2018 was a decidedly great year for the film industry, marked by many milestones that suggest moviegoers are ready for diversity and a fresh perspective. Over President’s Day Weekend, Black Panther […]
Use Research to Avoid These 3 New Product Pitfalls
Each year, roughly 80 percent of new products entering the market fail. How can this number be so high? And what can you do to prevent failure? At SMS Research […]
Who Won Black Friday 2018? Trees, TVs and Library Freebies.
Whether you’re the gleeful subject of every targeted sale ad or a staunch believer in minimalism, the Thanksgiving holiday and subsequent shopping days provide a chance to vote with our […]
Out of Chaos and Into the Moment
Humans are humans are humans. Whether you’re designing an engaging brand so that you can grow your market share or planning a great birthday party for your daughter, the thinking […]
Instagram, Brands and Women’s Empowerment
Amid our current revival of the fourth wave of feminism, we are seeing more and more women-run brands emerge, especially through Instagram campaigns and marketing. The following brands have taken […]
When is a Tech Brand Not Just a Tech Brand?
Technology companies are a dime a dozen these days. Brands that may once have categorized themselves simply as software, hardware or services organizations are now wedging themselves under the technology […]
Brands create expectations. Experiences reinforce them. (Part 2)
Last week in Part 1, we looked at how brands help people make decisions. They first create expectations around offerings, quality, price, service, and more. Then they deliver experiences that […]
Brands create expectations. Experiences reinforce them. (Part 1)
Think about the last time you came across a new or unfamiliar brand. Likely the flash of an unrecognizable logo, a billboard, a banner ad, or a storefront. You start […]
From Divisiveness Comes Togetherness
Remember what it was like to read the day’s headlines without experiencing a surge of shock, shame or rage? Me neither. It must have been so … inspiring. That sense […]
Recruiting and Retaining Employees in a Competitive Market
The U.S. Labor Department recently announced that the unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been since 1969. If you do the math, that’s nearly five decades! To put things in […]