Pittsburgh's New Innovative Giant Eagle
Twenty years or so ago, I had several conversations with marketing colleagues about how supermarket chains lacked creativity. The general experience was underwhelming and one that most people dreaded. During those years, I would take Cadillac, Oldsmobile and McDonald's clients into Wegman's supermarkets throughout western, New York to show them [...]
Social Media Mistakes by Tiger and Toyota
Typically, in times of crisis, most brands fail in their communications before the crisis explodes not during or after it happens. Then, long after the explosive facts are out, whatever a brand does to quell the unfortunate act never seems to be quite enough. And today, in this ever changing [...]
Loving Pepsi's Refresh Project
Looking forward to great game and loving Pepsi's decision to pass on Super Bowl ads (waste) and lead with its "Refresh Everything" online marketing project. Two things I'm sure of about the Super Bowl. One - someone named Peyton/Payton - will win! Two - Pepsi's campaign will be successful for [...]
BrandMill Clients Win Big at Restaurant Gala
'm proud to announce that two BrandMill clients, John Graf of the Priory Hospitality Group and Kevin Joyce of The Carlton Restaurant both won two of the three most distinguished awards from the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association. John won the Wilmer S. Lapp Keystone Award and Kevin won Restaurateur of the [...]
Seven Ways to Reinvent Yourself
OK, we're all about 1/12th of the way through 2010 and most of our good-natured resolutions for self improvement have been broken. Fortunately, here comes a welcome, timely motivational kick in the pants from one of my marketing mentors Seth Godin that highlights seven key levers you can use to [...]
iWant, iNeed, iGotta
Pancakes in a can? I'm all in! What a simple brand promise - so easy and clear to understand. Think Reddi-Whip aerosol can, but think Pancakes - maybe think both at the same time (hint - writing this during dinnertime - and, I'm a little hungry)! Anyway, I plan to [...]