Marketing Magic to a Thumping Beat.

As talk of economic recessionary doom and gloom swirls around our businesses and everywhere we turn companies are cutting back, laying off workers and downsizing it is at these times we need to learn the lessons business history has taught us. Back in the great depression Proctor and Gamble marketed its “Ivory Soap” and made it a household staple dwarfing it’s rivals for decades afterwards. As the 1990’s recession griped the USA, computer-chip maker Intel launched it’s famous “Intel Inside” campaign featuring the multi-coloured hazard-suited dancing tech nerds pushing back it’s competitors and increasing its market share to the point where it dominates the entire sector today. As marketers, we need to remind our CEO’s of these lessons and encourage them to go against the grain, Zig while other’s Zag, as Marty Neumeier author of ZAG teaches us and have the courage to invest in marketing rather than cutting it. Now is the time to break out those Superman tights boys and be a superhero. T...

Is your Corporate Identity bland, derivative, dated, gimmicky or confused? You certainly are not alone. Many local companies and some national ones too, have corporate identifiers that reflect poorly on them and the people who work there. Asking your marketing person to design a new corporate identity on their PC using an off the shelf program like MS Publisher is most companies first mistake. They think, “How hard can it be?” Well it may be one of the hardest tasks you will undertake.   Let’s take a look at what a good logo needs to do and maybe you’ll see why this part of your marketing strategy deserves more of your attention and budget. A great logo needs to be unique. Using a variation of the Nike swoosh, the Apple apple, or the Pepsi beach ball won’t set you apart and may land you in court. You want something original, something that evokes a positive image of your company. This includes the photos, fonts and graphics. Be original. Keep it Simple. ...

Maturity in most musical genres signals the coming of the end, but in the blues it signals a new period of growth bringing an hard-won understanding that less-is-more and that speaking truth with wisdom and conviction is never wrong. On Rooftops and Satellites Colin James teams up with roots-rocker Tom Wilson to write and delivers a tight, cocky set of accessible and riveting tunes. “Johnny Coolman” struts while “More Than You Needed” smolders. Colin has always been a great guitar player but it is here where you really find the wellspring of his talent. Simple guitar lines, each with their own story to tell, are executed with brevity and power. Colin’s voice too has gained strength and range.

Gather brothers and sisters hear the word of the Reverend Horton Heat. Back with another shot of rockabilly/country-fried twang the good reverend brings tales of skirt chasin’, death metal guys, the rural point of view, crazy ex-boyfriends and cautionary tales of taking your child to the liquor store. The playing is frantic, fast, and fermented in reverb. Paul Simmons simple yet fabulous drumming propels the Heat to new heights adding hilarity and accenting Jim Heath’s aways-worthy-of-a-listen lyrics. If you like to have fun with your music add these low-brow hymns to your Sunday mornings

Gritty and down right dirty Rich Hope and his Evil Doers burn down the house on his second release Is Gonna Whip It On Ya. Rich wounds a few amplifiers in the making of this record crushing and twisting a few voice coils as he looks for his demented version of the distorted guitar. Drawing inspiration from 50’s rockers like Bo Diddley and blues players like Howling Wolf Hope brings renewal and, dare I say it…, hope to that simple bashing blues style that comes from playing hard until there is blood mixed with your whiskey and beer chaser.