Blog

When Lululemon announced they had launched a loyalty program, they became the latest brand to shift focus from their core business to take a new direction. As the likes of Staples and Apple have shown, this services-over-product approach can be key to moving forward and adapting to the new behaviours of today’s consumers. In thisRead more

When Dolce and Gabbana released a racist Chinese ad, it was just the latest in a long line of marketing gone wrong when it comes to the fashion world. From LuluLemon saying their customers were too big for their products, to Topman describing their customers as football hooligans and criminals, it seems the fashion worldRead more

When it comes to disrupting an industry with innovative products and marketing, the ice cream industry may not be high up on your list of usual suspects. Yet that’s exactly what’s happened as giants like Häagen-Dazs found out when small, agile newcomers started eating into their profits with lifestyle-themed ice cream. In this week’s episodeRead more

In a recent Facebook discussion between marketers, the question was asked if social influencers are just the equivalent of traditional media buying. The point being made was, with all the paid influencer programs being used to shill product, has the role of the influencer been reduced to a simple ad platform? In this week’s episodeRead more

How do you turn social media haters into brand advocates? KFC did exactly that when they took a customer’s negative tweet about their fries and turned it into a win for the brand nationally. It’s a great example of brands that take social media haters at more than face value, and not only improve their servicesRead more

Recently in the UK, fish and chip shop chain Harry Ramsden’s partnered with Uber Eats to run a promotion around the new Call of Duty: Black Ops video game. Customers who bought a fish and chips meal from one of three participating outlets would receive a free copy of the game. With Call of Duty:Read more

In recent weeks, there’s been a spate of YouTube influencers taking to their channels to say they’re feeling burned out, and that their mental health is suffering. Much of the criticism from these influencers is that they’re feeling the pressure to “always be on”, regardless of how they feel and what’s happening in their livesRead more

This week saw the news of the Sears bankruptcy filing, amongst falling sales and rising debt. Their Canadian division closed in January of this year, and it always felt the parent company wouldn’t be far behind. Failure to adapt to the changing ways customers preferred to buy – online, mobile research, frictionless shopping – asRead more

Week after week, it seems we’re bombarded with poor customer experience examples when it comes to airline companies. From dragging passengers off planes to charging to change the flight of a family whose 3 year old son’s appendix burst, the horror stories are endless. But do these stories make any difference? With flights cheaper thanRead more

When brands want to stand apart from the competition, they often turn to edgy advertising to push the boundaries. This can work well, and the benefits can outweigh the risks. But when the message behind the campaign is shared without context, no amount of marketing or brand explanations can overcome the negativity. In this week’sRead more