Using more than one marketing channel to promote a brand has been around since the first newspaper was published. Old school marketing included yellow pages, newspaper, radio, TV, magazines, POP, direct mail, cold-calling, sponsorships, and tradeshows. Amazing when you realize that these are still in use today. Some of these techniques don't work for every brand or company, but every successful brand uses more than 2 of these to reach their target audience along with a company website.

Why is it some stores and companies can charge more? Convenience? Sometimes. Best of the best in product or service? Sometimes. Consider Starbucks. Some people think it is the best - their preferred brand and taste. Brand loyalty whether it is for the prestige it elicites or personal taste preference drives in repeat customers.

I know a lot of people that are packaging a product or starting their marketing have not worked with a creative agency before. They have questions and understandably so. I've put together a quick guide to help those that want to take that next step and improve their marketing or their packaging.

I was asked yesterday by someone developing their first product, "What is the difference between brand and logo, aren't they the same thing?" Well, this is a topic I have a strong opinion about. My simple answer is "Brand is what Logos aspire to be."

Target is tired of losing sales to shoppers who come in to their stores and see the products they like, only to purchase them at a lower price online. In a letter to their vendors, Target has suggested that suppliers create special products that would set it apart from competitors and shield it from the price comparisons found in various software programs. According to The Wall St. Journal, in a tersely worded letter, Target says, "What we aren't willing to do is let online-only retailers use our brick-and-mortar stores as a showroom for their products and undercut our prices without making investments as we do, to proudly display your brands." Watch for more major retailers to boldly take a stand and fight "showrooming" as it continues to undercut their sales and profits.

Here are two great package designs inspired by animals.  First is a soy milk package that looks like the original package milk comes in .... an UDDER !  This package even comes in a soft package that can dispense milk from each udder AND it hangs in the store on a hook for maximum udder effect.  Wow!  Do you have any clients that would even think of producing that?  I guess they do in Russia - a design company - www.kian.ru designed this one.  Way to go!