At the launch event for the Dream Employers, as a participant of the panel – James Garriock, CEO Insync Surveys asked me to respond to the following questions… I share with you the essence of my answers. 1. Brand is the most appealing attribute for a Dream Employer. What builds a brand and do you think a strong brand equates to a great employer. Why? Brands are built in the hearts of our customers through the relationships they have with…
Tag Archives: Brand Marketing
Which RedBalloon for Oprah?
Sometimes – one does get slightly stuck on what to give someone… but if this someone happens to be very important – and her first ever (and maybe only trip to Australia) which RedBalloon experience would be perfect for her trip in December – HELP? Oprah Winfrey is coming to Australia for the first time in December and the RedBallooners are bouncing off the walls with excitement over the idea of sending Oprah on a RedBalloon experience while she’s here….
Putting on the Lipstick
Thanks Minh, Alex, Joy and Philippa for giving my blog a face lift. Nice that my blog is now in line with all the other RedBalloon sites. We can’t have the CEO with the oldest looking blog… I have now been blogging for close to five years. I find that it is a great place to put things that I learn. The other thing that is very exciting is that RedBalloon is nine years old this week. It is nine…
Coming up this week
My wee brain has been in overload this week – learning as much as I can… I have an insatiable appetite for knowledge, to learn and discover new things. I find that when I am with people who also have an inquiring mind that conversations get vivid and very interesting. This week I attended the Marcus Evans CMO event in the Gold Coast – and in ‘only GC style’ – they managed to send a stretch limo just for little…
Five lessons from legendary brands
I’m at the Marcus Evans CMO (chief marketing officer) Summit on the Gold Coast – listening, and learning. Richard Sauerman – told us today he ‘does not want to tell us how to suck eggs’. Marketers speaking to marketers you’d want to stay away from the basics here. We are all looking for something new, interesting or at least entertaining. Richard implored the audience of senior marketers to understand the great human need – people want understanding, connection and empathy….
Coming up this week
This week was frantic – I suspect it is that Christmas preparations are now in full swing. Working with our retailers, and distribution partners to make sure we have the right product in the right place in plenty of time. Also working with many businesses on inspiring their people. Apart from the trip to Melbourne for the business round table – a massive highlight of the week was attending the NSW Telstra Business Womens Awards lunch. It is kind of…
What to wear.
I was reading an article recently in HR Daily about dress codes for work. Kind of interesting that it is a topic of discussion in an HR publication. My first job when I graduated from university, as a naive young graduate (1984) was with IBM (in New York). On our first day as part of our induction each of the graduate intake was scrutinized to determine if we were suitably attired to be an IBMer. I was wearing a black…
Taking a Stand in Marketing
As part of our Grow theme (see previous post) RedBalloon is hosting a series of ‘Lunch and Learns’ internally for our people. Our first speaker for the season was Daniel Gregory (creative director Smart Agency –also known for his regular spot on The ABCs Gruen Transfer). Fabulous to hear about some of the great campaigns he has worked on – to hear about the brief, which creates the advertising seen by all. ‘The workings of a creative mind.’ Dan demonstrated…
Disgusted… I want authentic marketing
First of all I would like to say to the advertising agencies working on with the political parties for this election… tough gig – the fees must be nice – but, ugh, I bet the briefs you are receiving are cluttered – and the approval process a nightmare. I was watching ‘Top Gear ‘with my son (12) last night – and at every single ad break we were bombarded with political messages. My son would yell at the TV –…
Cut through
I’m a marketer and a ‘sucker’ for new things… but the shear volume of messages that I’m bombarded with each day overwhelms. It is very hard to be a remarkable ‘purple cow’ as Seth Godin implored – when everyone is claiming to be a ‘purple cow.’ Real cut through comes from the authentic experience someone has of a brand. At RedBalloon we just figure that rather than making ‘promises’ and ‘ trying to sell’ stuff – we will just let…
Imagine running a business based on fun - that's what I decided to try when I left a very serious corporate career in marketing to set up RedBalloon...
