Special Features

Why I Love “Brand” Steve Nash

I am a fan of sports and always have been, I haven’t always been a fan of basketball, but ever since I moved to Arizona I have been fascinated with the Phoenix Suns.  More specifically, I am fascinated with Steve Nash. To me he exemplifies all of the reasons why people should involve themselves in team environments, whether we’re talking sports, work, school or just life in general.  To me, he’s an excellent athlete, role model, in essence, he is a winning brand unto himself. Here’s what I mean. Read the rest of this entry »

by: Kristen Bond | July 13th, 2012 | Category: Branding, Business, Company Culture, Customer Service, Marketing, Moments, Pop Culture, Special Features, Uncategorized, Word-of-mouth marketing

How I’ll Remember Joe Paterno

Legends are hard to come by these days, at least legends of this kind. And despite the controversy, Joe Paterno left his mark on countless millions. How will you remember him?  I am just one, but I choose to remember him this way: Read the rest of this entry »

by: Kathy Heasley | January 22nd, 2012 | Category: Branding, Moments, Pop Culture, Special Features

Job Satisfaction Brings Brand Success

If you have to work eight or ten hours a day I would hope you get something more out of it than just a paycheck. Studies show that money isn’t everything when it comes to happiness in the workplace. It takes much more to feel fulfilled. Read the rest of this entry »

by: Kathy Heasley | May 12th, 2011 | Category: Branding, Marketing, Moments, Special Features

Brands from the Past: Whatever Happened to Luke Perry?

Because this is Tagline’s personal branding issue, this month’s “Brands from the Past” story is, of course, about a person: Luke Perry. You remember, Dylan McKay, the sensitive, dangerous heartthrob on “Beverly Hills 90210.” Those eyes, that voice, he stole every scene, and every girl’s heart on a weekly basis. Perry left the show in its sixth season to take on more dramatic roles. A smart move that likely saved him from the almost inevitable demise of a teen heartthrob brand. Since then, Read the rest of this entry »

by: Kathy Heasley | May 26th, 2010 | Category: Branding, Pop Culture, Special Features

Brands From the Past…Where Are They Now? PF Flyers

Remember PF Flyers?  Patented in 1933, Posture Foundation insole technology set a new standard in sneaker comfort.  In 1937, BF Goodrich produced the first “PF Flyer.”  These shoes changed the way we viewed sneakers for “work, relaxation and play!”  They were icons of the 1950′s.  They spearheaded the athlete/sneaker collaboration model we’re so used to today in 1958 with Boston Celtic’s superstar Bob Cousy.  In the 1960′s, women could buy apparel made to specifically match their PF’s, and it was the standard shoe in the army.  Children of the 60′s might remember the slogan, “PF Flyers help your run faster and jump higher!”  They managed to make every kid want a pair or be deemed a “weirdo.”

The brand lost its way in the 1970′s.  It was purchased by Converse in 1972, but later had to be sold off when the USVintage PF Ad l-hqb5boqn43foh2 government filed an antitrust suit claiming that if both companies combined they would have a monopoly for sneakers.  Soon, instead of every kid needing a pair of PF Flyers, they needed a pair of Converse All-Stars.  PF Flyers continued their downward slope until New Balance bought the rights to the brand in 2001 (which had been dormant since 1992) and resurrected it in 2003.  Regardless of their roller coaster ride, movies like “The Sandlot” have given PF Flyers a permanent place in our modern culture.

PF Flyers are well on their way to making a comeback.  They went back to the heart of their company and recently did an Archival Reissue re-launch of the most popular styles from the 50′s and 60′s. You can find PF Flyers anywhere from Zappos to Neiman Marcus. Will PF Flyers ever have the status they did in the 50′s and 60′s? Stay tuned…

Check out vintage PF Flyer commercials!

What is branding? Heart & Mind® Branding.

by: Kathy Heasley | April 19th, 2010 | Category: Branding, Pop Culture, Special Features

Are You One of These Facebook Updaters? Don’t Be.

Facebook is a powerful personal branding tool.  Your posts say a lot about you.  Are you saying the right thing?  The key to all virtual communication is to do everything in moderation.   Every detail is not important to share.  Every photo documenting your life does not need to be posted.  Keep reading to see if you fall in one of these categories. Read the rest of this entry »

by: Kathy Heasley | April 14th, 2010 | Category: Branding, Social Media, Special Features

Brands From the Past…Where are They Now? PRELL

Remember Prell? Whatever happened to that king of shampoos that interrupted nearly every prime time TV show in the 60′s and 70′s? Baby boomers, how many times did you watch that Prell pearl slowly glide to the bottom of the bottle?  The brand introduced by Proctor & Gamble in 1947 Prellevokes a bit of nostalgia in us.  The hourglass shape and assorted taglines, such as “Putting the Oooo in shampoo,” for “women who want their hair to have that radiantly alive look,” and the ability to give “lotsa hair,” helped to brand it as a necessary item for all women.  The spokes models like Christie Brinkley also helped add to its charm.  Prell was the best selling shampoo in the United States in 1977.
Well, Prell’s still around.  Under new ownership, it’s in the process of launching a comeback with Christie Brinkley’s daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, as the new face of the brand. That’s proof that great brands have value and are worth a second chance with a new generation. Stay tuned…
What is branding? Heart & Mind® Branding.

by: Kathy Heasley | April 8th, 2010 | Category: Branding, Marketing, Special Features

Apple: Where Did that Great Brand Come From?

Do you know how Apple came to be what it is today? Do you know how it got it’s name? Well, funny story. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak were struggling to come up with a name. They had options like “Executek” and “Matrix Electronics,” but those just didn’t feel quite right. Steve Jobs worked on a farm in Oregon part time, came back one weekend and said, “I’ve got a great name. Apple.” The rest is history!

Wozniak and Jobs established Apple in Cupertino, California on April 1, 1976. They started out with the Apple I computer in 1976, followed by the Apple II in 1977 and the Apple III in the early 80’s. They went public in December of 1980, and created the most millionaires than any other company in history. They were the first to use a Graphical User Interface (GUI) instead of the standard text interface. But what they’ve been great at doing all along is creating a stand out brand!
Read the rest of this entry »

by: Kathy Heasley | March 30th, 2010 | Category: Branding, Marketing, Special Features