For those of you that have heard me speak you know that coffee is one of my popular brand examples. After all why drive past five Tim Horton's to get to a Starbucks black coffee – especially now that you can get 4 oz of extra liquid for at least 60 cents less in Tim's new Extra Large cup versus a Venti? The answer is it's not just about the… Read More »Does Size Really Matter? It’s not just about the coffee
Many people know me for driving past a Tim Hortons (or three!) to get to a Starbucks! As I only drink black coffee the connection I have to Starbucks is more than just the coffee – its the other emotional connections I make with the brand. Starbucks marketing team has been held up as a great example of using social media to engage consumers and they have… Read More »Which came first the coffee, the cup or the store(y)?
I was somewhat surprised to see the sudden departure of Don Schroeder the CEO of Tim Hortons, although with the companies recent results not reaching analyst expectations, the demands of the continuous success of a public company always weigh heavy. It was interesting to watch Don Schroeder in action a couple of years ago when I was one of the judges at the annual Financial Executives International Best in… Read More »Tim Hortons Loses Double Double Vision
One of the interactive exercises that I do with audiences in my keynotes and workshops is a corporate branding one. We split the room in to groups who are given the name of a coffee store and they have to come up with three words that best describe that store. Usually I pick Starbucks (Expensive, American, Barista – are three common responses), Tim Hortons (Canadian, Timbits, Hockey) and Coffee… Read More »Review Your Year With No Fear – What three words describe you?
My kids certainly do! In fact one of the things they love about Baskin Robbins is they can theoretically try all 31 flavours of ice cream before actually buying one! But when it comes to new ice cream experiences the cold marble slab market is opening up in a big way – both in terms of competition and PRICE! If you have not had the opportunity to try one of… Read More »Do Your Kids Love Ice Cream?