March 2012
1 post
5 tags
Creating [Healthy] Brand Tension
The most grave mistake made in marketing is, perhaps, the practice of playing it safe. These days, brands that avoid conflict or lack an element of social tension are like a political figure without a party.
Brands that create tension tend to be “stickier” and more relevant than brands that avoid rocking the proverbial boat.
To be clear, creating or causing tension isn’t...
February 2012
3 posts
6 tags
Foodie Friday
It’s known that food is an innately social experience. Food is almost always shared. It’s a time that your family and friends can dedicate to catching up while providing your body with much-needed nutrition. The entire process of creating a meal, from market to table, is infused with social experiences.
In an age with technology at our fingertips, mealtimes are still a place to get...
16 tags
The Love/Hate of Message & Medium
For well-over half a century our nation’s best communicators have been fighting over theories regarding the influence of media in our society. Never has this question of the media’s influence been more pertinent than it is right now. It’s a time when Google serves search results incorporating input from your social circle, and Facebook optimizes your news feed based on what you ‘like’. So I...
14 tags
The hidden talent of Monday.
“The world is full of order that doesn’t necessarily deserve our respect… sometimes there’s meaning, justice and logic present in the way things are, but sometimes there just isn’t.” Just this morning, I was vetting some niche blogs for one of our clients. My mission was to find some great home decor bloggers, and thanks to some good tips and resources, I was able to do so. But in...
January 2012
7 posts
7 tags
Why March 16th is going to be huge
There’s a day between the Ides of March and St. Patrick’s Day, an unassuming little box on the calendar that usually gets short shrift in terms of attention.
As lifelong fans of the underdog, we pinpointed that day (March 16th), gave it its own holiday name (DragonMaid Day), and have now focused an enormous amount of energy to making it a day we’ll never forget.
Here’s the plan: we’ve divided...
7 tags
Change, delicious change.
Confession time. I’m a foodie and a Travel Channel junkie. And when I’m not marveling at Andrew Richman’s magnanimous, meat masticating “Man vs. Food”, drooling over a deluge of “Diners, Drive-ins & Dives” with Fieri as my “Guy-d”, or blenching at the unflinching bravery of Bizarre Foods’ Andrew Zimmern, I’m riveted to the...
6 tags
The Next Advertising Acronym?
While many brands are gobbling up oodles of precious time and money gunning for Google’s coveted, number-one, unsponsored, search result listing, a handful of progressive, pioneering brands are moving on to the next thing-a thing so new that it has yet to become an acronym.
Advertising’s, acronyms abound. B2B, B2C, CPM, TSA, DMA, ROS, TAP, PPC, SEO and, of course, ROI, to name a few....
3 tags
Ever wish you could say exactly what’s on your...
Well, alrightey then. Here’s your chance.
5 tags
How to get the best work from your ad agency.
Whether you work with a full-service advertising agency or have an in-house marketing team and creative department one thing is certain. There are ways to ensure the best possible results. Chief among these ways lies the challenge of being the best client you can be. Which is just as hard, if not harder, than being the best agency.
In truth, great creative advertising solutions are born of great...
16 tags
Finding Purpose in the Process
Let’s face it: There are dozens of things we do every day just because we have to do them. We tie our shoe strings in the morning so that our shoes will stay on for the whole day. We check our mail in the afternoon to see which bills are due. Each thing we do has a small reason why in the short term that requires us to put forth a large amount of time long-term. So what if we could find...
4 tags
2012, Day 1: Planning, Learning, Growing.
Here’s a look at our first day back at the office in 2012. Apart from this simple exercise of planning our projects for the year (no big deal), we all decided to learn something new – one idea per person – by watching TED talks. It’s one of our favorite ways to grow and get inspired, and we thought we’d share our discoveries with you. With ideas about everything from public pranks to brain...
December 2011
7 posts
2 tags
How well do you know your customer?
As 2012 approaches, I encourage you to get one level deeper when it comes to understanding what your customers really want. There are many opportunities for your brand in the minds of your consumers.
Are you selling pink stuff, when they really want super heroes?
1 tag
Trusted Client Relationships Lead to Handmade...
We’ve been working with Averitt Express for many years, creating a strong identity system that communicates their reputable performance as the logistics service provider of choice, In and Out of the South. As we’ve developed our relationship, redpepper has successfully enhanced Averitt’s image as the single-source solution for all transportation and logistics challenges. ...
6 tags
Let the Christmasing begin
Have you ever wanted the whole world to be Christmasy? So have we.
That’s why we made The Christmaser – a virtual machine that takes anything you type in and makes it a Christmasy GIF. (Because GIFs are the best.)
It’s the latest thing to come out of the redpepper lab, and we’re happy to see that people are really enjoying it. In fact, the average visitor stays on the site for over 7...
2 tags
Making of a Peugeot 103
Above, is my story about the making of a Peugeot 103. Below is a story about the moped’s first test run. Its not just any moped, its a blend of precarious old rubber and steel that goes faster than it was ever supposed to go, even new. To see more about the moped view the blog smokingbelt.tumblr.com.
Grégoire, my french friend and mechanic, calls me to come give the moped it’s first...
6 tags
Story time
Every year we pack our overnight bags, grab our notebooks and slip away for a day and a half of learning, sharing and all around hell-raising. Or, as we like to call it, “pepperpalooza.”
This year’s theme was Storytelling.
After spending the day with a variety of master storytellers, the tables were suddenly turned. Each of us was given an hour to come up with a short, handwritten story of...
3 tags
Jane Cigars
redpepper is the home to marketers, advertisers, brand strategist, designers, photographers, web designers and an array of other skill sets. We love building brands, so when the partners shared their crazy idea about how they wanted to create their own cigar brand we were overtaken with excitement. We decided to call the cigar brand Jane. I’m sure the story of Jane goes something like...
5 tags
There's a new Like in town
We’re proud to see Ryan has a new article on All Facebook. He writes about the new freedom developers have to customize Facebook’s Like button so they can create buttons that actually make sense to click in context – because who really wants to Like an article about a disaster? Wouldn’t you rather just Read it? And wouldn’t it be nice to express the difference in likes between products you Own...
November 2011
4 posts
4 tags
To (Storytelling) Mecca and Back
One fall weekend every year, thousands of silver-haired couples descend on the oldest town in the state of Tennessee, crowd into five enormous circus tents, and listen to hour after hour of nothing but stories.
Of course, the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough isn’t exclusive to the older crowd, but that’s definitely the demographic that embraces it most. As a 23-year-old writer, I...
6 tags
A little time, a lot of learning
Next Wednesday, two of Nashville’s best minds in marketing (and myself) will spend a morning sharing career insights about how to build brands, connect with audiences, and understand the ins-and-outs of modern marketing. It is sure to be informative, interactive and inspiring to all who attend.
The day will begin with Courtenay Rogers, Marketing Coordinator for Bone McAllestar Norton who...
6 tags
When do we question our own beliefs?
One of the most difficult things for us stubborn humans to achieve is the feat of changing or even challenging our own beliefs. Yet, the very act of challenging certain beliefs is essential to the process of innovation. Which is to say that when we are unwilling to let go of certain beliefs, we cannot be innovative.
One example of how debilitating a strongly held belief can become hails from the...
5 tags
Seek Growth
Seek Growth
We take growth quite seriously around here, but even we sometimes overlook its importance.
Because it’s not easy to talk about growth without sounding like an eye-roll-inducing motivational poster. Along with other terms like “success” and “inspiration,” growth has become one of those words. Words that once held incredible clout but have become lost in the fog of overuse and...
October 2011
14 posts
7 tags
Tailgating at a SemiFormal Gala? Yes, We Did.
Recently, our (redpepper’s) very own Matt Reed (aka mcreed), was nominated by the Technology Council of Nashville for innovator of the year (Matt, congrats.. we are all proud). Since we couldn’t get enough tickets to go and support him at the awards dinner, we decided to tailgate at the event instead…. yep, I said tailgate. We called it a Reedpepper Rally.
So, if you’ve never tailgated at a...
6 tags
How to get people to pay attention
Some say it was Roy Rogers. Others credit Gladiola Montana. Whoever it was let us off the hook when s/he said, “If you’ve done it, it ain’t braggin’.”
So, shamelessly, we’re going to share with you a few key learnings about how to make waves in a new media sea, and we’re going to couch it in a story about a recent success we are celebrating as this post...
4 tags
redpepper in 6 words or less
How can I uniquely describe redpepper to a prospect in 6 words? This has always been a challenge. So I started typing… Creative Problem Solving For Emerging Brands We know what works. Mostly. Know what works and what doesn’t. Business results in new marketing world. Deep thinkers for deep problems. Moving brands into marketing 3.0. We merge brands with consumers. Hire us, we get it....
5 tags
Traversing New Territory
I was recently asked to Art Direct a video project for one of our clients. I have formal training as a designer (aka creative problem solver) in print, package, and information graphics; but this was new territory. Feeding off of the adrenaline that came from the opportunity to grow, I happily accepted the challenge, unofficial title of Creative Problem Solver empowering me.
When you have no idea...
5 tags
Have Siri pour you a beer
The recent release of the iPhone 4S got us thinking about the future and all the wonderful things it has in store for us. Sure, we don’t have jetpacks yet, but we do have Siri.
And yet, while Siri is powerful, she still has a relatively limited set of tasks she can perform – create calendar events, tell us where we are, and play Bassnectar when we ask. Plus, those tasks are limited to the...
11 tags
MADE IN AMERICA.
A few weeks ago we had our Rockstar Day here at redpepper, and all the stars came out for the party… everybody from David Bowie to Cher to Madonna to Fred Durst and beyond.
Let me just say, I’ve always enjoyed our dress up days here at redpepper because of the mystery factor. You never know who your coworkers will show up as on the day of the event. And for several weeks leading up...
3 tags
Lessons from Legendary Leaders
The crowd was 18,000 strong. And after a rousing rendition of our National Anthem by Grammy Award winner Jason Crabb, the throng was graced with the well-rehearsed existential musings of Krish Dhanam of the Zig Ziglar corporation who bestowed upon the crowd of 18,000 this painfully accurate maxim;
“We overcomplicate things so we can blame the system when we fail”
Also in attendance...
6 tags
When Consumers Lie
According to statistics from the National Coffee Association, Women indicate that drinking coffee is a good way to relax. Men indicate that coffee helps them get the job done.
Neither of these are true. But don’t blame the NCA for the falsehood, blame the people they asked. They are the culprits. They are Americans. And they are lying. But not on purpose. No. They lie because they...
6 tags
How to create words that work
Name one outdoor board you passed on your commute this morning. Tricky, isn’t it? The average American is bombarded with so many messages a day* that most people tune them out without even realizing it. But, then, if you’re taking the time to read these words, you probably already know that. So, how can you make sure your words hit home?
Don’t just write. Yes, it helps to be (or...
7 tags
Real artists ship
In early 1983, Apple had committed to shipping the very first Mac that coming fall. It didn’t ship then. Actually, the project became months overdue as the software team worked through Christmas break. By the first week of 1984 the team was working around the clock. No sleep. Soon, the new deadline was less than a week away and it had became clear to the engineers that there were still too...
4 tags
Working for the Work
Last week, I attended a seminar where Jeff Graham of Crispin Porter & Bogusky shared his thoughts on what makes successful account people. According to Graham, the driving question for account service should be: “What can I do, to make the work better?” As a department and individuals, we should be product/project focused, with our energy funneled towards making a particular project the best...
7 tags
Halloween Packaging
I love packaging… to the point where sometimes I buy products I don’t really need because I love the package so much.
When we (redpepper) recently got a chance to design some Halloween packaging for Kirkland’s Home store I was excited to be a part of the team working on new designs (excited might be an understatement… I was over the moon). You can read more about my love for packaging at Judge...
5 tags
Less, but better - 10 Principles for Good Design
As a long-time believer in minimalism, it’s no secret that I am a fan of simplicity and clarity-so it’s no surprise that Dieter Rams (an industrial designer most known for his work at Braun) is one of my personal heros. Many of the products he has designed (ranging from coffee makers to calculators) have been permanently added to museums and galleries the world over-including the MoMA...
4 tags
How Steve Jobs redefined innovation
If you look up “innovator” in the dictionary, you won’t find a picture of Steve Jobs. Not yet, anyway. You will, however, find a simple definition-“to begin or introduce something new.” It’s nice, compact and true. But it falls short of what Steve Jobs did. And not just for computing—for humanity.
When Steve was 17, he dropped out of Reed College, but stuck...
September 2011
15 posts
7 tags
Retailers Get Social for a Happy Holiday Season
While I’m not ready to look at Christmas decorations before Halloween, many retailers are getting a jump on the holidays and planning promotional activities. Wondering what the season will hold? The folks at Retail Touchpoints may not have a crystal ball, but they’ve gathered some of the best insights from analysts and researchers and compiled them in a report called “Holiday Outlook 2011:...
2 tags
You Can Do Anything Good
A few weeks ago, I was feeling pretty disconnected from my creative self. I was feeling uninspired and unmotivated. Naturally the snowball effect started to happen. I planned to do things but didn’t follow through. I beat myself up for not following through. I wasn’t making things but I would beat myself before even making it because dear god, what if it wasn’t good enough? I...
5 tags
Something you may not know about social media
The fact that there is such a thing as social media should come as no surprise. What is surprising, is how confused some people still are about the role of social media in the development of a brand.
Clearing this matter up will, no doubt, happen once society has expunged those who believe that advertising is merely a means of pushing people to make a specific purchase decision-a notion that is...
7 tags
QReo: An Oreo QR code
Can a functional QR code be built out of nothing but OREOs? We decided to find out.
We have a philosophy – like Google’s 20% policy – that promotes internal side projects. It’s called Planned Growth and it breeds some of our most creative work.
Thanks to Planned Growth and 441 OREOs (and 35 more that magically disappeared during the process), our idea was laid out in sugary goodness before...
4 tags
Sharing a Story Can Re-inspire
Recently RIGGS, the originators of CreateAthon, ask all partners to share a blog entry about our experience with the event. Right away I thought I should send them this video we had produced earlier this year. In the video I shared how redpepper first got involved in CreateAthon and how it’s grown to be one of the most favorite times of the year for almost everyone at the agency.
I was...
5 tags
When advertising fails, who’s to blame?
An article in a recent issue of Advertising Age quotes Glenn Murphy, CEO of Gap Inc. as saying he was “disappointed” with marketing efforts for Old Navy, the company’s largest brand.
Later on in the article, Groupon’s CEO was quoted as saying, “…you can’t rely on anyone else to control and maintain your own brand.” This comment was in reference to the...
4 tags
rise and shine
No one ever did anything great while they were sleeping. Which is why, this Thursday, we’ll be staying up all night to focus our talent and energy on some very deserving causes.
That’s right, folks. redpepper’s 5th Annual CreateAthon is here.
From 8:30 a.m. on Thursday to 1 p.m. on Friday, our entire office will work nonstop to give three nonprofits the tools they need to better share their...
4 tags
Remembering 9/11: The 10 Year Anniversary
The most infamous day in American history, the terrorists attacks of 9/11 is fast approaching it’s 10 year anniversary. Aside from the Memorial at Ground Zero, I’ve noticed numerous other tributes from many media sources throughout the last few weeks and felt compelled to share them as a collection. Below is a list of the tributes I’ve encountered. Please share any others that...
2 tags
Change or die trying
I was recently asked to design a poster for one of our core values. As I love poster design and typography, I jumped at the chance. One of my most favorite designer/illustrators (aka “designistrator) that I stalk on a regular basis is Jessica Hische.
She is very accomplished at her young age, but is best known for her hand-drawn typography such as her Daily Drop Cap where she illustrated a...
6 tags
What can corn teach us about new ideas?
In 1927, a lone farmer in Iowa began planting a new type of hybrid seed corn of which none of his fellow Iowa farmers had ever heard. One year later, three more farmers had planted the seed. One year after that, there were 8. The next year there were 12, then 18. The following year, five years after the first farmer began planting this new, high-performance seed corn, one more farmer joined the...
3 tags
Party with purpose
Our 5th Annual CreateAthon is almost here. On September 15 and 16, the entire redpepper crew will work around the clock to help three local charities.
This year, for the first time ever, you can join the fun without losing a wink of sleep.
On Friday, September 16, we’re opening our doors from 11 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. for a fundraising feast unlike any other.
Stop by Taste of CreateAthon to:
-...
13 tags
Step away from the Bulldozer.
Turn off the engine and step away from the bulldozer. Don’t tear down your brick-and-mortar location just yet…
It’s been obvious for a while now that the boundaries between the offline and online worlds are extremely blurred. Perhaps the easiest way to feel the online world interwoven with the offline one is to take a glance at today’s retail landscape. It’s nearly...
6 tags
Retailers: Don't Abandon The Tried And True
Keep the old with the new. With Facebook and other social sites acting as online shopping platforms, maximizing retail profits and really understanding customers online can be tricky. Learn from partner, Tim McMullen on how to increase your market share online without resorting solely to the latest social media platform for all the answers.
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How to Connect Your Brand's Message with People on...
Facebook is all about making connections. Think about how many friend requests you get a day or how frequent your friends are updating you on what they ate last night to whatever cool adventurous trip they’re on. While users are constantly making connections and sending messages about themselves, how can you do the same for your brand? Learn from...