Well−versed in what’s now,
ever–ready for what’s next.
Smoke & Meers
-
Yellow Pages Fail
Posted on Tuesday | April 16th, 2013
Rotary dial phones, the Sony Walkman, Polaroid Cameras and the Yellow Pages —the world has passed you by. I found this notice hanging on my door last week. It’s a feeble attempt to connect with a consumer that doesn’t want to connect. I’m confident I was intentional when I opted
-
How a Little Thing Becomes a Big Thing
Posted on Tuesday | April 9th, 2013
Julie dropped her car off at Toyota Sunday night. When she went to the night drop box, there were no envelopes/forms to complete. So she found a piece of paper in her car and wrote what work she wanted completed. She then took an alligator clip I had in my
-
The Modern Advertising Agency
Posted on Friday | April 5th, 2013
Season six of Mad Men starts this week. I’ve often wondered how long AMC would be able to keep the story relevant. But after the past few weeks in advertising, I’m confident the producers will keep it fresh for years to come. I’ve been in dozens of conversations and meetings
-
Hatch This
Posted on Saturday | March 2nd, 2013
Innovation is the lifeblood of business. Connecting the dots between disparate ideas to create something new. Something that adds value to a product or service. Some industries are naturally innovative, like technology. Tech companies live on a narcotic dose of “new.” Without new, they lose relevance fast. Other industries have
-
Barkley Puts the Curl on the Cone
Posted on Friday | January 4th, 2013
My first job was at the Dairy Queen in my hometown of Olney, Illinois. Olney, primarily known for its white squirrels (yes, totally albino), also had an amazing Dairy Queen. I’m quite confident I can still put the trademark curl on the DQ cone. The owners at the time, Clay
-
The Art of Winemaking and Advertising
Posted on Sunday | December 30th, 2012
My daughter, Katherine, gave me a bottle of Belle Glos Pinot for Christmas this year. Until a couple of years ago, I was not a big fan of Pinot Noir. But, as with many things, you have to occasionally experiment. There is something very special about Belle Glos Pinot Noir.
-
Newsweek Pivots – Just in Time
Posted on Monday | October 22nd, 2012
Newsweek just announced the company would cease to produce their print version. On December 31, 2012, the last issue will roll off the presses and an 80-year tradition comes to an end. To which I say, congratulations, Newsweek! You have captured history for eight decades, now you are making it.