Sales Tag is officially 1 year old! In celebration of the 600+ views on this quirky marketing blog, here is an update on a few of the first companies I ever reviewed:
This was my first ever blog post and to this day, one of the most popular articles I have written here on Sales Tag. Their YouTube ad was quirky and fun but most importantly, it hit the exact audience they were targeting. Since this post, Talenti has become the “it” dessert brand for hipsters (because ice cream is too original and froyo is too mainstream). They have been recognized as one of the best Instagram accounts for brands and have recently launched a Flavorize Me campaign that gives you a personalized gelato flavor according to your social media presence (I’m Mint Chocolate Pie Crust Neufchatel- find your flavor here: http://flavorize.me). Instead of going for the typical target of moms in grocery stores and sugar loving kids, Talenti effectively carved out the “social media savvy hipster millennial” market segment and is reaping the rewards for going off book and focusing on these very specific consumers.
The trials and tribulations of opening any sort of business in a small town are numerous, but opening a successful and sustainable hotel in rural, upstate NY has got to be one of the most difficult endeavors to undertake. However, through satisfied customers, fun events and word-of-mouth, The Sherwood Hotel has boomed into a popular spot for getaways, weddings, dinners and reunions. Their Facebook page boasts nearly 3,000 likes- pretty impressive for a 20 room hotel in a town of 5,000 people.
If you’re looking for a company doing everything it can to regain market share, look no farther than Abercrombie. I wrote about Abercrombie back in August of 2014 when they recently unveiled a new product line and ripped off the blinds from their windows to make the store more visible and open. On a return trip to the mall just last week, I noticed that Hollister (Abercrombie’s California-themed sibling) went through an even more dramatic facelift. The new entrance looks more like the front doors of a club with blue backlit lighting and flat facade instead of the huge tiki entrance it used to boast. This company is making very bold and visual moves as it continues to pick up the pieces of a public relations nightmare and sliding stock price. Don’t write them off yet- a revival centered around this new image and new, tight fiscal strategy may be still to come.
4. Alex and Ani
Okay, their leather has not taken off as significantly as I predicted, but the fact that they’re still relevant is a testament to those 4 P’s I outlined in this post from September 2014. Though fewer and fewer girls are jingling as they walk from the 6+ bangles they have on their wrists, Alex and Ani remains the most recently popular bracelet. Pandora has not regained market share and while Pura Vida bracelets popped up for a while, their seasonal look is causing them to disappear as autumn approaches. Interestingly though, Signet Jewelers, Ltd. just announced a partnership with Alex and Ani to sell their jewelry in stores such as Zales, Kay Jewelers and Jared. My worry: this will lead to oversaturation because of ease of accessibility, drive sales away from Alex and Ani stores and cheapen the brand name.
5. Shake Shack
I’ll keep this one short and sweet since Shake Shack is still in the news pretty much every day. Shake Shack is awesome. It’s stock value and earnings continue to surprise investors; their social media is primarily new product launches, new store openings and customer content (meaning tons of engagement); and their partnerships with local restaurants make the chain feel less, well, like a chain. I am a believer.
6. Indian Scout
This is probably the one I’m most proud of. I wrote this post in March 2015 and since then, this motorcycle has boomed. Every publication I have seen about this motorcycle is positive, glowing and uses the language found right in the video I reviewed in my blog post. The Scout was named 2015 Motorcycle of the Year and Cruiser of the Year and is now seen as an alternative to the Harley for people who either want something a little different, are just getting into bikes or just don’t have that kind of dough. They are now more visible than ever at auto shows, races, charity events and even concerts. Oh, and did I mention Mark Wahlberg is their brand ambassador and was interviewed by Esquire about his bikes and the Indian Motorcycle brand? Yeah, they’re making waves.
What an incredible year. These companies as well as numerous other trends and developments I have written about have inspired and cultivated my love of marketing and creative business strategy. Thank you to my many followers, subscribers, loyal readers and sharers. Can’t wait to see what this upcoming year will bring!
Sales Tag 