Petbarn’s Post

It’s been an epic week at MAD//FEST LONDON 2024! From insightful sessions to laughs with the team, we had the best time. Here are some of the team’s highlights… Consistency was a theme that stood out to Kerry. “Lots of brands were talking about how their consistent messaging creates fame. Specsavers’ 20-year-old campaign 'Should've' is so well-known that people use it for their own humour, as their audience knows it so well. This shows that the need to constantly change campaigns or branding isn't always the winning idea.” Tom Ollerton and Rachel Kerrone’s session from Starling Bank was a favourite for Joanna. “They spoke on the importance of focusing on building a quality customer base when building a brand and that it's not the scale at the beginning but the quality of the customer that matters most. This is what builds trusted brands & loyal customer bases. Paige loved the Barbie session. “Despite the backlash they have faced over the years, they never lost their core objective - that Barbie is a role model for young girls to inspire them to dream big and achieve anything. If Barbie can do it, so can you!” Cheryl’s highlight was listening to the 10 learnings from Who Gives A Crap about how they have built a successful brand. The first one resonated the most; “Everyone loves puppies!" Ben Farren from SPOKE delivered a session on building long-term brand awareness through TV advertising, which was a standout for Fiona. “His quote ‘out of fear of what I might feel if I didn’t try’ resonated with me so much, as this is how I feel with my business. It’s a powerful reminder to take risks and innovate." A statement from Eddie Izzard’s talk stood out to Loren - “Be bold, be brave and never doubt yourself!” Molly’s key takeaway from the event was the sheer variety of speakers and CEOs. “It was great to see a variety of ages throughout the sessions, not to mention all the inspiring female leaders on the Female Leaders' Club stage.” Bring on MAD//FEST 2025! What was your highlight from the event? Let us know in the comments… #BrandChampions #MadFestLondon #FemaleLeadersClub

I want to share a real story every founder and executive reading this can learn from. Few months ago, I had a discussion with an executive of a 6 figure multinational company. His goal was simple- to boost sales through organic digital marketing. The company invested in developing tailored marketing strategies, but things didn't go as expected. It was more of instructions to the team on what to do rather than a journey they enjoy begin part of; leading to disinterest and little progress.  What I told him 👇 "Take the lead and make it something they want to be part of". 🔹️Let's take 2 iconic women as examples. (Rihanna and Beyonce). Rihanna's businesses have proven to be significantly more successful than Beyoncé's businesses. Why? Level of inclusiveness.  Rihanna built her personal brand and shows her personality through her businesses compared to Beyoncé. Rihanna consistently promotes her businesses by showing how they are part of her life and why people should care. (This alone made millions of people promote her products as community members). Her inclusiveness as the founder of her businesses led to the massive growth of an $ 8-figure company people love. Here's the lesson👇 Marketing and branding aren't the work of a single department.  Your involvement and actions determine the level of success. What made Rihanna's businesses more successful than Beyoncé's businesses is that she is deliberate about promoting her businesses unapologetically.  🔹️Dear CEOs and Executives, Stop sleeping on the opportunities that can come by leveraging your personal brand.  Taken action today. Happy new week. 

Probably can find me play Drake’s ‘In My Feelings’ on repeat today because VRAI turned *five* yesterday! I’ve spent over a decade of my life in the influencer industry so I definitely saw A LOT before I decided to launch VRAI with a few founding principles: I wanted to be known as an agency that was incredibly strategic in how we worked with brands against their KPI goals WHILE doing it from a place of kindness and intention. If I’ve learned anything in this industry, it’s that people want to work with people they like. My goal as a manager is to let the magic happen between creator and brand, but to be here to make sure the process is fun (above all else!) and enjoyable! Let’s remember we have one of the best jobs in the world. On all sides of the biz, we’re responsible for letting these creators live a DREAM job, creating from a place of passion and connecting humans from all over the world from all walks of life. I also knew I wanted to bring a boutique, personalized approach to management where creators truly felt supported. Where they, their families and their wellbeing felt taken care of. Has that hard to scale at mass when I personally manage all of the talent? Yes. It's why we've kept a curated roster. Does it bring purpose to my work, though? Hell yes! I’ll leave ya with this if you’re thinking of starting your own gig. Over the last 5 years, I’ve unsubscribed to the notion that it is risky. There are far more decisions you will make in your life that can be deemed risky. How can it be risky if you’re betting on yourself? Who/what better to bet on? Cheers to the next 5! ✨

I am fortunate to work for a company that empowers me to make meaningful changes. Our culture of Trust, Teamwork, and Excellence is at the core of our business and every individual I have the pleasure of working with. Thanks to this culture, I have been able to create our own internal DEI committee to find more opportunities to be inclusive, building on what we already do. Last week, we took our first action as a committee by introducing skin tone plasters. Did you know you can buy plasters in various options to better reflect different skin tones? We got ours from Tesco. For next to no cost, we have provided our colleagues the opportunity to wear a plaster of their choice. The feedback has been fantastic and has made me realise how rarely these plasters are advertised and made available in business first-aid kits. This small change has had a significant impact. It has shown our colleagues that we see and value their individuality, fostering a sense of belonging and respect. It’s a reminder that even the smallest actions can make a big difference in creating an inclusive workplace. So, if you are a business, I ask you to take a few minutes to source skin tone plasters. It costs little but means a lot to your employees who feel seen and heard. #Empowered #TeamWork #Inclusion #DEI #SmallChangesBigImpact

😅 While our “Start with Why” discussion was enriching at our last NextChapter meeting. Not everything was all peaches. Here's some room for improvement: 🌍 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀: By the end, we were tired of hearing about Apple. Where are the European love brands? Brands that came to mind were: Patagonia, Sezane, CultBeauty, Loop (my personal fave), Too Good To Go, Vinted, Oatley, ... 🔄 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Honestly, this could have an e-mail just as well. ⏳𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀: Published in 2009, some references feel outdated in today’s fast-evolving business landscape. 🎙️ 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁: At times, it felt more like a recording than a thoughtfully written book. Despite these points, the core message of finding and focusing on your "why" remained powerful and relevant. What are your thoughts on Start with Why? ⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻ NextChapter is not your average grandma's book club. We are a community of ambitious women. Focused on growth through business books and mutual support. Follow this page to stay updated on our journey and join us in our next session✨.

Happy Pride month! 🏳️🌈 While many news outlets seem to be spreading the word that corporate Pride activations and messaging are close to extinct, (specifically after the Bud Light and Target backlashes of 2023) this editor is seeing much to the contrary. While attending one of the nation's largest Pride parades in Washington, D.C. earlier this month, I took note (and photos) of every single brand representing at the event. For the 3.5 hours I attended (and I left the parade early), I saw over 50 brands participate, not to mention dozens of nonprofit and local entities. And the majority of companies put on quite a show. McDonald's, Tito's Handmade Vodka, Marriott International and Amazon rolled down the route with larger-than-life floats blasting music and carting dozens of celebrating employees. Traditionally more subdued brands such as Deloitte, Kaiser Permanente and SODEXHO INC showed out with swarms of staff marching in the parade. However, a few larger brands (Starbucks, Target) did choose smaller font on their banners, smaller groups and less splashy features overall, but they still showed up to represent. And there's been no shortage of Pride campaign announcements to this editor's inbox. In fact, this 2024 roundup showcases some of the more unique programs per industry including Chipotle Mexican Grill, Match Group's BLK App, and GLAAD. While more brands may be doing more showing than telling nowadays, it's important to acknowledge that they haven't completely given up on advocating for their employees and audiences. And when done authentically, that is noticed. [From today's PRNEWS Single Shot e-newsletter. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eKD9z6sP] https://lnkd.in/eN5MZKNs

Celebrating our female vendors for International Women's Day! Supporting local business will always be the core of what we do. We currently stock 20% female-led products, and we want to raise that. We are opening our shelves to 5 new female vendors! Know a business that would be great? Share the link below! Katie Ruddell the founder of Kokomo Foods, tells her story of pivoting to enter the CPG business with the help of Spud during the pandemic. “Looking back, Spud was the first retailer that stocked us and they pushed us in the direction of even creating a grocery line. We were just focused on restaurant operations, and then when COVID hit they created a new program about supporting local businesses, and they also had a lot of resources available for small businesses that had no idea how to enter the CPG world. Frankly, without Spud's support, we wouldn't have been able to list our product in-store, especially considering the listing fees. For small businesses, every dollar counts, and with slim profit margins, even a small loss can have a significant impact. That's why support from businesses like Spud, who not only provide another sales channel and marketing support but also waive costs like stocking fees, is invaluable.” https://lnkd.in/geft3N96

When I joined On several years ago, it was because of a powerful promise: “to ignite the human spirit through movement.” Movement is more than just sport—it’s a way to break boundaries, challenge ourselves, and connect with one another. That promise continues to fuel me every day. This week at TRE, I had the privilege of connecting with so many incredible retail partners and industry leaders. While those conversations were deeply inspiring, what resonated most with me were the moments where ideas and passions collided. I had the honor of introducing a group of trailblazing individuals who are reshaping the running industry redefining what kinship means, and paving the way toward a more diverse and equitable future. Their voices and vision were nothing short of transformative. Zachary Friedley, Carolina Rubio-MacWright, Jordan Marie Whetstone, @sergioavila, @darylmurphy, @calcalamia The next day, I stood beside three remarkable women, Lisa Jhung, Marion Minary, Kylee Barton to discuss the impact—and responsibility—we have to champion women in the running industry. Together, we explored the opportunities ahead to spark meaningful change. My greatest takeaway from this week? As individuals and as brands, we hold immense power to drive progress—not just in the running world, but in the world at large. It’s on us to amplify the voices of those leading with purpose, to learn from their work, and to empower communities to thrive. Change starts with all of us—and it starts now. Please take the time to click into each of the people tagged here, as well as the organizations and communities they represent. Their work is inspiring, and they are leading the way toward a brighter, more inclusive future.

How should you approach Juneteenth as a brand or marketing professional? Melanie Williams shares some great wisdom in this piece for ADWEEK: "Juneteenth is not just another date on the calendar; it represents a transformative opportunity for brands and marketers. Let’s use this moment to make genuine connections, show understanding, and make a lasting impact in the fight for equality and justice." https://lnkd.in/e5N3UCnT

🌟 Happy International Women’s Day and a celebration of Pinelopi Williams: A Trailblazer in Field Marketing and Beyond! 🌟 As we celebrate the remarkable women shaping our world, I am more than excited to spotlight my dear colleague and friend, Pinelopi Williams. With a friendship spanning over three decades, Pinelopi’s impact has resonated across every conceivable facet of life—all embodied in her resilience, leadership, empathy, and a boundless devotion to excellence. And now for a few HR-friendly tidbits! • Hypercolor High School Encounters 💫 Our friendship sparked in high school over (my) quirky fashion, like those funky hypercolor T-shirts from the '90s. Little did we know, this would blossom into a lifelong bond. ✊ • Chosen Siblings 💛 Pinelopi isn’t just a friend or colleague; she's my chosen sister. We've weathered storms, celebrated victories, and shared confidences only siblings do. • Parallel Paths: Corporate vs. Academia 🌐 Though our careers once diverged, our synergy remains unbreakable. Pinelopi's expertise along with my own created a dynamic duo. Together, we've elevated brands and driven growth and looking forward to further collaborations and adventures! 🚀 • The Disney Devotee 🐭 Pinelopi's love for all things Disney is infectious, to say the least. Beyond movies and her ultimate goal to organize a once-in-a-lifetime experience in Orlando, she also conquers the annual Disney marathon, channeling her inner Tinker Bell with every mile. 🏃♀️💫 In Summary, Pinelopi is more than a leader in Marketing; she's a force of nature. Her empathy fuels change, and her determination cultivates growth wherever she treads. Let’s raise our virtual glasses to Pinelopi Williams, and Happy International Women’s Day! 🥂 This shout-out is just a glimpse of the impact you’ve had on all of us. 💪 #InternationalWomensDay #WomenInLeadership #TopPerformer #FieldMarketing #IndustryLeader #Achiever #ResultsOriented #MakingADifference #ThoughtLeader #EmpoweredWomen #InspirationalWomen #Trailblazer #BuildAConnectedCulture