by Steve Smith on Aug 17, 3:00 PM
Do younger drinkers still know what gin is? Even in my antediluvian college days of the 70s, we ordered “G&Ts” more as a goof, a kind of cosplaying WASP Brahmin. Would the generation sipping “spicey” bourbons know what to do with such a tart spirit as gin? Bombay Sapphire takes aim at these old tropes with a new “Sparkling Lemon” cocktail and “Tastes Like Friday” campaign that aims for youthful tastebuds and sociability. But how (where and when) do you sell am updated, drink concept from a brand that still carries an etching of Queen Victoria on the bottle? On …
by Steve Smith on Aug 12, 4:49 PM
New customers at the health and wellness store brand Good Feet start their conversation about arch supports and foot health by getting their foot print taken. According to CMO Doug Zarkin, this is one of those small moments in the retail experience that build relationships, not just transactions.
by Steve Smith on Aug 12, 4:49 PM
Stan Mack has been chronicling real people and their real voices in the New York streets and the offices of media for decades. A veteran cartoonist of both AdWeek and our own MediaPost, Stan is best known for his pioneering project in observational cartooning - "Stan Mack's Real Life Funnies". But in interviewing Stan for my own site, we covered so much history about the New York Times, New York Magazine and the Village Voice I thought our conversation would be a great Summer respite for Brand Insider listeners.
by Steve Smith on Jul 26, 2:42 PM
Allying with sports teams and arenas is a time-tested branding tactic. But in the case of Chef Merito's relationship with the L.A. Dodgers, the alliance included much more than logo swaps. The seasoning and sauce brand is literally baked into the Dodger experience. Think ballpark Carne Asada French Fries or Tacos. The team's official seasoning can not only been seen but tasted everywhere.
by Erin Everhart on Jul 19, 11:56 AM
Every brand that spans multiple decades goes through the same marketing paradox. They see an opportunity. They build a great product. They launch, hyper-focused on filling this need. They thrive. The become ubiquitous with their category. But then, their core consumers age. Younger generations gain influence. Lifestyles change. And these once-dominate brands see sales slips. Market share drops. They're labeled as dusty, dated, or - gasp - something our parents would wear. And they're faced with two options: Evolve or die. Sadly, many perish, becoming those nostalgic brands we reminisce about fondly with friends. (I'm not the only one who …
by Steve Smith on Jul 12, 7:30 AM
In the world of quick service food, there are ubiquitous go-tos. There are emerging fan favorites. And then there are cults. Since its launch as a Portlandia hole in the wall filled with custard quirk, Voodoo Doughnut has been the very definition of a cult brand. Where else will you get a suggestively shaped chocolate frosted Cock and Balls dunker? A maple frosted pastry in the shape of a smoldering blunt? A cookie crumble topped Old Dirty Bastard? And of course the signature Voodoo Doll, with blood-like raspberry filling and a pretzel spike through its heart? And better, they are …
by Erin Everhart on Jun 21, 12:10 PM
You can't read any marketing publication without AI being one of the top new trends to watch in 2024. And yes, generative AI and machine learning are in their limelight era, but most discussions around AI fall short of touching on real, hands-on use cases of how large companies can use AI today vs some forward-looking trend to keep an eye on.
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