The Story

With bank branding, it’s never about winning or losing. In fact, there is no losing. There is always much to gain even when you don’t fully achieve what you set out to achieve. The thing gained when you don’t win is a learning lesson.
Why is that valuable? Because you can improve on your branding […]

Photo from The Consumerist
I recently read a cute little blurb about a BC Credit Union’s unique apology style. More importantly though, it was an excellent example of multi-sensory bank marketing, and showed the importance of conversing with your “talkers” (see more on word of mouth marketing).
Paula, a member of this particular credit union, was […]

On a recent trip to Vancouver BC, I went to Vancity Savings Credit Union to exchange my American dollars for Canadian dollars. Although the experience was slow because the computers were down and tellers don’t carry money at teller row, the colors in the branch and the kindness of the employees made me want to […]

Check out this website for hip hop record label Guerrilla Funk. It was created by San Francisco rapper Paris, whose politically charged lyrics speak out against social injustices throughout the world.
Paris not only writes and produces songs but also publishes information about how to help the black community grow. A pet project of his is […]

Last week I attended a panel discussion at local retail shop here in Portland. The retail shop is called Office and the panel discussion was about Designer Entrepreneurship. The panel consisted of former Intel, Adidas, Nike and boutique advertising agency designers whom all became motivated to do “their own thing” when clients were too scared […]

I saw an amazing Iron Chef last week. The challengers, brothers Kent and Kevin Rathburn (who actually beat Bobby Flay!) where given the task of preparing several gourmet courses made from elk meat. During judging, they were asked to explain why they prepared the meat the way they did. This was their answer:
“All game should […]

For the past two presidential elections, 7-Eleven has created Democratic nominee and Republican nominee coffee cups for customers to cast their votes early and often. This election year is no different.
7-Eleven unveiled their well designed red McCain and blue Obama cups October 1st. They are being tallied with each of the million cups of coffee […]

Yesterday my local grocery store, Fred Meyer, gave me an interesting idea. The location I shop at is currently being remodeled, and the outside looks pretty ramshackle. At the entrance of the store, there is a sign that says, “Shop with us during our remodel and earn double points” (like most grocers, you […]

Friday, September 19 was national PARK(ing) Day 2008, “a one-day, global event…where artists, activists, and citizens collaborate to temporarily transform metered parking spots into “PARK(ing)” spaces: temporary public parks.”
The event started a few years ago in San Francisco by an artist collective group called Rebar, who sought to transform a metered parking space into an […]

A lot of banks offer iPods with new account openings, but TD Banknorth took this strategy a step further. Their agency, VIA, realized that the promotion would make a lot more sense if there was music paired with the iPod giveaway. Enter Pandora, the website that allows users to create their own unique […]