The Rise of the Urban Baby
Study People. Examine Brands. Explore Culture. We've all seen it, dogs—and sometimes even other furry kinds of companions—in strollers, carseats, at the salon, dressed to impress... the rise of the "urban baby" is real! Sixty-eight percent of U.S. households, or about...
4 Exercises to Train Your Team to Solve Problems on Their Own
No senior staff member wants to hold the hands of his or her team. When team members can solve problems on their own, they can fulfill customer needs on the fly, keep customers happy, and maintain a smooth-running business. To foster creative problem solving and sharpen decision-making skills, you[…]
3 Things to Think About Before Jumping on That Market Trend
New market trends seem to happen hourly in today’s competitive business atmosphere. Rivalry is fierce among the hundreds of thousands of new products and services that launched within the last year alone. What successful brands have in common is the amount of research they do before following or[…]
Unlocking the Meaning in Big Data: The Key to Deeper Brand Understanding
Brand research today is both easier and more challenging than ever before. Oceans of data provide extensive marketplace knowledge, but transforming your data into actionable insights requires the ability to uncover meaningful takeaways from the data you collect. Unlocking useful insights from your[…]
Inspired Leadership: Four Tips to Increase Team Innovation
Most people can think of ways to do something better, faster, or in a manner that’s more cost-efficient. When individuals work together as a team to improve products and processes, the results can be impressive. However, too many organizations settle for “good enough.” Is your organization stuck in[…]
Brand Research v. Competitive Intelligence: How Well Do You Know Your Own Brand?
Intelligence is always far more valuable than assumptions. There’s a line between brand research and competitor intelligence, and it’s not a very thin one. Let’s take a look at the difference between brand research (also known as market research) and competitor research (also known as competitive[…]
Turn the Ketchup Bottle Upside Down: Astonishingly Simple Solutions to Complex Problems
Remember the agony of waiting for the ketchup to inch its way down toward the mouth of the bottle? The awkward small talk with the elevator operator while waiting to reach our floor? How about frantically digging through the car’s center console to produce exact change for an impatient toll booth[…]
Real Brand Insights From Real People: Why Big Brands Trust Big Squirrel
On-point branding doesn’t just give your company a competitive edge – it’s an absolute requirement if you want your business to succeed in today’s market. Being on-point means creating authentic resonance with the consumer. It’s a tall order for advertising alone, but when you craft a brand story[…]
Sing In The Shower: Developing Patterns For Creative Problem Solving
When Monday morning rolls around, your creative juices may be running low. Sure, last week may have been one of your best creative weeks yet, but you have to keep the juice flowing to ensure your team is living up to their utmost potential. Let’s take a look at six ways for you and your team to[…]
Use the Power of Partnership to Get Inside Your Customers’ Minds
Whether you’re B2B or B2C, a single rule applies across the board: always remember that you’re selling to people. Every solid marketing strategy centers around understanding the habits, actions and expectations of real people–how they buy, how they perceive your brand, and how your brand appears in[…]