Like many of you, I have been receiving banner alerts when logging into Facebook, prompting me to migrate to the new Timeline and banner design. I’ve noted numerous colleagues who have made the switch and I’ve also been touring pages looking for creative approaches. I’ve yet to make the change since I am currently analyzing what is driving it, and how to best use the new … [Read more...]
Starbucks moves ‘beyond coffee’ with new logo
Today Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz announced a new logo for the company. Noticeably absent are the words "Starbucks coffee." In fact there are no words at all - just the simplistic siren mermaid graphic in green within a circle. It perhaps signals a move not unlike when Apple Computers became just Apple. That simplification signaled a move beyond computers. This too seems to … [Read more...]
Will it save or sink the brand?
Once the darling of the coffee snob world, Starbucks has taken afew hits of late. But will instant coffee save or sink the brand? I had the opportunity to try the new Starbucks instant coffee at a conference last week. Initially my early morning colleagues and I were a little confused at the apparent offering of 'hot water' at the coffee stand. Low light, a pre-coffee … [Read more...]
Trading down – opportunity in a recession
I'm willing to bet you've participated in "trading down" already. You may just not have been consciously aware of it. The term I've coined as trading down happens during recessionary times when people make cost saving choices in some categories outside their normal purchasing behaviour. If you normally shop at a specialty shoe store, you might check out the warehouse or rack … [Read more...]
