I am a Chuck-head*.  I have about a dozen pairs of Converse sneakers and really that’s not close to enough.  What attracts me to this brand the most, I think, is the sense of individuality I feel when I wear a pair of Converse kicks – even though millions of other feet are sporting the very same shoes. (more…)

I took an informal poll here at the office (which simply consisted of a yelled-out question) asking what foods immediately come to mind when my co-workers think of Labor Day.  I got an emphatic and unanimous response as I heard “BARBECUE!” ring out in unison above the cubicle walls.

Not wanting to upset the masses, I knew that our final lunch together before the long holiday weekend would HAVE to be barbecue.  So I planned a menu that would make any grillmaster giddy and, hopefully, proud.  I present to you, The Office Eats EZQ! (more…)

Do you enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of a business casual Friday in your office?  Well you can thank marketers for that!  I learned about the creation and evolution of this cultural phenomenon while listening to NPR (shocker!) on my way into work last week.  And it got me thinking about just how much of an impact that we, marketers, can and do have on society.

You can read (or hear) all about the Casual Friday story here, but in a nutshell, it survived and thrived because of smart marketing by Levi’s Dockers brand khakis. They were aware of a need and positioned themselves to fill it while balancing the complex and oft-conflicting desires of employees’ comfort and employers’  “now, not TOO comfortable”. (more…)