It seems that everyone is interested in recycling these days, even Martha Stewart.

Martha has repackaged her old 90’s cooking and crafting series into “Whatever Martha” a “Mystery Science Theater 3000” knock-off where Martha’s old shows covering subjects like ‘collecting twine’ and ‘painting the porch’ are heckled by her daughter, Alexis Stewart, and her co-host Jennifer Koppelman.

Martha hopes “that 20-somethings and 30-somethings will watch this show and laugh along but still come away learning something.”

You can read more in the NYT article.

Might not be the best route for every brand but it does show that providing a new experience for a well known or even faded brand can provide an introduction to an entirely new audience. We shall see if for Martha it really is “a good thing.”

To say we're experiencing a challenging economy is a vast understatement. And there's little doubt that things are going to get a lot worse before we turn around. As we talk with our clients, there's a general "deer-in-the-headlights" vibe -- project cancellations, budget cuts, staff layoffs, uncertainty --not just about 2009, but about finishing this year on their feet.

There's so much uncertainty about so many things that I thought I'd focus on a few things of which I am certain.

1. This is a time of opportunity.
Your competitors are having to adjust and change, so market share is in play. If you step up and show leadership, you'll win.

2. Now is not the time to stop marketing.
Employees, partners and customers need to be reminded of what makes you a leader. There are cost-effective ways to deliver this message quickly and forcefully—including broadcasts, event-in-a-box and virtual events.

Continue reading "Get your head up -- it's time to lead"

My colleague Adam Gerston from our San Francisco office has some interesting insights into the WaMu/JP Morgan shotgun merger...

The unraveling of our financial system has most people pretty darn nervous. Among them are customers who will soon find themselves banking someplace new and those who simply worry about their money. But for banks, this is also a unique moment for brand building as we enter a new era with new players and new rules. Washington Mutual customers will soon bank at JP Morgan Chase. Ditto for Wachovia patrons at Wells Fargo.

Historically, bank brands were unapologetically conservative. “You can trust us with your money,” the banks seemed to say, “as you can hear in our all-business brand voice.” By and large, banks weren’t any fun at all.

Continue reading "Some bright news for banks (really!)"

I have to admit that nothing excites me more when cultural institutions get experiential--although I prefer it when those experiences are a bit more accessible to the "joe plumbers" out there.

Still...it's a pretty good idea..that clearly worked--it's sold out.

I was struck last week at how pervasive the 08 election has become. No matter which party you are affiliated with - or which candidate you are supporting - it is impossible not to appreciate the enormity of 4 November. But I can't recall a time when an election has actually become an experience. On any given day, I receive at least two (if not half a dozen) emails with links to some hybrid of election and pop culture. This morning were references to Dancing with the Stars, the McCain v. Obama Dance Off, and a customizable video encouraging everyone to vote.

There's the constant reference to Tina Fey and Sarah Palin on SNL, Obama is the #1 followed person on Twitter, elaborate Flash sites pop up, and I regularly get links to various articles and podcasts - from NPR to Rollingstone, all pondering the election. Some make fun of the candidates, others dissect the issues.

In any case, this election marks the beginning of a new type of campaign: one based on both impressions and expressions. That is to say, the more activated we are by a piece of media (impression) the more likely we are to send it on, blog about it, or reply to it (expression).

Elections, for any branch of government, rely heavily on word of mouth. This time around, with the proliferation of touch points - and the simplicity of "forward" - word of mouth is an even more powerful and a far-reaching animal. We've reached a type of saturation never known. And for the first time it's measurable.

It will be interesting to see not only what this means for the upcoming election, but also the future of government and community participation.