Monthly Archives: December 2009

The North Face dilemma: spank the Butt or turn the other cheek?

Posted on December 22, 2009 by Kirk

Okay, it’s a little bit funny. At least the first time you see this parody of The North Face’s familiar logo. But The North Face is not laughing. It is, instead, suing young Jimmy Winkelmann, founder of The South Butt … Continue reading →

Posted in identity, loyalty, promotion, public relations, retail, social media | 3 Comments

Indies vs. chains, and how to win

Posted on December 15, 2009 by Kirk

The eternal struggle: little vs. big. The independent hardware store vs. Home Depot. The locally owned grocer vs. Kroger. Everybody vs. Walmart. The differentiators? Sam Walton said, “The secret of successful retailing is to give your customers what they want. … Continue reading →

Posted in loyalty, retail, strategy | 1 Comment

Why so few brands get it right

Posted on December 7, 2009 by Kirk

We swim in a sea of commodities — cell phones, insurance, big-screen TVs, Angus burgers, airlines, banks, grocers, car dealers, etc. Except for their names, we can’t tell most of them apart. Why is it so difficult for brands to … Continue reading →

Posted in brand essence, loyalty | 7 Comments

Best posts of 2009

Posted on December 3, 2009 by Kirk

This month BrandSTOKE is one year old. I’m honored that you take the time to read and comment. My goal for 2010 is to engage more conversation. If you have any suggestions for topics or improving the blog, please let … Continue reading →

Posted in art direction & design, brand essence, budgeting, client-agency relationships, copywriting, identity, loyalty, new business, roi, standards, strategy | 2 Comments