Patrick Radden Keefe's Empire of Pain is a compelling read for anyone, but especially those involved in marketing. Extensively researched it explores the history of the Sackler family, their private company Purdue Pharma and the introduction of OxyContin. It highlights greed, corruption, failures in regulation and unrestrained, ruthless marketing among the contributors to the opioid crisis in... Continue Reading →
It might seem a little discourteous to say but the Royal Family is a major brand. They add something distinctive to our national identity, they attract tourists and as global ambassadors present a welcoming impression of the UK that even our politicians can't completely undo. The power behind this brand is, of course, the Queen... Continue Reading →
I have been exploring how organisations successfully drive innovation across horizons and deliver more than just incremental core growth. Alongside some clever consultants I listened to innovation leaders from LEGO, bp, Essity, Hitachi, Nissan and Unilever. Based on this I have picked out six pieces of advice which are especially relevant for innovators within large... Continue Reading →
(McDonald's have now announced they will stop trading in Russia stating "our values mean we cannot ignore the needless human suffering unfolding in Ukraine." This article was written prior to this.) The Ukrainian outlets of McDonald's have distributed free food. Now closed their kitchens continue to be used to distribute ingredients and ready-made meals to... Continue Reading →
The Pepsi sponsored Super Bowl halftime show with around 100 million viewers and massive media attention is a big occasion for big brands. In 2022, it was undoubtedly hip hop and, in particular 56 year old Dr Dre, who made the most of their "one moment" Watch the half-time show courtesy of the NFL and... Continue Reading →
Peloton has gained a lot of recent attention with reports of slowing sales, unhelpful fictional heart attacks and investors calling for the CEO to resign. A share price comparable to that before Covid-19 is certainly eye-catching for a business that has grown paying subscribers from around 1 million to around 3.2 million last year. Something... Continue Reading →
I hadn't given Elon Musk's achievements much thought until the FT named him "person of 2021" concluding that "for all the eccentric and provocative tweets that strike some as childish, he is one of the most transformational business figures of the era." The transformation achieved by Musk was tangible in 2021. The value of Tesla... Continue Reading →
Christmas is a crowded time for advertisers. Supermarkets compete for a share of your lunch, dormant perfume brands awake with new bottle designs and retirement-age singers push Christmas collections. On top of that you have all-conquering organisations like Amazon showing their sensitive side and enduring names like Coca-Cola reassuring you that things remain as you... Continue Reading →
Pepsi is working hard to attach their brand to popular fast food choices. The #BetterWithPepsi campaign is backed by a blind taste test claim that their fizzy drink goes better with Big Mac or Whopper burgers than rival Coca-Cola. Recent creative work has been superbly distinctive and provocative. Showing wrappers for Burger King, McDonald’s and... Continue Reading →
Octopus Energy has achieved 'double unicorn' status with a valuation in excess of $2 billion in just five years. It seems to be on track to be the world's leading renewable energy business. The foundation for this remarkable success is clever and agile business model thinking and here Octopus offers inspiration for start-ups and established... Continue Reading →
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