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Having grown significantly since their 30th anniversary last year, AIME came back in full force hoping to deliver the same success once again. When probed about the expansion, AIME Event Director Silke Calder, noted that “Retaining quality will always be the priority. We were very selective this year and turned down a lot of buyers as we have to be to retain that calibre. As for new initiatives, we have only introduced new tech if it made sense for the show - we’re not trend-hopping. It’s about paying close attention to feedback and that’s our ethos.” From data collaboration to glocalisation, here are the top 3 enforceable takeaways from AIME 2024: https://lnkd.in/eiTc9bWZ

Take time to reflect I thought about my career the other day. *The things I’ve learned *The things I’ve achieved *The brands I’ve worked with *The rate at which I’ve grown And the impact I’ve had on the industry and my clients. It took me by surprise. I started my business in 2010, but I’ve been in and around video production since the 80s, where I helped out at my parents infomercial business. I looked up to my parents. I still do. Back then, I dreamed of one day owning a business in this space. I told myself that if it was even 10% of what they had — I’d be happy. Fast forward four decades, I’ve worked with some of the biggest brands on the planet, like Coca-Cola, VW, Visa, Taco Bell, Heineken, Uber, Dell, Adidas, and Mountain Dew — to name a few. It hasn’t been easy, mind. It’s been full of ups, downs, twists, turns and surprises. It has tested me. It has pushed me. It has broken me (at one point). But it’s been worth it. I’m not telling you this for a pat on the back. Instead, I want to highlight the importance of sitting down from time to time and thinking about how far you’ve come and what you’ve achieved. It’s easy to overlook when you’re so focused on the present and the future. But it’s a great little pick me up. And well, we could all do with more of those in our lives, right? So take a moment to reflect. Thank me later. (That lo-res pic is @ GDC a billion years ago with my ole buddy - and host of Qore - Veronica Belmont) #BusinessOwnership #VideoProduction #Reflection

It was the festival season in 2006.🎇 Qwiky's was flowing with celebrities and general public. The orders were piling up and it was a busy time. While celebrities were enjoying their delicacies, a commoner approached me. I was quite worried if something went wrong. He shook my hand and said, "I come here for the experience and thanks for making it possible with the best beverage." For a moment, I felt like I was flying. 😎 Nothing like the review from a common man because it is unfiltered, straight to the point, and the most useful. Fast forward to today, as a consultant, I advise all my clients to prioritize feedback from general public on a regular basis because that's where the growth secret lies. ✅ Do you agree with me too? #beverage #consultant #customerfirst #business

Leaving Madfest day 1 feeling inspired to say the least! A brilliant line up of speakers today from across the industry, sharing some clear take outs on how brands can win: 🚀 Stop saying you're being bold and actually be bold - We talk a lot in FMCG about 'taking risks' and 'pushing the boundaries' but the reality is we often remove the risk from those boundary pushing projects out of fear. We should feel fear, that's how we know we're taking a risk 🚀 We can't do everything, but we do have a choice - We don't have infinite budgets and there SO many category problems that need solving, but we must be selective about what we do and what we pursue. We have so many tools to leverage to help guide us, inspire us and facilitate that 'brave' mentality 🚀 Start saying 'why not' - We need to create cultures that foster new and creative ideas. Not everything will work and that's totally fine (just own it!). It will either become a winning innovation, or a lesson. It's a win win! With all that in mind, watch this space....

Creativity is magic Last night, I went to #thecaplesawards ceremony. Fittingly, it was at the HQ of The Magic Circle. There may be 'bigger' awards, there may be awards which result in significant bonuses, there may be awards that are more coveted by certain people. But the Caples stand alone. They're run wholly by creatives, for creatives. This year, Caples Custodian Patrick Collister invited me to join the jury. It was pleasingly international, as were the entries. The judging process was simple and enjoyable. The tech was easy to use. The jury conversations were wide-ranging, thoughtful and persuasive. The voting was based on the work, not the entry. There were no WTF moment when each award was announced. Every single one of them was fully deserved. As Sir John Hegarty said in his on-stage interview with Jury Chair David Harris, "90%, no 98%, of all advertising is shit." So it's right to concentrate on the work that's in the 2% that isn't shit. And the 1% of that 2% that is award-worthy. The work that shows how creativity can solve problems. Whether those problems are commercial, personal or societal. How moments of magic can change attitudes, behaviours, even legislation. We're in tough times right now, and it could take a while for things to get easier. But we're not getting anywhere without creativity. The creativity that builds new businesses. That nurtures fresh talent. That revels in the simple, the smart, the different, the oblique. That makes work fun. That makes magic. #creativity #advertising #awards

The Fall Season is just getting started. New events along with Scarowinds. Best of all, it is all included with one ticket! Let’s talk about how we can help you provide fun to your employees. #carowinds #sixflagsentertainment #fallseasonfun #employeeoutings [email protected]

The ShowHeroes team is currently at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and CEO Ilhan Zengin has thoughts on this year’s atmosphere. This year’s Cannes Lions is very different from last year’s, where caution was the dominant feeling. But is it roaring excitement this year, or something more nuanced? Read his thoughts alongside other industry leaders in Digiday. 👇 https://lnkd.in/edYn9KD9 #Cannes2024 #CannesLions #digitaladvertising #digitalmarketing

We collaborated with Red Bull on a highly effective activation at Wilderness Festival in Oxfordshire. The Red Bull Lab Bar featured live music and bars, but the highlight of the activation was a series of daily cocktail masterclasses for the festival attendees. These sessions were incredibly popular, fully booking within hours for the entire duration of the festival. The success of this activation lay in its ability to create meaningful connections with Red Bull's target audience. It offered the brand an extended opportunity to build a rapport with consumers in an engaging and memorable way. In today's market, people crave experiences above all else. As a brand, it's crucial to establish how you will connect with your audience through events and activations. It's no longer just about the size of the budget or the scale of the activation; it's about the quality of the experience you provide. A great example of this was a recent activation by Botivo Drinks. The Botivo Sampling piano is a pop up piano with a pianist on one side and a mini sampling activation on the other - all in the footprint of a small stand up piano. Not big budget but BIG impact. Having worked on hundreds of events and activations, we can confidently say that the most effective ones are those that offer consumers a genuine experience and evoke real emotions. Even something as simple as a cocktail masterclass can achieve this, demonstrating that thoughtful, well-executed experiences resonate most deeply with audiences. #brandactivation #events #drinksindustry #drinksmarketing

The marketing and marketing LinkedIn-o-sphere is becoming cliquier and angstier than school. (Or maybe it’s always been this way and it’s taken me 15 years to notice…) At school it was easy because I was a nerd with plenty of nerd friends and we were happy in our nothing space. But here, and now, it’s like all of my nerd friends are fighting with each other, and quietly judging me if I don’t pick sides. It’s as though it’s not okay to respect ALL the nerds with all their varied opinions. It’s all quite horrible really, isn’t it? If you’re a person who has opinions, some strong, some you’re working out, but none that you think are worthy of crashing your mental health for. If you respect debate but hate bitey, bully-esque confrontation. If you don’t believe that you need to be provocative and dogmatic to be noticed or heard, you’re not alone! 😄 I know so many smart, wonderful people who never post on here because they’re scared of it. Scared of saying the wrong thing or backing the wrong horse. Nervous that it could end their career. It’s not a psychologically safe space. ❓❓❓ So, I ask you - where is? I’m not part of many other communities. The Marketing Meetup is a perfect example of a great one. Any online spaces where I can ask ridiculous questions and share thoughts and not be judged too harshly?

I recently came across this ad by Starbucks that involves an integrated marketing communication mix and has an emotional appeal to the ad. It appears to be a heartfelt portrayal of the diversity of experiences and stories that unfold within its cafes. ✨ The ad begins with the statement that "every table has a story," suggesting that Starbucks locations are more than just places to grab a coffee; they're spaces where people come together to share moments, dreams, and emotions. 💡 This cohesive storytelling, coupled with visuals and music, creates a warm and inclusive atmosphere, effectively communicating Starbucks' brand values and inviting customers to be part of its story. In my opinion, this advertisement sets an amazing example of how to use the IMC mix with a story that touches your heart. ☕ #StarbucksStories #CoffeeBreak #MKTG5519