Obama School Cont...

I've gotten some feedback since posting this morning about the possible renaming of the Billy Earl Dade Learning Center in South Dallas to the Barack Obama Middle School:

One person tweeted about being OK with the name change if the school shares the same vision as the President Obama.

One person exclaimed, "It's way too soon! What if he turns out to be like Hitler??! Then what would the school do??"

Both responses have completely different views.

Person #1 is thinking about vision and meaning, what Obama stands for. If those align with what the school is striving for, then what's to lose?

Person #2 is thinking about branding. The school could gain a negative image and representation should Obama slip during the remainder of his term.

Interestingly enough, DISD isn't thinking about branding. They're more in Person #1's mind frame. They state that this particular school shouldn't be a tribute to Obama since it's already a tribute to Dade, make another school the tribute to Obama. Others agree, but say to wait a while since Obama has only been in office 6 1/2 months.

I'm leaning on Person #2's viewpoint. Let's think long term here, people. 20 years down the road are we going to be happy to have a school named after Obama? We don't know. And that's why it shouldn't be done.

**We love getting responses and feedback on our posts so thanks to those who let us know their thoughts! Keep em' comin!

Until next time,

Sloane and Chelsea

DEbranding to INcrease brand awareness

Someone in the marketing department at corporate Starbucks must be having a good month. Only someone feeling creative, innovative, and unrestricted would be able to come up with adding booze to the menu, free ice cream giveaways, free pastries (only this morning!!), and now trial DEbranding a few of their stores.

Well, we say debranding, but my opinion (and Starbucks' too most likely--we're similar in genius thought) is that they are actually branding their name even more. How so? You've heard about Twitter, facebook, and other insanely popular social networking sites, right? They're allll about connecting people. Connecting people in similar areas, interests, markets, industries, businesses, ideas, opinions, and pretty much anything else you can connect about. Starbucks is simply applying the same strategy to a few of their Seattle locations--connecting with the locals and the nearby community.

If all goes according to plan, we'll soon be hearing how Starbucks cares SO much about their customers that they want to adapt their locations to their customers likings. They'll be known for catering to their customers, being unafraid to think outside of the box, and paving this new marketing road for others to follow.

Think it will work? Time will only tell. We'll give you an update when we hear of anything!

Until next time,

Sloane and Chelsea

Hello Sharpie, Thanks for joining us

Sharpie recently launched a new multichannel, multimedia campaign to showcase the iconic marker used for self-expression... How novel. They demonstrate a trend as old as graffiti, and seem to have hopped on the recession advertising train as well. 

"The new Sharpie campaign challenges people to re-imagine, re-invent and re-create the mundane, everyday items in their lives as a way to express their creativity and embrace value in these tougher times." 

- Sally Grimes, global vice president of marketing for Sharpie

 As unoriginal as the campaign may be, hopefully it will instill in teens that clothing doesn't have to be expensive to be "cool". I give it a 7. 

Check out Sharpie's new website, the cornerstone of the campaign, to see artistic creations submitted by the Sharpie community.

Until next time,

Sloane and Chelsea

Kleenex... mmm... tasty

There are so many opportunities for eye catching product packaging, it's always nice to see something unconventional. Check out this seasonal package redesign by Kleenex. Kind of makes me want to sit poolside and blow my nose.

Following in the footsteps of personalized M&Ms, Kleenex now offers "design your own" tissue box. That's one place I never though to add my vacation photos. Sorry Martha, no more crouched tissue box covers! Hmm... now there's a promo, the Blueprint logo on a tissue box during cold season... maybe not.

Until next time,

Sloane and Chelsea

Building + Branding = Bucketfulls...of success.

We've all been there: mouth dry, palms sweaty, eyes darting around the room, feeling as if the room is getting smaller and smaller by the second, the interviewer boring holes into your head as they stare at you with pursed lips...licking your lips you try and answer the seemingly easy question: Who are you? Why choose you over other applicants? 

Whether this experience happened during an interview for President of the Glee Club in high school, a first round interview after graduating college, or attempting to land your first big client in a corporate job, we've all experienced the deafening silence that occurs once you realize you can't answer the question "who are you?". 

Don't think it's that hard of a question? Well, try this then: Quick!! List 5 things about yourself that make you YOU. 

Waiting...waiting..."Unique" doesn't count. Try again. (checks watch) Alright. Nice try. Moving on. 

In this economy you've got to have the "it" factor to make it in business, in a job interview, and basically, just in general. Once you've got it figured out it's pretty much smooth sailing. It's the figuring it out part that stumps most everyone. 

You've known yourself since Day 1, but for some reason you can't answer the simple question to move yourself forward. Here's how to un-stump yourself: Blueprint. (did you really expect me to say anything else?) 

Blueprint is all about answering the big WHO ARE YOU question. That's where we start with every single client. If figuring out how to answer that question is all you need-Great! Consider it done. We'll help you map out your past and current successes, identify common trends and concepts, and how to use those in future endeavors. Then we'll send you on your merry way. Should you need PR or design work to go along with your "brand" new view of yourself, you'll know who to call for that too. 

Once you've contacted us to make an appointment make sure you check out this article from the Wall Street Journal. They've got some good pointers about branding and using it to get ahead. 

Until next time, 

Sloane and Chelsea