Valentines Day having just passed, I can’t help but draw parallels between personal relationships and customer relationships, and the reasons we remain loyal. In it’s simplest form, we are loyal to those we trust and who make us feel special. It’s not about loyalty cards and points, or in the case of personal relationships, gifts unto their own. It’s about the feeling that is … [Read more...]
Hotel overstay policy that challenges convention: A brilliant transparent promotion
Good relationships are based on honesty, and building relationships is at the core of a strong business. Yet for some companies, true transparency, and by default, apparent honesty, can seem lacking when guised in corporate policy. We now seek out brands that are honest, flaws and all, because it feels like we can trust them more. For a brand, being transparent and … [Read more...]
The handwritten lines of personal connection
There is something sweetly nostalgic about the handwritten word. In a world where increasingly we conduct communication electronically, to receive a handwritten note or letter seems rare. Yet, there is something intimate about handwriting. The personal style says something about the sender. It’s a piece of them left on the sheet. If you’ve ever saved a letter from a … [Read more...]
Creepy or brilliant? Depends on the target, and that’s the problem…
“Weird” “This commercial is just creepy” “Bizarre, but funny” “Brilliant!” “Over the top. Was the creative team on acid?” “Horrifying, dumb, disturbing.” “The funniest commercial I have ever seen” “I would never buy Old Spice” “Bring back Mustafa” “Solid gold. Give Old Spice all the awards” Those are just some of the comments I encountered when I asked a … [Read more...]
Harnessing the Power of One
I found myself reflecting on pivotal events of 2013 recently and in honour of Nelson Mandela’s passing, I watched again a 1992 movie called “The Power of One” set in South Africa during WWII featuring a young English boy raised under apartheid. It was a powerful movie of racial injustice, and had one amazing soundtrack. I downloaded it to my iPod for inspiration moving forward … [Read more...]