Have you entered our photo contest yet? The contest launched October 1 with the theme “Color and Light.” The winning photo will be printed, made into a poster-sized print, framed, and delivered to the winner. What are you waiting for? This week we looked at what the Breaking Bad finale can teach us about finishing well, historymaker James Meredith, the marketing strategy behind all the pink stuff you’ve been seeing this month, and how Miley Cyrus might be a branding success story after all.
It’s important to determine when something is complete. This happens in TV shows quite frequently and some miss it. When does this happen to you?
Some people think about completion and they think about simply getting a project done. We are thinking of a different level of done — the kind that has people thinking about satisfaction and outcomes and excellence. And, why not consider whether or not Breaking Bad and Dexter and some other big shows — SPOILER ALERT — did a good job of ending their run? Much can be learned from a good ending, whether it is a TV show or a brand new logo for a client.
James Meredith made history on this day in 1962. What do you stand for?
We liked Customer Service Representative Dave Schultz’s answer: “Equality. I firmly believe in Liberty and Justice for ALL!” It related to James Meredith, the courageous student who showed up for classes at the University of Mississippi in Oxford and started a race riot. Years later, he said his enrollment “was more for America than it was for me.”
Pink is everywhere this month. Do you have your pink? Can too much publicity be a bad thing?
You can walk into any store and know that it is Breast Cancer Awareness month. There’s pink on the yogurt lid, the lotion bottle, and almost anywhere else you can imagine. This seems like a very successful campaign — but, for some it has hit a sour note because some companies are taking advantage of the awareness, without giving back to the cause. Market researchers have discovered that 79 percent of consumers will choose a brand supporting a cause and there’s a sales increase. And, in the case of pink ribbons and pink packaging, the fine print is often tricky.
Can a rebrand be so over the top and outrageous that it’s really brilliance in disguise?
Most people say they don’t approve … and yet we can’t stop talking about Miley Cyrus. From a marketing standpoint, it seems a lot like she’s doing a rebrand and that it has people’s attention. As you look at her actions from a purely business standpoint and remember that she’s a musician and a brand her moves seem less erratic and more calculated. Miley isn’t the only one working the controversial rebranding approach. Gap has a new logo, Monopoly has a new game with a circular playing board, and high fructose corn syrup is changing its name to “corn sugar”. There’s been a lot of discussion — and disapproval — but these changes have people’s attention, which is a positive result for a rebrand.
An invitation: You can let us know your viewpoint — here, on Facebook, or on Twitter — Monday through Thursday, we pose questions ranging from lighter fare to industry-focused topics. Every Friday we look back at the week. If you are on Twitter, we are @ProLitho — please follow us, and join the discussion about this week’s #4Qs. We’d also love to have you check us out at Facebook and LinkedIn.