Natural Products Expo’s Post

Seeing how you impact and influence on small and grand scales is a different kind of empowerment.

Let's Discuss! Exciting News! Thrilled to share insights from a recent project I had the privilege to be part of in the beverage industry. Our mission: to challenge stereotypes and redefine perceptions surrounding a beloved drink, traditionally associated with an older male demographic. We embarked on a journey fueled by innovation and inclusivity, aiming to create a brand narrative that resonated with modern consumers of all backgrounds. Drawing on market research and collaboration, we introduced fresh strategies and solutions tailored to engage female consumers. The results? Phenomenal! Women of all ages embraced the beverage as a symbol of sophistication and inclusivity, transcending age and gender stereotypes. Now, I'd love to hear your thoughts! How do you think brands can better embrace inclusivity and diversity in their marketing strategies? Let's continue this discussion and pave the way for a more inclusive future in the beverage industry! #Innovation #Inclusivity #Brand Transformation.

Brands celebrating #Pride authentically whilst also considering genuine advocacy year round should be celebrated, despite it being more complicated than that... There's a lot of commentary on the role of brands in 'bigger' things at the moment. From the environment to our everyday wellbeing, should they be? Why? How? I am typically one of the 'purpose' skeptics, not because I want our forests to burn while I kick a seal in the face (quite the opposite). But so rarely do brands do it well, or for the right reasons. I regularly see 'washing' of every hue, green to rainbow. Perhaps because I work in marketing I've become a bit too saturated? So every year as #PrideMonth rolls around, I get ready to go rainbow blind and pray to the brand gods that no one does anything stupid, quickly reminded why I'm an atheist. Part of the LGBTQIA+ community, I'm extremely privileged to live my life pretty much unaffected day to day. For that reason, seeing Anheuser-Busch back down on Bud Light brand partnerships because of a backlash doesn't tend to surprise me, or affect me. But that's honestly part of the problem, my own saturated ambivalence to it included. Appealing to the privileged, largely protected and arguably profitable people of the LGBTQ+ community who have a voice and wallet (like me) is a not what advocacy during pride needs to be. It's there that profit overtakes purpose for most brands. Meanwhile, people are persecuted in ever more shocking ways just for being who they are. Some are lucky to walk to the end of the street, let alone lace up a pair of rainbow trainers. So if purpose is the focus, surely that is a place for it to be...often in markets and cultures that would make such advocacy unpopular, unprofitable even. I find pride difficult, and complicated and clunky. I never quite feel I fit. So for an organisation trying to find a place in the melee I can imagine it's just as messy. A simple solution for some might be, don't. Leave the logo alone, go about the day to day, maybe do something quietly and genuinely supportive you don't make money from. But it's not that simple. Would a world of unchanged logos and quiet acts allow pride to be the louder celebration that so many people need it to be today? Probably not. So when brands like Dock & Bay - Certified B Corp™️ do something that celebrates, advocates year round and acknowledges the imperfection of it all, they too should be celebrated. Here's to a Happy Pride, imperfections included. Because whatever pride needs to be, lots of people need it. Whether they can celebrate it loudly or whisper under their breath. I hope more brands remember that. #Brand #Marketing #LGBTQIA+

When a market shrinking is a positive sign of change for the better. Valentine's Day is just as alive and vibrant as ever between couples in Japan and shows no sign of changing. The "giri choco" phenomenon of (usually) women giving chocolates to their male co-workers was primarily engineered by confectionary companies. And because Japan is a collectivist society with a strong sense of reciprocal giving, it was easy to engineer "White Day" for men to give chocolates back to female co-workers. We see that this market has shrunk to 1/3rd of its previous size in just ten years, showing that there is real progress in people's minds and hearts about gender equality. Now if this trend can be expanded into the workforce and larger society in general to expand opportunities for women, this "giri choco" and "white day" may just disappear.

When a market shrinking is a positive sign of change for the better. Valentine's Day is just as alive and vibrant as ever between couples in Japan and shows no sign of changing. The "giri choco" phenomenon of (usually) women giving chocolates to their male co-workers was primarily engineered by confectionary companies. And because Japan is a collectivist society with a strong sense of reciprocal giving, it was easy to engineer "White Day" for men to give chocolates back to female co-workers. We see that this market has shrunk to 1/3rd of its previous size in just ten years, showing that there is real progress in people's minds and hearts about gender equality. Now if this trend can be expanded into the workforce and larger society in general to expand opportunities for women, this "giri choco" and "white day" may just disappear.

I just came across an insightful article BBC News WorkLife discussing the transformative evolution happening in the beer industry, particularly in its approach to inclusivity and diverse consumer engagement. As someone passionate about industry trends, branding, marketing, and cultural shifts, this resonated deeply with me.  I grew up not seeing women take beer, even in advertising and brand visibility, it's been predominantly male-centric. But is this a major shift? Breweries are adapting their product offerings and brand messaging to cater to varied tastes and preferences, offering lighter, fruit-forward brews that resonate with a wider audience. What struck me most was the acknowledgment of women as a significant consumer base in an industry traditionally skewed towards male-centric marketing. Major takeaways for me, are the significance of adaptability and understanding consumer preferences. Choosing inclusivity isn't just a moral choice; it's a smart business move. But what are your thoughts on the inclusion of women in the beer industry? #BeerIndustry #Inclusivity #Diversity #ChangeIsBrewing #IndustryTrends #CultureShifts

Shop local and so much more!    Shop Local at These 23 St. Louis Stores We Love in 2023 You have a lot of places you can shop this season, but when you love local you get uniquely different gifts that keep your spending right here in the metro. Check out this great local shopping guide from the @LadueNews for some ideas: https://bit.ly/3QPXsnG #stlmade   St. Louis receives perfect score in annual Human Rights Campaign equality report St. Louis received a perfect score in the @HRC 2023 Municipal Equality Index for its support of the local queer community. The Index is a comprehensive nationwide assessment of LGBTQ+ equality in communities. More: https://bit.ly/40MxNAM #stlpride   Missouri Technology Corp. invests in 5 St. Louis startups, names new board chair Five #stlmade startups are included in the latest round of funding from @MoTechCorp. The $2.4M in equity funding marks the fourth round of capital from a $95M allocation through the U.S. Treasury Department's State Small Business Credit Initiative. More: https://bit.ly/3SPsgaB

Every single one of these women is someone you should know. BRAVE COMMERCE Podcast #iwd2024 #iwd24

Target announced a limited Pride Month collection after receiving backlash from conservatives last year. What can brands learn from this? 1. If you want to support the LGBTQ+ community, stand firm and unafraid. A bottom line should not define your allyship. 2. Expect resistance and prepare accordingly. Educate your employees on why your brand supports the LGBTQ+ community and ensure safety measures are in practice. 3. You cannot be an ally with an expiration date. #prad564

With another Pride month in the books, most brands are thinking about their long-term marketing initiatives and inclusivity. This is a great read by AdExchanger on how to keep the Pride vibes year round. Read more >> https://shorturl.at/NfoF5 #LGBTQIA #PrideMonth #PrideMarketing