19
Dec 2020
Will this be the year that time forgot, or the year you reinvented yourself?
When times are tough, great business leaders work to do things differently. How have you reacted to the pandemic, and how can you pivot?...
On Branding
25
Mar 2020
Smart business is looking at the outcome
We're living in a time unlike anything that worldwide business has ever had to deal with before. It can be easy to look too closely at the current crisis. Instead,...
18
Feb 2020
How Cognitive Dissonance can affect your brand
Cognitive Dissonance is a subtle effect that can impact brands when seemingly minor design decisions are out of sync with people's expectations. Here's how to avoid it....
12
Oct 2014
Starbucks films expertly communicate brand essence
Starbucks' new "Meet me at Starbucks" campaign brilliantly captures the essence of the brand through a series of customer-focused films....
09
Sep 2014
Every brand begins with vision
Brands must have a vision to achieve long-term success. And that vision must be clearly articulated and consistently applied over a long time to be effective. In today's noisy, over-communicated...
26
Aug 2014
Great new packaging for Christie Potato Thins
Though I don't really eat junk food, not even low-fat options, but I had to stop and take a closer look when I saw the new packaging design for Potato...
05
Jun 2014
Focus: the first rule of branding
Take a look at how you are communicating your business. Are you focused on one thing and one thing only? Or are you hedging your bets by offering up unrelated...
18
May 2014
Tim Hortons brand hits 50 with style
Tim Hortons has rolled out a great advertising campaign and some pretty effective branding for its 50th anniversary. Here's what I like about it....
12
May 2014
What not to do in dental branding
Walking through downtown Portland the other day, I happened to notice this sign for a dentist called "Gentle Dental." Having worked with dental clinics in my capacity as a branding...
29
Dec 2013
Message to The Brick: Nobody wins in PR disasters
Canadian furniture retailer The Brick is learning a valuable lesson as the PR disaster surrounding its accidental online discount spins out of control. All marketers can learn from this....
28
Dec 2013
Branding lessons from Starbucks
Having observed Starbuck's marketing communications for a number of years, I thought it was time to review some of the qualities that set this brand apart from other companies, branding...
24
Dec 2013
Celebrate the brand called You
The best brands, the ones we love the most and resonate with the deepest, are authentic. That's why we love them so much. As you relax this Christmas, celebrate your...
16
May 2013
Silvercar adds Branson-style branding spin to car rentals
There is always room for a new brand, and Richard Branson's Virgin airlines does it in style with its latest strategic partnership. Silvercar takes a whole new approach to car...
08
May 2013
Lessons in branding from the NHL
Sports teams need to satisfy a diverse community of fans, build support within their home city and generate long-term fans who will stand by the team and buy seasons tickets...
17
Nov 2012
Are you doing enough to make people hate your brand?
If people don't "get" what you're all about, does this mean all your work at creating a powerful brand presence has gone to waste? Not at all! Here's why....
17
Oct 2012
When big brands look desperate
What happens when a company insists on making the brand identity as big as possible? Sometimes the very opposite of what was intended. Like this glaring example from Carnival Cruise...
05
Oct 2012
My 10 favorite quotes by Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs was the greatest branding genius in corporate history, and he influenced my life in more ways than I can ever know. From his single-minded passion for excellence to...
19
Aug 2012
How a mobile world is changing brand perceptions
Today, our connection to everyone and everything through ever-present mobile devices has changed everything about how brands need to communicate. Here are some insights....
08
Nov 2011
Athletic? Or Pathetic?
The poster series released for the 2012 London Olympic Games have no concept, messaging nor sense of Olympic spirit. What do you think?...
05
Jan 2011
Starbucks shows how to change a logo
Starbucks announces a logo change, with a brilliant upgrade and public advance-notice that explains the changes in a clear, logical way....