This last week the announced exit of Target from the Canadian market was a piece of business news that dominated discussions. One does not enter a market with 133 stores and then pull the plug less then two years later without feeling an effect. That's a lot of rent per square foot, retail sales and lost jobs you hear rushing for the drain hole being flushed from the Canadian … [Read more...]
Top 10 online marketing trends for 2015
1. Content will continue to be king This trend will continue, simply because social media and mobile devices have provoked and enabled the growth in content available for consumption. Content can position a company or brand like nothing else, and it can drive prospects to points in the pipeline closer to becoming … [Read more...]
2014 Top 10 Marketing Wall of Fame & Wall of Shame
I was inspired to pull some thoughts together on this when I was approached by a producer at CBC TV to add a Vancouver spin to a national "Marketing Fails 2014" piece they were airing by Dianne Buckner. If you'd like to view that segment, which aired Dec 29, 2014 you can link to it here. CBC Vancouver Marketing Fails 2014: Rene Filiponne interviews marketing strategist, … [Read more...]
Christmas ads and the power of storytelling
I’ll admit it, I’m a sucker for sentimental. With only a slight guilty conscience I will readily confess to harboring my kid’s kindergarten works of art, old letters from friends, and photo albums filled with childhood memories in treasured locations throughout my house. I’ll also readily admit to being a sucker for history. I was that weird kid in high school who actually … [Read more...]
Branding with emotion and giving presence this holiday season
Two much-loved global brands (with Canadian roots), Westjet and Lululemon, take the spirit of the season awards this week for marketing initiatives that stand out in a month traditionally fueled with excess and consumption madness. Hot on the heels of Black Friday and Cyber Monday comes Lululemon’s holiday campaign “Give presence,” as well as the third in a trilogy from … [Read more...]