The Story

Our neighbors up north are currently witnessing a great viral marketing campaign for a fake drug called “Obay”. Check out the photos below:

These pics are from a flickr gallery devoted to the campaign - see more here.
Billboards and bus advertisements like these have popped up all over Toronto. Who, you […]

I really really super love my tax lady. I’ve moved hundreds of miles away from her and could probably save money if I got some DIY tax software. But, I just love her. Every year I email her she says things like “I’m honored that you choose to work with me” and she remembers all […]

I was recently watching the Travel Channel and they had a very interesting segment on the “World’s Best Fast Food Stops.” I’m a huge fan of fast food (as my increasing stomach size can attest to), but the segment was truly compelling as it showcased the world’s top fast food joints (e.g. McDonald’s, Subway, […]

“The Finishing Touch” is the fifth article in a five-part series about using multi-sensory marketing and experiential branding in the banking industry. The articles were authored by CBC’s Jeff Stephens for ABA’s Bank Marketing magazine, which is running the series during this fall/winter.
Branding With All Five Senses
Part five of a 5-part Series on Multi-Sensory Branding […]

On a recent trip to Southern California, I got my first taste of Pinkberry, the fast-growing frozen yogurt chain taking over LA and NY. Each one had the store concept I had heard so much about - the hanging lamps, pebble floors, ghost chairs, etc. The stores are cool, and the frozen yogurt […]

We’re proud to announce that The Story is now listed on the AdAge Power150 – the world’s top media and marketing blogs as ranked by Todd Andrlik at Advertising Age. Though we concentrate on bank and credit union branding, the ideas presented in our blog are relevant for folks far outside the financial services […]

It’s something I’ve heard several times over the past four or five years. And each time, it’s felt like fingernails on the chalkboard to me. A client has been presented with a strong concept–an actual idea communicated creatively with conceptual elements. You know, saying what you mean without saying it literally. Last time I checked, […]

Is your bank or credit union updating its image? Revamping its brand identity? Does each and every one of your employees understand why? I hope the answer to the latter question was yes. Internal marketing of your brand is just as important as external. Often this is neglected or just […]

I was watching My Super Sweet 16 on MTV recently (I had a bad cold, don’t judge) and I realized that experiential branders and bank marketing folks can take some pointers from these bratty teen divas planning their lavish sweet sixteens on mom and dad’s dime.
Sure these spoiled kids are horrible, demanding and self-involved, but […]

Dan and Chip Heath, the progressive authors of the popular “Made To Stick” book, recently documented the importance of thinking outside the box, by thinking inside the box in their recent Fast Company article, “Get Back In The Box.” The article leads-off by discussing the idea from a bank manager to redesign its bank […]