Sleeping Barber - A Marketing Podcast

In this episode of the Sleeping Barber Podcast, Marc and Vassilis delve into the importance of brand tracking and creative marketing in today's performance-driven landscape. To help them dive into this topic, they host Connor Archbold and Matthew Herbert, co-founders and co-CEOs of Tracksuit.Together they discuss the evolution of performance marketing, the impact of cookie deprecation on measurement, and the necessity of connecting brand and performance marketing. The episode highlights the importance of education on marketing effectiveness principles and the shift toward long-term brand building in the industry and so much more. This is an episode you do not want to miss!Enjoy the show.Our GuestsConnor Archbold, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Tracksuithttps://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-archbold/ Matt Herbert, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Tracksuithttps://www.linkedin.com/in/herbertmattj/ Follow our updates here: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/sleeping-barber/⁠⁠https://www.sleepingbarber.caGet in touch with our hosts:Marc Binkley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbinkley/Vassilis Douros: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/vassilisdouros/⁠Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction to Brand Tracking and Creative Marketing03:08 - The Evolution of Performance Marketing06:02 - Founders' Journey: From Law to Brand Tracking09:04 - The Impact of Cookie Deprecation on Measurement12:07 - Connecting Brand and Performance Marketing14:54 - The Role of Awareness in Brand Success17:55 - The Importance of Creative in Marketing20:59 - Building Brand Awareness as a Startup24:09 - Navigating Investor Expectations in Marketing26:52 - The Shift Towards Long-Term Brand Building30:09 - Marketing Effectiveness Principles and Their Relevance32:46 - The Future of Marketing: Creativity and Technology36:09 - The Awareness Advantage: Insights from Reports48:07 - The Importance of Brand Awareness54:54 - Nike's Brand Strategy and Market Positioning01:00:52 - The Role of Emotion in Advertising01:06:04 - The Cost of Dull Advertising01:16:04 - Aligning Brand Strategy with Investor Expectations

SummaryIn this episode, Marc Binkley and Vassilis Douros discuss various topics, including brand purpose, insights from Google Marketing Live, the impact of AI on advertising, the decline of Hudson's Bay, and strategies for capturing consumer attention in a digital landscape. They also highlight a humorous advertising campaign featuring Jason Alexander.Enjoy the show!Follow our updates:https://www.linkedin.com/company/sleeping-barber/Our Hosts:Marc Binkley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbinkleyVassilis Douros: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vassilisdourosTimestamps:00:00 - Introduction03:03 - Is Brand Purpose Dead?06:26 - Google I.O. and Marketing Innovations11:34 - The Impact of AI on Advertising14:49 - Balancing Automation and Control in Advertising15:24 - The Fall of a Canadian Icon: Hudson's Bay21:09 - Marketing Insights: Hacking the Attention Economy25:46 - Creative Advertising: Jason Alexander's New Campaign27:31 - Upcoming Episode: Measurement Series with Dale HarrisonTakeaways:Brand purpose must be woven into the company's ethos.Google Marketing Live introduced new AI tools for advertisers.AI can optimize ad performance but requires careful management.Hudson's Bay's decline reflects broader retail challenges.Distinctive brand assets are crucial for effective advertising.Attention spans for digital ads are alarmingly short.Marketers must adapt to changing consumer behaviors.Jason Alexander's campaign showcases effective brand storytelling.Understanding the full funnel is essential for measurement.Continuous testing and learning are vital in advertising.

In this episode of the Sleeping Barber Podcast, our hosts Marc Binkley and Vassilis Douros engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Mitch Joel, a renowned entrepreneur and marketing expert. They explore Mitch's diverse career journey, the evolution of marketing and agency relationships, and the impact of AI on the industry. The discussion emphasizes the importance of custodianship in brand management and the shift from speed to momentum in marketing strategies. Mitch shares insights on the changing landscape of performance marketing and the necessity for marketers to take ownership of their roles in a rapidly evolving environment. This is an episode you dont want to miss!Enjoy the show!Our GuestMitch Joel Entrepreneur, Investor, SpeakerCo-Founder of ThinkersOne - bite sized thought leadership from the best thinkers in the worldFormer President of Twist Image Digital Marketing Agency that sold to WPPNamed to Thinkers50 Radar ListAuthor of Six Pixels of Separation & CTRL ALT Deletehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchjoel/https://www.mitchjoel.com/Follow our updates here: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/sleeping-barber/⁠⁠https://www.sleepingbarber.caGet in touch with our hosts:Marc Binkley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbinkley/Vassilis Douros: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/vassilisdouros/⁠Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction 01:25 - Mitch Joel's Career Journey12:54 - The Evolution of Marketing and Agencies17:09 - The Agency-Brand Relationship in the AI Era26:20 - The Shift Towards In-House Marketing33:09 - The One-to-X Marketing Model38:11 - The Shift from Performance to Brand Storytelling41:16 - The Role of Custodianship in Marketing44:59 - Navigating Brand Evolution and Change49:54 - Emotional Engagement in Marketing54:39 - Speed vs. Momentum in Leading Change01:00:31 - Personal Agency in the Age of AI01:03:05 - Post-Pod with V & Marc

In this episode of the Barber's Brief, hosts add a little twisst.Vassilis and Marc discuss their upcoming Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity attendance. They explore the significance of the festival, its structure, and the various components that make it a premier event in the marketing and creativity space. The hosts share their excitement about networking opportunities, notable speakers, and key themes such as AI and the creator economy. They also touch on new award categories and their plans for media coverage during the festival.Enjoy the show!Timestamps00:00 - Introduction 02:56 - Exploring the Festival's Structure and Events05:58 - Key Themes and Topics of Interest08:56 - Insights on the Creator Economy and AI12:01 - Notable Speakers and Jury Members15:00 - Navigating the Festival Experience17:54 - Conclusion and Future Plans

In this episode of The Sleeping Barber Podcast, Marc Binkley and Vassilis Douros sit down with Pieter-Paul and Matt Davies from BetterBriefs to talk about one of marketing’s most overlooked tools: the creative brief. From common pitfalls to practical fixes, they explore why so many briefs miss the mark — and what marketers and agencies can do to write ones that actually drive great work. Expect candid insights, real-world challenges, and a few strong opinions on what it takes to brief better.Enjoy the show!Our Guests:Pieter-Paul von Weiler https://www.linkedin.com/in/pieterpaulvonweiler/ Matt Davies https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-davies-a7570433/ Founders of Better Briefsformer creative agency strategistsWon a couple of Grand Effies and IPA Effectiveness AwardNow they help brands create better briefs that inspire more effective workFollow our updates here: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/sleeping-barber/⁠⁠Get in touch with our hosts:Marc Binkley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbinkley/Vassilis Douros: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/vassilisdouros/⁠Chapters 00:00 The Importance of Creative Briefs07:11 Understanding the Briefing Process13:59 Challenges in Brief Writing20:48 The Role of Strategy in Briefs28:12 Evaluating Ideas and Creativity34:56 The Cost of Poor Briefs43:47 The Power of Partnership in Marketing48:24 The Importance of Training and Communication52:01 Navigating the Briefing Process55:07 The Human Element in Creative Work58:43 Optimizing Creative Processes01:01:12 The Role of AI in Marketing01:05:10 Post Pod with V & MarcBackground Research & Links:Better Breifs https://www.betterbriefs.com/the-betterideas-project

Welcome to another episode of The Barber’s Brief!Join Marc and Vassilis as they dive into the latest marketing and business news, spotlight a standout case study in their Marketing Moment, and wrap up with the Ad of the Week.Enjoy the show!Follow our updates here: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/sleeping-barber/⁠⁠Get in touch with our hosts:Marc Binkley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbinkley/Vassilis Douros: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/vassilisdouros/⁠Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction01:04 - Google Found Guilty of Illegal Ad Tech Monopoly 03:55 - Amount of Money Being Spent on Digital ad Spending for the Election08:14 - ChatGPT Enhances User Experience with Shopping, WhatsApp Integration, and Improved Citations12:12 - Video marketing spend up 20% last year as advertisers shift focus18:18 - Marketing Moment - Should Meta Divest Instagram and WhatsApp?23:12 - Ad of the week: Goodnights - Mission Dry25:35 - Coming up next week.In The News Links:Google Found Guilty of Illegal Ad Tech Monopoly Link: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-found-guilty-of-illegal-ad-tech-monopoly-in-court-ruling/544795/Historic Amount of Money Being Spent on Digital ad Spending for the ElectionLink: https://www.ctvnews.ca/kitchener/article/historic-amount-of-money-being-spent-on-digital-ad-spending-for-election-says-kitchener-ont-firm/ ChatGPT Enhances User Experience with Shopping, WhatsApp Integration, and Improved CitationsLink: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/chatgpt-adds-shopping-whatsapp-search-improved-citations/545525/ Video marketing spend up 20% last year as advertisers shift focusLink: https://www.marketingweek.com/video-marketing-spend-advertisers-shift-focus/The Marketing Moment:Should Meta Divest Instagram and WhatsApp?Author: Prof. dr. Koen PauwelsLink: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/should-meta-divest-instagram-whatsapp-prof-dr-koen-pauwels-kj07e/ Ad Of The Week:Goodnights - Mission Dryhttps://youtu.be/ucPDfeLmJEY?si=_HrJrW2Nzfh3JgGP

In this episode of The Sleeping Barber, Charlotte Blank, US CMO of Jaguar Land Rover, shares how the brand balances heritage with modern luxury. She explores the power of creative advertising, the role of psychological research in understanding consumers, and how marketing science supports strategic decisions. The conversation also dives into the Jaguar rebrand, the success of the Range Rover Sport campaign with Theo James, and the need for evidence-based, data-driven marketing to justify spend and deliver a seamless customer experience.Enjoy the show!Our GuestCharlotte BlankUS CMO at Jaguar Land Rover North AmericaMember Board of Trustees, Advertising Research Foundation (ARF)Advisory Board Member, Penn Master of Behavioural and Decision SciencesHarvard, MBAhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-blank/Follow our updates here: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/sleeping-barber/⁠⁠Get in touch with our hosts:Marc Binkley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbinkley/Vassilis Douros: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/vassilisdouros/⁠Timestamps00:00 Introduction to Jaguar Land Rover's Marketing Strategy02:58 Balancing Heritage and Modern Luxury06:08 The Role of Marketing Science in Decision Making08:58 Charlotte Blank's Unique Career Path12:06 Behavioural Science and Marketing Insights14:53 Understanding Consumer Behaviour Through Psychological Research17:59 The Impact of Creative Effectiveness on Brand Growth21:10 The Range Rover Sport Campaign with Theo James23:55 Adapting Marketing Strategies for Different Markets26:58 Evidence-Based Marketing and Its Impact on Performance34:36 The Importance of Creative Advertising36:11 The Jaguar Rebrand: A Bold Move42:11 Understanding Consumer Psychology48:01 Marketing Challenges and Solutions51:25 Final Thoughts and InsightsBackground Research & Links:TEDx - Lead like a Scientist https://www.ted.com/talks/charlotte_blank_lead_like_a_scientist_experiments_are_key_to_unleashing_potential?Sell Luxury without a product https://www.cmswire.com/digital-marketing/cmos-can-you-sell-luxury-without-a-product-jaguars-doing-it/Copy Nothing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLtFIrqhfng&t=1sRange Rover - Theo James https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwma55CDO9UBest Q3 Ever https://www.automotiveworld.com/news-releases/jlr-delivers-robust-q3-financial-performance-with-best-q3-revenue-on-record/Pause Exports to US https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/uks-jaguar-land-rover-pause-shipments-us-over-tariffs-times-says-2025-04-05/

Welcome to another episode of The Barber’s Brief!Join Marc and Vassilis as they dive into the latest marketing and business news, spotlight a standout case study in their Marketing Moment, and wrap up with the Ad of the Week.Enjoy the show!Follow our updates here: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/sleeping-barber/⁠⁠Get in touch with our hosts:Marc Binkley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbinkley/Vassilis Douros: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/vassilisdouros/⁠Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction01:28- Consumer Behaviour Insights from Amazon04:33 - Digital Marketing and Incrementality Challenges08:36 - NBA Viewership and Streaming Trends12:56 - Liquid Death's Strategic Market Exit17:16 - Peloton's Business Model Evolution22:26 - Puma's Bold Campaign Launch24:27 - Upcoming Episode Preview with Jaguar Land Rover CMO

In this episode of The Sleeping Barber Podcast, hosts Mark Binkley and Vasilis Douros are joined once again by Mary Kirikiri, global thought leader at Kantar. They explore insights from Mary’s CMO series, diving into future power, meaningful difference, and pricing strategy. The conversation covers how brand equity drives growth, the link between pricing power and perceived value, and why evidence-based marketing is essential for long-term success. From brand salience to pricing elasticity, this episode unpacks the tools marketers need to influence both consumers and the boardroom.Our Guest:Mary Kyriakidi Global Thought Leader @ Kantarhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-kyriakidi-4a5a4a57/Follow our updates here: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/sleeping-barber/⁠⁠Get in touch with our hosts:Marc Binkley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbinkley/Vassilis Douros: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/vassilisdouros/⁠Timestamps00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest01:40 Inspiration Behind the CMO Series04:24 Mary's Journey to Global Thought Leader05:26 Kantar's Research Focus and Paradigm Shift09:36 Understanding Future Power and Meaningful Difference12:01 The Drivers of Future Power15:00 Mental vs. Physical Availability in Branding18:01 Accelerators for Growth in Branding22:04 Finding New Space for Brands24:20 The Link Between Pricing and Brand Strength24:50 Understanding Pricing Power and Elasticity27:40 The Importance of Brand Positioning29:02 Willingness to Pay and Perceived Differences32:12 Aligning Brand Value with Pricing Strategy35:01 Influencing Budget Decisions in Marketing39:11 The Role of Brand Trackers in Marketing StrategyBackground Research & Links:Blueprint for Brand Growth: https://www.kantar.com/campaigns/blueprint-for-brand-growth?Some links to the diary are below:https://www.kantar.com/inspiration/brands/diary-of-a-cmo-what-is-the-blueprint-for-brand-growthhttps://www.kantar.com/inspiration/brands/how-can-you-approach-the-cfo-to-argue-for-greater-investment-in-your-brandhttps://www.kantar.com/inspiration/brands/diary-of-a-cmo-i-am-a-small-brand-with-big-dreams-how-can-i-grow-fasterhttps://www.kantar.com/inspiration/brands/diary-of-a-cmo-is-your-categorys-ceiling-coming-down-on-youhttps://www.kantar.com/inspiration/brands/Diary-of-a-CMO-How-can-I-protect-my-brand-against-copycatshttps://www.kantar.com/inspiration/brands/diary-of-a-cmo-whats-the-secret-recipe-to-combat-private-labelhttps://www.kantar.com/inspiration/brands/diary-of-a-cmo-whats-marketings-contribution-to-profithttps://www.kantar.com/north-america/expertise/brand-growth/brand-tracking

Welcome to another episode of The Barber’s Brief!Join Marc and Vassilis as they dive into the latest marketing and business news, spotlight a standout case study in their Marketing Moment, and wrap up with the Ad of the Week.Enjoy the show!Follow our updates here: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/sleeping-barber/⁠⁠Get in touch with our hosts:Marc Binkley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbinkley/Vassilis Douros: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/vassilisdouros/⁠Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction01:04 - Transparency, Compliancy, and Adaptability: The Three Pillars of a Strong Data Practice03:55 - VCs Wake Up To Vibe Marketing: AI Reshaping The $250 Billion Industry08:14 - The Next Wave of Search: AI Mode, Deep Research, and Beyond18:18 - Marketing Moment - Fragment Forward: Five Key Trends Shaping 202523:12 - Ad of the week: Fiverr - Nobody Cares a 1:20 Musical 25:35 - Coming up next week.In The News Links:Transparency, Compliancy, and Adaptability: The Three Pillars of a Strong Data PracticeLink: https://lbbonline.com/news/transparency-compliancy-and-adaptability-the-three-pillars-of-a-strong-data-practice VCs Wake Up To Vibe Marketing: AI Reshaping The $250 Billion IndustryLink:https://www.forbes.com/sites/josipamajic/2025/03/24/vcs-wake-up-to-vibe-marketing-ai-reshaping-the-250-billion-industry/aos/The Next Wave of Search: AI Mode, Deep Research, and BeyondLink: https://searchengineland.com/search-ai-mode-deep-research-453744CEO Study on Marketing & the CMOhttps://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerdooley/2025/03/24/new-cmo-study-ceo-trust-rises-but-strategic-influence-drops/The Marketing Moment:Epitaph Group Unveils Thought-Provoking Stunt to Drive Change Within the Media IndustryLink: https://lbbonline.com/news/epitaph-group-unveils-thought-provoking-stunt-to-drive-change-within-the-media-industryAd Of The Week:Oatly Creamers presents Fancy Parking Lot Coffee.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HirRb7gD8ys&t=2s