Spark Foundry’s Post

Take time to reflect I thought about my career the other day. *The things I’ve learned *The things I’ve achieved *The brands I’ve worked with *The rate at which I’ve grown And the impact I’ve had on the industry and my clients. It took me by surprise. I started my business in 2010, but I’ve been in and around video production since the 80s, where I helped out at my parents infomercial business. I looked up to my parents. I still do. Back then, I dreamed of one day owning a business in this space. I told myself that if it was even 10% of what they had — I’d be happy. Fast forward four decades, I’ve worked with some of the biggest brands on the planet, like Coca-Cola, VW, Visa, Taco Bell, Heineken, Uber, Dell, Adidas, and Mountain Dew — to name a few. It hasn’t been easy, mind. It’s been full of ups, downs, twists, turns and surprises. It has tested me. It has pushed me. It has broken me (at one point). But it’s been worth it. I’m not telling you this for a pat on the back. Instead, I want to highlight the importance of sitting down from time to time and thinking about how far you’ve come and what you’ve achieved. It’s easy to overlook when you’re so focused on the present and the future. But it’s a great little pick me up. And well, we could all do with more of those in our lives, right? So take a moment to reflect. Thank me later. (That lo-res pic is @ GDC a billion years ago with my ole buddy - and host of Qore - Veronica Belmont) #BusinessOwnership #VideoProduction #Reflection

ICYMI: Consumers are the new creative directors, and we're just along for the ride. Okay, maybe that's an overstatement, but the brands who *get it* are letting their consumers and fans lead their storytelling. It takes a brave brand to go where consumers lead us, and that's exactly what McDonald's did by embracing anime fans' love of the iconic fast food chain. With its "WcDonald's" campaign by Wieden + Kennedy, McDonald's has quite literally turned the brand on its head; to avoid copyright issues, anime fans have long referred to the golden arches as "WcDonald's" in movies and tv shows. Hence, the "M" flip to "W". On the heels of "As Featured In" campaign (which featured nods to how McD's has been portrayed in culture like Coming to America and the Office), this is another great example of how the brand is leaning into its cultural relevance through entertainment. And really, delighting fans in the process. H/T to Jason Mitchell, who inspired this post. Check out Jason's original post in the comments - he has a great breakdown of how listening to fans, no matter crazy the idea, is the way forward. Bravo to McDonalds and CMO Tariq H. #brandedentertainment #brandstrategy #advertisingcampaign

Stay real Stay in the moment Never say no No idea is a bad idea Say yes, and…. Limit the number of people Thanks, Anton Rabie sharing. Randy Klimpert advice #creative #habits #neversaynever #brainstorming #ideas #creativity #stayreal #personaldevelopment #skillsdevelopment

🎙️ Don't miss out on the newest episode of THE INFLUENCE FACTOR, featuring Calum Watson, Gymshark's Global Partnerships Director! 💥 In this episode, Calum delves into the key elements that drive success in brand and creator collaborations. #TheInfluenceFactor #BrandCollaborations #CreatorCollabs

“We keep moving forward…” – Walt Disney Walt introduced the notion of “plussing” his Company’s products back in 1956 while speaking about Disneyland. ➕ And nearly 70 years later, the company literally has Disney+ in the same sandbox as Paramount+, Discovery+, ESPN+, AppleTV+, AMC+, BET+, et al.  Keeping to this theme, let’s introduce BD+ Here - in fresh new ways – the business is grown by smartly promoting the company’s value proposition to its target audiences, both clients and employees. ❌ Not another booth at a conference – or a campus recruiting event – that all your competitors attend… with everyone vying for attention in a cacophony of sameness. ❌ Not another $10k+ wasted to appear alongside your competition on a “pay-to-play” list of “Top / Best (fill in the blank)” that doesn’t – or shouldn’t – fool anyone. + > = ! Freed of sacred cows, traditional BD methods are “plussed” with new strategies and techniques (some possibly still being tested – and that’s alright!). ✔ Unorthodox ✔ Curated ✔ On-strategy A few simple questions to consider… 🤷♂️ What are the best-in-breed (not legacy) BD strategies other service firms use to win? 🤷♂️ What smart tactics can be applied from other industries to shake up staid traditions? Break the mold, add some pixie dust to your new BD strategies - and turn the ho-hum into something Magical. #BizDev #ProfessionalServiceFirms #ManagingPartners #PlussingBD #BD+

What's winning eyeballs and affections in an oversaturated market? Today's Relevancy Read discusses brands acting like entertainment entities, the rise of distraction culture and what it means for long-form viewing, and the importance of brand sincerity in a post-authenticity world. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/eGEPDtZp

"When was the last time you were rewarded for making a mistake?" That was the question we started with at yesterday's (belated) "You are creative" session for Emperor's #BeYourBestFest 2024. Unsurprisingly, no one had an example. Why's that? Because we're schooled to think there is only one correct answer to every problem. And that wrong answers are bad! Of course, if we're being asked the formula to solve an equation or what is the capital of Azerbaijan, this way of thinking works. But, as we all know, in the real world there's more than one solution to every problem - many right answers, if you like. And we rarely get to that answer in one step. Mistakes, failures, more mistakes are inevitable if you want to be creative. It's all about having an idea, trying it, learning and creating another idea. So yesterday's session was an exercise is creative play and bravery with the aim of getting the group to fearlessly generate and share their ideas (particularly the wild ones). We created crazy combinations of products to generate new ideas very quickly - because a lot of innovations are made this way: by combining existing technologies, ideas or systems. So, it might seem like a 'silly game' but there's a point. Creating an atmosphere and culture where everyone is given space to come up with ideas (some of which won't work) and feels open to sharing them (even wild ones) is so important in any business, not just the creative industries. Emma Drysdale, Katie Crawford, Devin Thorburn, Rebecca Johnston, Luca Volpe, Aimee McCulloch, Ana Castañeda, Chris Grassick, Julia Peacock, Zoë King-Beck and Ruth Sibbett - you all did amazingly well. Some of those inventions coming to Dragon's Den or a QVC ad very soon I think.

Let's talk 'Saltburn'...   It was wild, but there are some great strategies we can use for challenger brands, from the latest Prime Video hit.   A challenger mindset requires brands to switch on their strategic radar, particularly when it comes to learning from disruptive brands. That’s why we’re sharing 3 ways that brands can be inspired by some of the most engaging and original events happening in culture right now.   If you are looking to outsmart the crowd too, get in touch - [email protected]   #CreativeAgency #AdvertisingandMarketing #ChallengerBrands  

🤝 From Taylor Swift to Ben Affleck, see how Dunkin leveraged star power and cultural moments for an unforgettable Super Bowl campaign. It's all about connecting with the fanbase in meaningful ways. Check out this post by Rachel Brooks to learn more! 🌐 👉 https://buff.ly/42WZV5s #MarketingStrategy #SuperBowl #DunkinSuccess

The consumer-brand dynamic has been shifting for several years. We know because Coller Davis & Co. has been tracking it meticulously. The most successful brands make small, precise movements consistently, for big, significant results over time. Like with most things, discipline, dedication, and decisiveness pay dividends. On the macro level, this week's Relevancy Read illustrates the subtle tactical adjustment of appealing to & attracting your audience, rather than profiling & targeting them (by description alone, you can feel the first is warm & welcoming, the second cold & calculating) by leaning into what they like, do, and value.