Over the course of almost 11 years partnering with food, pet, and wellness companies, I’ve done a fair bit of what I’ll call “trend forecasting.” Wondering how to forecast trends for the foot, pet, and wellness industries? So, for instance, when we helped a leader in the dog jerky space solve brand architecture and positioning… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
(This is part of a series of ongoing posts we’re calling Brandcrumbs, which are bits and pieces of branding advice left over from our regular conversations about real-world brand positioning challenges.) I reset two internet passwords this week. I feel more secure now. Better than that, I feel strong—because I treated my password resets like a brand… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
Over the course of 2019, we’d been having great conversations internally and with several of our partners about the food supply in general and, more specifically, about the future of meat. Given our founding and our focus, we care not only about trends in proteins and meat alternatives but also about large-scale issues like sustainability,… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
(This brand naming post is part of an ongoing series of posts we’re calling Brandcrumbs, which are bits and pieces of branding advice left over from our regular conversations about real-world brand positioning challenges.) Brand naming is one of my favorite things to do at MarketPlace. I love the process of moving alphanumeric characters from… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
As Brand Growth Partners to food + beverage, pet + animal, and health + wellness brands, we’ve worked with a lot of perishable products: milk, cookies, and sandwiches, to name a few, along with the colors and ingredients that go into them. However, refrigerator marketing was one thing we hadn’t tapped into. How We Entered… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
What does CVS stand for? If you answered “Consumer Value Stores” or “Convenience, Value and Service,” color me impressed. Someone recently asked if I knew what CVS stands for. I said “murky carpet, oppressive red, and rows of overpriced wine.” This is not about CVS. This could be about why the “aha moment” shouldn’t be… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
Typically, I’m neither for nor against shrimp. This morning, though, I felt very deeply about them. On my drive to work, I listened to a podcast. The specific episode of this podcast deals with color—its nature, how we experience it, why it matters, etc. As color is a crucial issue for many of our partners… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
(This is the first in a series of ongoing posts we’re calling Brandcrumbs, which are bits and pieces of branding advice left over from our regular conversations about real-world brand positioning challenges.) I do not like “it is what it is.” Because “it is what it is” means nothing. Because it means everything. It means that you… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
(This is part of a series of ongoing posts we’re calling Brandcrumbs, which are bits and pieces of branding advice left over from our regular conversations about real-world brand positioning challenges.) Like many in the branding and marketing world, we use the word “culture” a lot. We say things like “a successful company needs to create a… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
Over the last few months, we’ve worked alongside a successful B2B brand with over 45 years of experience in trace mineral animal supplements to launch its first consumer brand: TruCare Trace Mineral Supplements. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed working through the brand development process with them, beginning with brand discovery and market research, which led to positioning and concepting… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
I ’m no dog food thief, but I wouldn’t be surprised to find my name on a “Beware These Up-to-no-Goodniks” list shared among St. Louis pet stores. On my way home from work and on the weekends, I go to Petco and PetSmart and Walmart and Target and farm & feed stores and independent retailers… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
We live and work in St. Louis, which means that we’re particularly fond of beer and baseball. We love October, and we can regularly be found after-hours gathered in a sports bar enjoying beverages and pub grub and rooting for the Cardinals. Game One of the 2013 World Series is Wednesday, and we’re already dreaming… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
Last year, my (former) physician sent me from his office with a prescription for “eat more bran.” Bran didn’t help. Bran, it turns out, was one of the reasons I had to see the doctor in the first place. As I would learn through self-diagnosis a few weeks later, I have (and have had for… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
Who are the best pet marketing agencies? Chances are good that you’re reading this because you searched for “best pet marketing agencies” or something close to it (“pet advertising,” e.g.). That would make perfect sense. Though your situation is personal and specific, it’s much easier to start big and narrow from there. This is the… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>
After a lot of hard work, we’re proud to announce (and show off a bit of) our partnership with a Midwestern pet food manufacturer and, a bit farther south, Duck Commander. We’ve worked on this dog food (and treats!) project from its infancy, and while there’s still more work to be done, here’s an overview… Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">→</span>