Celebrate the Power of Positivity
At first, I heard it. The footsteps of a co-worker buzzing by me at the pace of an Olympic-style racewalker, steam almost visibly pouring out their ears. Then I made eye contact and saw the frazzled look in their eyes. At that moment, I could relate – I knew a [...]
Humble Minnesota?
The great city of Minneapolis has received a great deal of kudos recently from various semi-useless, semi-pride-inducing rankings. Being a non-native Minnesotan, I’ve taken it upon myself to celebrate all the props my new home has received. Here are a few examples: We’re in Shape For the third year [...]
5 reasons to test your value prop
What do consumers value? What makes them sign up for a particular credit card? Credit card marketers are testing heavily to find the sweet spot. Whether it’s educating customers on card value by offering comparison tools or value proposition testing (miles vs. cash back vs. points or…?) with focus groups, [...]
2 Clients Celebrate
U.S Bancorp Celebrates 150 Years in Business U.S. Bancorp celebrated its 150th anniversary by ringing The Closing Bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on July 12. U.S. Bancorp Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Davis and Chief Financial Officer Andy Cecere took the stage at the NYSE [...]
Our favorite summer foods (or drinks)
Maureen: Corn on the cob Mary: Peachy Drink 4 ripe peaches, skins and pits removed 6 oz lemonade concentrate (not diluted) 6 oz vodka 2 cups ice cubes Combine in blender. Server in clear glasses. Garnish with fruit. Hint: The peaches must be ripe. Do not use canned peaches. This [...]
Management Perspective: Choosing A Dance Partner
One seemingly complex issue often facing marketers is how to go about picking the right agency with which to work. True to my obsessive drive to simplify, I’ve attempted to break the process down to something easy – ergo, the “Three C’s.” Cost, Capability and Chemistry are my “Three C’s”. [...]
5 Trends in Financial Services Design
The economic recession that began in 2008 has changed the way that financial services companies represent their brand. In an effort to re-establish trust and confidence with their customers, providers have dramatically reduced the use of imagery and messaging depicting aspiration and conspicuous wealth. Here are five of the main [...]
Read, Reflect and Relax
Technology is amazing. It can help us make great presentations, keep us up-to-date on what is going on in the world and we can now be connected 24/7 and 365 days a year. Our phones are almost always within reach. This brings me to the question: when do we give [...]
Social Media: Brands Celebrate Newsworthy Events
With social media’s ever-growing influence over the past decade, brands have been able to more quickly align themselves to major news events or human accomplishments than possible in the past. Using social channels and digital advertising, brands can reach the masses almost immediately after a relevant news story breaks. For [...]
A Fresh Perspective can Reveal a Different Direction
It’s been said that the most important people in a business are the ones sitting in their office staring out into space. This may sound a little counter intuitive, but in theory, those who occasionally “stop and stare” are the fine tuners, the problem solvers, and sometimes, the finders of [...]