Category: branding
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Not Fade Away: What Bob Weir and the Grateful Dead Teach Us About Marketing
When I was 17 and living in my first apartment, a boyfriend introduced me to the Grateful Dead. One day I found myself humming the tunes without even realizing it, so I put on Scarlet Begonias and from that moment, I was hooked. Grateful Dead songs didn’t just become background music to my life; they…
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Strengthening vs. Expanding: A Strategic Look at the Prada–Versace Deal
The news of the Prada–Versace acquisition came across my screen and I was immediately intrigued. I’m no stranger to acquisitions. They’re one of the most powerful tools in the growth strategy toolkit. But this particular deal raised an eyebrow. At first glance, it doesn’t quite read as growth in the traditional sense. Here’s why: 1.…
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What Pokémon Go Can Teach Destinations About Attracting Tourists
Back in the summer of 2016, something magical happened. Millions of people spilled into parks, plazas, and city streets — not for a concert or a parade, but to catch invisible creatures on their phones. Pokémon Go wasn’t just a viral game; it was the world’s largest accidental tourism campaign. Destinations from Tokyo to Toledo…
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Cracker Barrel’s Logo Shake-Up: A Case Study in Behavioral Economics
A week ago, no one was talking about Cracker Barrel. Now, everyone is. That’s the genius in what looks, on the surface, like a brand blunder. By rolling out a minimalist redesign—dropping the nostalgic “Uncle Herschel” and simplifying their logo—Cracker Barrel sparked a firestorm. Customers complained, social media exploded, political figures piled on, and news…