Sure, right now it’s 93 degrees (in my neighborhood) and Christmas is a whole 156 days away, but I can almost see all of the commercials now. Don’t they start airing some time in September?!? And shortly after, my kids start communicating with every sentence starting with, “I NEED…”
It’s as predictable as the tides. What do you do?
The Child’s Mind And The “Want vs. Need” Paradigm
About mid October, when the kids finally succumb to the hypnotizing din of “New and improved this…” or “Now with 3D and smell-o-vision that,”I stop making lists and start asking two simple questions.
“How many do you actually NEED?” and “Do you really NEED that… Really?”
“… or is it that you just ‘WANT’ it?”
That usually stops the munchkins mid-sentence like they’re hoping not to be caught for audibly farting. But what it really does is open the door to a more reasonable conversation centered on the “Want vs. Need” paradigm. (No, my kids don’t use the word “paradigm…” yet, but it works…)
The Nightmare Of The Perpetual Christmas And The Ever-Elusive Groovy Doohickey
In the marketing world, Christmas comes on almost a daily basis. Day after day, week-in and week-out, clients approach their marketing teams with stars in their eyes and dreams of some ever-elusive groovy doohickey that’s going to revolutionize the industry. And day after day, week-in and week-out, advertising agencies, marketing boutiques, freelancers and consultants alike accommodate them like Daddy Warbucks on Christmas morning. But should we really?
What would happen if the advertising agencies, marketing boutiques, freelancers and consultants asked one of two simple questions?
“How many do you actually NEED?”
Has the affect of the last 40 ad-hock attempts at knee-jerk marketing been successful? Have you taken the time to let a strategy take hold? Will another direct mailer or another sales spot on every radio station in the city really make it better? Doesn’t it eventually all add up to more noise?
OR (my favorite) “Do you really NEED that… Really?”
Too many companies are out there listening to “gurus” preaching on everything from social media and branding to voo-doo for solutions to their marketing woes. Maybe it’s not the next groovy doohickey that your marketing needs.
What would happen if we treated our customers like children? Would they listen? Would they walk away? Could you do it? Maybe some of you already have (I know some of you and it’s true).
Food for thought…
Keep Cooking (the bravest decisions for your customers – whether they like it or not.)!
Andrew B. Clark
The Brand Chef
Picture this. How do you share those “special moments?” Think back. Is there an old family photo album somewhere gathering dust in the living room? Sure. Ours has one of me and brother in the bathtub, naked!Thanks mom. As disturbing as it is, it certainly is a memory (probably not one I wish to share with you). How about those old school portraits? Reunions? Sporting events? Birthdays? Vacations? How do you share those memories? From the early 1900′s and on into today’s digital age, we’ve all done the same thing.
Take a picture, it lasts longer…
Last night, while watching Glee(yes, I’m a Gleek), I was sitting and lamenting over the how Miss Sylvester was treating poor Mercedes, and off to a commercial break we went. Now, I normally channel surf or jump up to get another Popsicle at commercial breaks, but last night I was held in my seat by the following Kodak spot.
I loved it immediately. While I’m a sucker for any squeaking baby, I thought the spot, from a brand marketing standpoint, was perfect! It was targeted, engaging, current and allowed a brand, Kodak, who has been languishing in technological and directional confusion to stand up and re-root itself in our communication and social culture.
On the Kodak blog, A Thousand Words, Leslie Dance, VP of Brand Marketing & Communications for Kodak shared their vision with for the new marketing:
“As our agency Partners + Napier, who helped us create our new campaign defined it, the core insight into what really motivates our consumer (whom we call Katie) is that ‘My memories make me, me, but it’s only when I share them that I become complete.’
Which led us to the campaign idea, ‘the real Kodak moment happens when you share’. We’re taking the Kodak Moment of the past 50 years and redefining it to make it relevant for today. The Kodak Moment that used to be the moment of capture, when we take the picture, is now more powerful when we apply it to the moment of sharing the picture.”
As a photographer, I’ve been painfully aware of the dilemma the photography industry has been in. Since the mid 1990′s, it’s been go digital or pack up your lenses. While I love digital photography for its ease and speed, as someone that was educated in the techniques of traditional photography, processing and lab printing, I long for the days when I can turn a photo over and see “Printed by Kodak.” And with online printing taking quality and speed, and economy to new levels, I’d basically given up on Kodak.
Boy, was I wrong!
This is why Kodak has been around for over a century:
Kodak took the right (smart) approach to the technology challenges that faced them and their industry. Instead of folding up and saying “Woah, It’s been a great 120 years, we’ll see ya’ later…” they chose to innovate, recreate and re-engage, sidestepping the “road block” and blazing a new trail for future market growth.
By providing people easier, more economical digital access – just push the button to share your memories - Kodak has positioned itself as the leader in the (previously unoccupied) “memory sharing” niche… A brilliant way to redefine your brand for changing times and subtly shut my doubting mouth for ever.
Kudos!
So, what’s the next step for Kodak? How can they continue to broaden their relevance with their new campaign. How do they compete with the ever evolving mobile phone/camera niche? Can you think of other companies that have created a brand shift like Kodak’s? I’d love to hear more!
In the marketing world, Christmas comes on almost a daily basis. Day after day, week-in and week-out, clients approach their marketing teams with stars in their eyes and dreams of some ever-elusive groovy doohickey that’s going to revolutionize the industry. And day after day, week-in and week-out, advertising agencies, marketing boutiques, freelancers and consultants alike accommodate them like Daddy Warbucks on Christmas morning. But should we really?
