, Twist Worldwide, a global visual intelligence firm, presents quick views and insights into the moments that are working in today's retail environments. Enough with self-impressed trend consultants who claim to see the future: Twist sees the present with clarity and provides practical intelligence on how to make your business better today. Over time, patterns emerge and possibilities get realized. But first we have to see what is right in front of us. This week: the power of transparency.

Twist Focus: On Fun in the Garden

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Before Knocking CNN, Check Yourself for Fractures

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Poor CNN. The network is trying to be everything to everyone and, as is usually the case with such efforts, pleasing no one. Ratings are in the toilet and in every corner -- from the plush offices of Vanity Fair to the hallowed halls of NYU to the ash-covered continent -- one hears the jarring thumps of unsolicited advice. It's enough to make an executive producer drink more heavily than he already does.

The Rise of Moral Brands

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

One need not stretch too far, nor have particularly partisan views, to accept arguments that ours is a culture marked by institutional collapse. Confidence on Wall Street and in capitalism itself slipped with the tarnishing of names AIG, Lehman and Merrill Lynch (among others) during the Great Recession. Trust in the U.S. government eroded along party lines, calling into question the integrity of the democratic process, on the path to health care reform. Faith in the Catholic Church continued to fold just last week under the weight of yet another round of scandal fueled by priests preying on the most vulnerable. On somewhat lighter fronts: there is no longer a "most trusted man in news" when every adman is a newsman, and so many newsmen an advertisement (or plagiarist). Science is more politicized than ever, the clarity of its objective truths clouded by a climate of competing interests. If our cultural institutions are not as strong as they once were, where is one to place belief?

Twist Focus: On Story

Monday, March 29, 2010

With a Rebel Yell, He Cried No, More, More Breakfast Pizza

J. Kristin Ament

Friday, March 26, 2010

The British have waged war on American soil, only this time we can pass on the tri-cornered hats and tight breeches. Which, considering the increasing girth of Americans, is a sartorial blessing. After a sneak preview last weekend, tonight marks the official broadcast premiere of ABC's "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution." Though you'd never know it from the network's fat-headed decision to air it during the Friday ratings dead zone, it could very well be the most important television program in years.

Twist Focus: On Her Smile

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Up-pity ABC Basterds Put the Hurt on Ashley's Precious Avatar Ad

J. Kristin Ament

Friday, March 5, 2010

AshleyMadison, of "Life is short. Have an affair." fame, trotted out this Avatar-themed spot for broadcast during Sunday's Academy Awards. Then, in a move as predictable as an over-the-top Sharon Stone reaction shot, ABC banned it from the telecast. Funny that the nation's leading adultery enabler ends up flaccid on Oscar night. Why did those frigid execs give Ashley's aliens the cock block?

New Axe Ad Campaign Reaches, Cleans a New Low

Sunday, January 17, 2010

First, Hardee's showed you its B-Hole. Then, Bud Light Lime gave it to you In the Can. Now Axe, with all the class and finesse we've come to expect from the brand, wants to Clean Your Balls. On the surface, this seems like nothing more than your typical nether regions marketing. But look under the hood, and Axe's down under approach has more in common with early marital aid advertising than beer and fast food.

Don't Let the Dumbledore Hit You in the Azkaban on Your Way Out, Mickey

J. Kristin Ament

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

This spring, Universal Orlando will open the much-anticipated Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which it promises will be "unlike any other experience on earth." If the park succeeds with what it's got tucked up the sleeve of its flowing robe, there's going to be a new owner of magical theme park experience (that sound you just heard was a 81-year-old mouse shaking in his over-sized yellow shoes).

Mobile Apps from Car Brands Blur Lines Between Branded Utilities and Product Features

Monday, January 11, 2010

New mobile applications from automakers GM, Mercedes, Ford and BMW advance the concept of branded utility in profound ways. Recent apps from these brands blur the lines between branded utilities and pure product features. And there are important implications in the auto industry and beyond.

UE's Most Read Posts of 2009

Unbound Edition's Editorial Team

Thursday, December 31, 2009

As the year ends, we look back at the most read and shared posts from Unbound Edition's contributors, and a few more favorites chosen by our editorial team. We appreciate your continued readership and commentary and look forward to more dialog in 2010.

The Element of Surprise

Monday, November 2, 2009

Not much surprises us these days. And that, by and large, is the way we like it. We have more control than ever over our lives. We bank and shop on-demand online. We use RSS feeds to filter our news. We carefully manage our public image by broadcasting the most appealing pieces of ourselves -- photos, status updates and MP3 playlists -- on our blogs and Facebook pages. Recognizing this demand for control and customization, more marketers are asking us to help shape their products as we see fit. So it's surprising to see some new businesses thriving by keeping us in the dark.

Mobile Marketing Moving to the Forefront

Sunday, October 25, 2009

The functionality of iPhones and other mobile devices represents a fundamental shift in how we view the act of marketing, further blurring the lines between advertising, research, promotions, CRM and entertainment content. As new developments continue to make digital technologies a more integral part of our everyday lives, marketers will be forced to rethink mobile marketing's currently limited role within the marketing mix.

Is TV Ready to Socialize?

J. Kevin Ament

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Hulu is hard at work transforming tv-watching into a social experience. They're encouraging viewers to watch the premiers of their favorite programs on Facebook with friends and strangers alike, sharing comments with one another (and with eavesdropping marketers) through streaming status updates. Judging whether television watching can be a social activity based on these efforts alone is to consider only a fraction of the social relationships possible around content sharing. The key players aren't thinking big enough yet. Fully realizing social TV's potential means rethinking all aspects of television watching, distribution and revenue models, and how each can become more social.

Bud Light Lime “In the Can”: AdAge Gets it Bass Ackwards

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

The most successful beer marketers in the world have crossed a line. According to AdAge, a pun is “the final frontier” in “tasteless” beer advertising. In a spot for Bud Light Lime leaked on the Internet, everyday folks innocently confess to getting it “in the can” (some of them like it and want to do so again!). The punch line of the spot reveals that the popular brew is now available in all-too-familiar handy aluminum containers.

Clearly Clear is a Creative Copycat

Friday, September 4, 2009

I noticed Clear has been stealing a page from its competitor Verizon with its creative - or lack thereof. To tout its comprehensive coverage, it uses sprinkles as a metaphor.

MMMmmmm... Crowdsourced Doughnut

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Given that I last wrote about Hardee’s Biscuit Holes, I couldn't resist continuing the theme of fried dough. This time: doughnuts. Specifically, Krispy Kreme’s new international “Fave Fan” contest, celebrating six dozen years selling original glazed. Open to Krispy Kreme doughnut lovers in Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines and United Kingdom, "Fave Fan" invites customers to write, in 72 words or less, “how Krispy Kreme has made their lives special.” A winning contestant from each country receives 12 dozen doughnuts over the course of a year and a plane ticket to Krispy Kreme’s U.S. headquarters, where they will go head-to-head in a competition to “design the best doughnut.” Why Americans aren't invited to participate probably has something to do with the company's 2007 bankruptcy (and $3 stock price, down from a high near $50), but why celebrate an American brand through an international contest? Is "Fave Fan" the secret ingredient to a Krispy Kreme comeback, or is their marketing team one original glazed short of a dozen?

Augmented Reality and the New Digital Divide

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

When I shot the picture of this little guy lounging in his highchair watching cartoons, I thought it was adorable. And admittedly, I still do. But simultaneously it terrifies me, because it foreshadows a new type of digital divide that will be created by mobile devices and the introduction of augmented reality.

In Celebration of Type

Kimia M. Ansari

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Recently TYPECON came to Atlanta on a week-long celebration of type and design. I attended Typeface, a documentary on one of the oldest wood print shops in the United States. The film is a fascinating and disturbing look at the disappearing trade of typography and printmaking in the digital era, and the importance of the perseverance and preservation of art.

Seeing the Forest for the Trees: Shifting Food Trends Suggest Broader Emerging Agenda

Manon Herzog and Kevin Ament

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Last year’s economic meltdown has shone a disproportionate light on the financial and automotive companies. The brands and institutions within these two industries have been scrambling to respond with clear, overarching agendas — green, consumer-centric vehicles in automotive, greater transparency (and regulation) in the financial sectors. While less in the spotlight in recent months, the food industry has been equally frenetic, but has not clearly articulated a larger agenda. Do the many microtrends, from local and organic to simple and safe, add up to something more substantial?

Ad Execs and Other Bloodsuckers Revamp TV Marketing

J. Kristin Ament

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

On Tuesday’s DVD release of Mad Men’s second season and across recent promotions for the August 16 premiere of season three, we’re seeing an inspired, Draper-esque approach to making 60s era ad culture relevant to today's audiences. Mad Men’s marketing blitz blends past with present as skillfully and successfully as Weiner himself. This mashup of reality and fiction, a strategy also used to great effect by HBO’s True Blood and its advertisers, proves that brands willing to go off script are endearing themselves to new, loyal audiences.

What Will Marketing Look Like After the Recovery?

Sunday, July 12, 2009

The inevitable economic recovery is arguably just around the corner. Yes, it’s always too far ahead. But at least there is light at the end of the tunnel. Obama says it’s a “long way off,” likely to cover his own posterior. However, the IMF and the Fed are cautiously optimistic. And, with few exceptions, the Dow has been relatively flat in recent weeks. I don’t want to jinx it, but it feels like we’re at the bottom of a very steep hill to climb rather than falling off of a cliff. The recovery -- albeit likely a slow one -- is coming. It’s just a matter of when. And the world, including marketing, may never be the same.

Augmented Reality is a Reality. Now What?

Monday, June 29, 2009

The new iPhone with video - coupled with GPS, compass and future iPhone applications - ushers in the Brave New World of augmented reality. And mobile marketing, which until now has been a relative afterthought for brand marketers outside of Japan, is about to go gangbusters.

Change is Gonna Come

J. Kristin Ament

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

The American Idol finale will easily win the ratings war this week. Despite another year of declining viewership (and the disappointing coherence of Paula Abdul), it remains the number one show on television. This year’s final battle between aw-shucks Christian boy-next-door Kris Allen and aw-hell that boy ain’t right queen-of-scream Adam Lambert may have looked like red versus blue state politics personified. But truth is, the secret of Idol's success is the same popular narrative playing out over and over across American culture today.   With the economy in the proverbial terlet and our own future uncertain, we take comfort in cheering on the average Joes and the biggest losers as they claw their way toward transformation.

School Daze Redux

Thursday, May 7, 2009

I can remember being just out of college, freshly installed in Providence, RI, dropping by Brown University to investigate their MFA program. I had graduated fully decorated, done graduate scholarship work abroad and had no reason to believe my academic record made me anything less than a desirable candidate. I was also living with my husband-to-be, sharing the day to day responsibility of his two-year-old. I was stunned when the woman behind the desk, with no knowledge of me beyond my physical presence - not even a transcript, mind you – announced officiously, as she eyed the baby girl grasping my hand, that there would be no way for me to pursue graduate work part time. I walked away from “formal” education that day because it didn’t fit my life.

Change is Good

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

If I had more than a second to think about it, I’d be thinking about the pace of change and reactions to change. As it is, I’m busy keeping up with the changes. From email to tweets. From broadband to cloud. From the risks of recession to the risks of swine flu. I’m thinking that if I can just get around the corner there will be time to catch up. But what if there isn’t?

End of the Social(ist) Web?

Thursday, April 16, 2009

There should be no question about how little I cared for Andrew Keen’s last book. I found much of what he presented to be flawed, small-minded and grouchy. I also expressed the wisdom of crowds to select and correct content worth following. Let’s call that the power of the curator. So, I am especially happy to see that Keen has come around to a more enlightened (if not exactly Utopian) view, wherein not everyone with browser access is an idiot. He seems, now, to believe the common man is capable of discerning tripe from truffle, and having the good sense of choosing and following talent.

The Good Business of Good Citizenship

Thursday, April 9, 2009

For most Americans, the conspicuous consumption of the late 20th century was not just a show of status or an assumed birthright in the land of plenty, it was an act of justified (if not inspired) patriotism. Prospering and buying things proved the American system worked. In our greatest moment of national crisis, George W. Bush called us to arms post-9/11, with the rallying cry of “go shopping” to support our economy and stabilize our nation. Consumption was the way to fight back; it was our role as citizens. Economic policies followed that fueled this citizen-consumer march into battle. But something else happened along the way, too. We didn’t just shop. We reconnected. We found new ways of expressing citizenship, and they can serve us well now as marketers, if we follow a few, new citizen-based rules.

Identity Check

Kimia M. Ansari

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Brands are valuable assets and packaging plays a major role. Well-designed packaging can transform a product into an experience and help a consumer feel empowered, not overwhelmed, by the many choices in the marketplace. Now, more than ever, strong visual strategies separate winning brands from the competition. Here are a few principles to keep in mind:

The Siren Call of “Data Porn 2.0”

Sunday, March 29, 2009

The evolution of data visualization software is merging data and art, and allowing us to convey and digest complicated information in exciting new ways. But used irresponsibly, these technologies have the potential to usher in a new wave of “data porn,” where the dazzle trumps the data.

Crowd-sourced Research Models for Consumer-driven Innovation

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Social media platforms, blogs, smart phones, online video conferencing and a host of other technologies will facilitate revolutionary changes for brand research and innovation. Many companies are already leveraging these technologies for more traditional types of data collection, such as survey research. However, few have taken advantage of the real opportunity these technologies collectively provide: crowd-sourced research models for consumer-driven innovation.

Pulling the Plug on Jerry Mathers

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Somebody call Eve Ensler, because it looks like the Vagina Monologues are becoming the Vagina Dialogues.

Rise of the Netbook: The Business Case for Bottom-up Innovation

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Clive Thompson’s recent article for Wired entitled “The Netbook Effect: How Cheap Little Laptops Hit the Big Time” details the adoption of the Netbook, machines powered by flash drives intended for running bare-bones applications. These low-powered lightweights took the tech industry off guard, and they point to a valuable lesson for companies in every every sector.

Raison D'Etre, New Mexico

J. Kevin Ament

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Glen Kertz has people excited about pond scum. His company’s algae biofuel system boasts staggering numbers. An acre of corn can produce 18 gallons of oil per year. Valcent’s algae: 20,000+ gallons per acre per year. The vertical system currently under development promises to push that number even higher, using a fraction of the water and energy needed to grow traditional biofuel crops.

Life After Reboot

J. Kevin Ament

Monday, March 2, 2009

Juan Enriquez can give a presentation. Funny and fascinating, Enriquez extracts laughter from an unlikely source: the collapse of our global economy. Then, quoting author Louis L’Amour, Enriquez imagines life after the deluge: "There will be a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning."

Newspapers Beyond the Infographic

R. Eric Raymond

Friday, February 27, 2009

What should newspapers do? What newspaper can’t do.

On-the-Shelf Brand Touchpoints

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Product and packaging design can be one of the most impactful brand touchpoints. Here are a few recent executions I admire.

Jeff Bezos Makes it Rain at Amazon

Senior Editor

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

For Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, being the earth’s most customer-centric company means more than giving customers what they want. It requires inventing “on their behalf,” moving beyond dialog to predict future needs and develop the necessary skills to meet them. Such action begot Kindle, and through new collaboration with IBM, is moving cloud computing forward.

Where's the Love?

Kimia M. Ansari

Friday, February 13, 2009

Cupid, hearts, cards and jewelry. Valentine’s Day imagery is all around us, and it rarely begs a second look. But a few iconoclasts are marketing their subtle, cynical spin on this Hallmark holiday. A small collection of my favorites...

Think Before You Send That E-Card

R. Eric Raymond

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

If you’re thinking about sending an e-card for Valentine’s Day this year, think again. But aren’t they convenient and popular? Yes. For the sender. And that’s the problem.

History for Sale

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

There’s a lot being written about the merchandising of this inaugural moment. For a sampling of what’s available, check out Amazon. Or any newsstand around the world.

Nostalgia Week: Lexus 1, Big Wheel 0

J. Kevin Ament

Monday, December 15, 2008

Lexus’ 2008 “Big Wheel” approaches greatness, then quickly devolves. The ad opens with retro footage of a working class home at Christmas - warm, messy, comfortable. A boy warns his future self not to forget. The memory is quickly crushed by the buying power of white collar-adulthood. Cut to cliche of gift-wrapped luxury vehicle. Message: Cherished childhood memories are no match for Lexus.

Where’s the Etsy for Detroit?

R. Eric Raymond

Thursday, December 11, 2008

I’m a big fan of buying directly from artisans. Though I was raised in a Wal-Mart culture, I’ve found that buying from the people who produce the product is more satisfying. The brand is comfortably irrelevant, the quality (and yes, even unique defect of the item) is its own, and I feel good that the cash goes directly into the maker’s pocket.

“Any Colour, So Long as It’s Black.”

Kimia M. Ansari

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Henry Ford famously declared that the Model-T buyer could choose “any colour, so long as it’s black.” While I would argue whether or not black is a color, this restriction was important to providing affordable automobiles to the masses. A century later, consumers expect more from their favorite brands. They want an emotional connection, and during a time of budget cuts, job loss, and a major global plunge, a little color can make a big difference. Innovative companies know this. Here are a few of my favorite examples:

Saving the World, One Wooly Hat at a Time

J. Kevin Ament

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Rob Kalin grew frustrated shopping the “anonymous shelves” of mass-produced goods at the local Walmart. His mission: help artisans operate sustainable businesses by selling unique, handcrafted items directly to a global community of buyers. Etsy.com was born.

Etsy.com: Crafting a Movement

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Since Etsy.com was launched in 2003, the online marketplace “for buying and selling all things handmade” has changed the way people consider, create and consume handmade products.

Rainbow Blight: A Chocolate Rain on Skittles’ Parade

J. Kevin Ament

Thursday, November 13, 2008

This morning, I brought my daughters' remaining Halloween candy into the office, determined to no longer spend three hours every night at home gorging on Kit Kats (the genius behind Kit Kat Dark deserves a shiv in the kidneys). Rather, I spent the last six hours at work gorging on Kit Kats.

Turning Noise to Music

Thursday, November 13, 2008

There are an enormous number of American “knowledge” workers, companies and MBA programs whose work and whose professional standing is based solely on the agreed-upon script. They have long since stopped thinking, responding, understanding, questioning and interpreting. They can’t improvise to save their lives. It's a problem that might impact our country's competitiveness more than anything else.

Mini’s SUV: Oxymoronic or Just Moronic?

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Given the fundamental market shifts of higher gas prices and heightened consumer concern for the environment, adding another crossover SUV to an already crowded space seems like an odd choice for the iconic car brand.

Why Barbasol Should Give Gillette a Spanking and Send Him to Bed

J. Kevin Ament

Friday, May 23, 2008

One of my earliest childhood memories is shuffling into my parents’ tiny bathroom at daybreak, mirrors fogged over with shower steam, to watch my father shave. He frequently ended this morning ritual by depositing a thick dollop of lemon-lime Barbasol on my nose.

When Shock Content Meets Branded Content

R. Eric Raymond

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

We’ve seen a new development around the tradition of shocking internet memes.

Takeaways from DLD #3: Streams of Consciousness

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

There are a lot of left turns engineered into DLD . There is always the possibility you might look at a scheduled session and think, “what does this have to do with anything?” and then come away with a completely new idea. You might hear someone speak about their work and be certain they are brilliant and equally certain you don’t completely understand what they’re saying or what it actually applies to. Sometimes you are just knocked out by the beauty or ingenuity of thought processes and topics

Resolutions for Marketers in 2008 #1

R. Eric Raymond

Thursday, January 3, 2008

{self}Value both direct marketing and narrative marketing.{/self}

Simon Cowell Meets Donald Trump?

Kristen M. Jamski

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Fill in the blank with either Simon Cowell or Donald Trump: “______ is notorious for his unsparingly blunt and often controversial criticisms and insults…”

Touching on Apple’s Mouseless Future

R. Eric Raymond

Monday, October 22, 2007

In 1984, the Apple Macintosh brought the humble mouse widespread fame in the personal computing marketplace. By the looks of things, Apple may just be the big cat that puts the mouse out of its misery. Will your next Mac be the first computer to abandon the tried and true mouse interface entirely?

The Widgetization of Retail: Do You Want Tunes with That?

R. Eric Raymond

Monday, October 1, 2007

The cross-over between the digital and the physical space continues as Starbucks and Apple roll out their “purchase what’s playing” strategy. Coupled with an iTunes device, you can now impulsively purchase and download music just as the latte hits your bloodstream. What Apple and Starbucks have embraced here is the incredible power of having thousands of locations all over the globe as distribution points for digital media.

Cultivate Your Company’s Capacity for Gorgeous Instability

R. Eric Raymond

Monday, September 24, 2007

When we counsel clients about online strategy, we frequently use the term “perpetual beta.” The idea is to break the notion of a “complete” web project, that what lies ahead is a continuous learning experience. Corporate response to this is almost universal: Help us make a bullet-proof plan. The problem with “perfect plans” is that they end in perfect failure.

Dora Stops Exploring, Chooses Instead to Crank Dat

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

I recently received a forwarded e-mail containing this YouTube video. Cute, huh? Those penguins really know how to get jiggy with it. After watching the penguins pop and lock, I went to YouTube to see if there were any other versions of this cuteness and to my surprise found hundreds of videos of cartoons edited as music videos for rap songs, including:

Eco or Ego?

Monday, August 27, 2007

While I applaud and, I hope, help advance the “green” movement on a number of fronts, I think it is important also to recognize the functional selfishness of the entire effort. If we are honest, “going green” isn’t really about saving the planet or improving the environment. It’s about saving ourselves. Our broad, cultural hubris may let us forget these are separate things.

Take Your Grubby Little Cause off My Wife’s Boobs!

J. Kevin Ament

Friday, August 3, 2007

It’s World Breastfeeding Week, and so continues the tired pseudo-debate between bottle and breast, exacerbated by fanatics who shame women who don’t nurse, and shadowy alarmists who claim government officials are “stepping in to make the choice for new mothers.”

Artist Restitution: A Paylist for the Playlist

R. Eric Raymond

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

{self}As far as social agendas go, we can’t choose to overlook how we value and support artists in today’s culture. Now is a good time to start reviewing some of the inconvenient truths surrounding the way we consume and distribute media—specifically music.{/self}

Book Technology: Content Rich, 100% Uptime, and AdWord Free

R. Eric Raymond

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Books don’t translate well online. Marketing books? Yes. Ordering books? Clearly. Communicating with authors? Incredible. But the books themselves? No. It may be a good thing, too.

The Way to Get "Sirius" About Going Green

Thursday, July 12, 2007

I listened to a lot of the Live Earth concerts on Sirius satellite radio, which covered the entire event from Australia to New Jersey. Between performances, DJ’s promoted the new green channel in their lineup and offered “tips” – little things listeners could do as individuals to help mother earth.

I am Jack's Romantic New Beginning

J. Kevin Ament

Thursday, July 12, 2007

The word “commune” elicits images of patchouli-soaked hippies, eastern-Pennsylvanian craftsmen, or Manifesto-writing, gun-toting tax evaders in dire need of therapy and antiseptic. But if I’m reading the cultural tea leaves correctly, don’t be surprised if a new generation of communes pops up in the rural US, featuring sustainable agriculture, green technologies, and like-minded families committed to raising and educating their children together, beyond the daily influence of American consumerism and popular culture. Tomorrow’s commune is M. Night’s Village with solar paneling and no creepy monster suits.

Hey, Alli, Does This Dignity Make My Butt Look Big?

J. Kristin Ament

Sunday, July 8, 2007

The new fat-blasting wonder drug, alli, is terrifying. I’m talking “Poltergeist” clown terrifying. The product poses some unique marketing challenges, to say the least.

Lessons Learned from a Pig with Bad Hair Plugs

J. Kristin Ament

Sunday, June 3, 2007

Meet Bacon, my daughter’s stuffed pig. He and I have a love-hate relationship.

Burt’s Bees Brand Sets the Natural Standard

Friday, June 1, 2007

Burt’s Bees, known for its trademark yellow packaging, affinity for honey and aromatherapeutic salves, is leading the conversation about what is truly ‘natural’ in the beauty and personal-care category.

Tiny Pocket People Holding Hands

Thursday, May 17, 2007

You’re so gravain. You probably think this blog is about you. Don’t you? Don’t you?

Meaning, One Cup at a Time