
Sleeping Barber - A Marketing Podcast
Ready to rethink business strategy and supercharge your marketing game? Join hosts Marc Binkley and Vassilis Douros as they break down big questions at the crossroads of strategy, marketing effectiveness, and creative impact.
From real-world case studies to hot-off-the-press business news, each episode dives deep into how modern companies navigate complexity. Plus, interviews with global thought leaders bring you fresh insights and actionable strategies to drive growth and build unforgettable customer experiences.
This is your backstage pass to smarter thinking and better business results.
Latest episodes

Aug 22, 2024 • 1h 18min
SBP 085: A Field Guide To Smart Advertising. With Dan White.
Dan White, a marketing innovator and former CMO, dives into evidence-based advertising strategies and insights from his new book. He discusses the balance between short-term performance and long-term brand building, highlighting the importance of brand memory and emotional connections. The conversation challenges misconceptions about advertising effectiveness and critiques traditional views on ad frequency. White emphasizes the necessity for simplicity in marketing while advocating for smart budgeting and leveraging existing brand assets to connect better with consumers.

Aug 15, 2024 • 20min
SBP 084: The Barber's Brief - August 15, 2024
Welcome back to another episode of The Barber’s Brief! Where Marc and Vassilis discuss marketing and business news that has caught their eye, they highlight our marketing moment, get into audience QA, and finish off by highlighting an ad of the week.
Enjoy the show!
Our Hosts:
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
0:00 - Introduction
1:01 - Consumer Still Feeling teh Inflation Squeeze
3:26 - Tik Tok Tightens Teen AD Targeting
5:52 - Apple’s Vision Pro 1.4bn Failure
8:49 - The Growing Pains of Retail Media
12:05 - Marketing Moment: XBOX Football Manager
16:46 - Ad of the Week: McDonald’s Retro Birthday Party
Links:
Title: Consumers still feeling the squeeze despite falling inflation
Source:
Link: https://www.marketingweek.com/consumers-squeeze-inflation-data/
Summary
Title: TikTok tightens teen ad targeting and boosts AI transparency
Source: Search Engine Land
Link: https://searchengineland.com/tiktok-teen-ad-targeting-ai-transparency-443986
Title: Apple’s Vision Pro $1.4bn failure shows importance of market orientation
Source: The Drum
Link: https://www.thedrum.com/opinion/2024/07/15/apple-s-vision-pro-600m-failure-shows-importance-market-orientation
Title: The growing pains of retail media: Dodging ROAS gremlins
Source: Marketing Week
Link: https://www.marketingweek.com/retail-media-roas-gremlin/
Marketing Moment: Highlighting Case studies (3-4 minutes):
XBox Football Manager (FM24) Video Game
Everyday Tactician - McCann London
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elq83mERXv0
Background
If you’ve seen Wrexham docuseries they have been promoted to EFL One
There’s a huge advantage for teams that get promoted - more $, better players, better coaches etc
Bromley had been in the lower leagues for 132 years
Bromely paired with Xbox to recruit talent using their FM24 game
Like moneyball but with gamers
Filmed a documentary, promoted on social & the game
Results
Hired the “Everyday Tactictian” a guy named Nathan Owolabi who was a tour guide at Wembly
Became part of the team’s backroom staff and worked for the club’s manager
Campaign won a bunch of awards including Cannes Lions Grand Prix
Picked up a lot of press 1.5B impressions
190% increase in FM players
Most played version ever
Bromely FC promoted to EFL two for the first time in the past 132 years
Ad of the Week
McDonald’s serves up retro birthday party ad to celebrate 50 years in UK
Link: https://youtu.be/MgBs3DgLZBk
McDonald’s is kicking off a major new campaign celebrating 50 years since opening in the UK with a faithfully recreated reminder of the joy of its childhood birthday parties.
McDonald's new campaign commemorating 50 years since its first UK location opened in Woolwich, London. The campaign features a nostalgic ad filmed in the original restaurant, meticulously recreated to evoke the ambiance of 1980s childhood birthday parties. Produced by Leo Burnett, the 60-second spot aims to celebrate McDonald's heritage and appeal to sentiments of joy and nostalgia associated with its early years in the UK.

23 snips
Aug 8, 2024 • 58min
SBP 083: Ethics & The Currency of Trust. With Amina Mattern.
In our latest episode, we delve into the critical topic of ethics in marketing and advertising with Amina Mattern, Industry Strategy Lead at LinkedIn Marketing Solutions. Amina shares her extensive experience and insights on the evolving landscape of digital advertising, data privacy, and consumer trust.
Discover how data has become the new currency and why transparency, honesty, and societal well-being are essential for building and maintaining trust. Learn about the impact of regulations like GDPR and CCPA, and explore the potential of synthetic data in market research.
This episode is packed with valuable information for marketers looking to navigate the complex world of digital ethics. Don't miss out on this enlightening conversation. Listen now and take your first step towards becoming a more responsible and effective marketer.
Our Guest
Amina Mattern
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amina-mattern/
Industry Strategy Lead @ LinkedIn Marketing Solutions | Financial Services & Fintech
Experience working agency side, MediaCom, Omnicom, and also held the position of Head of Marketing Strategy for Loblaws.
Our Hosts
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/
References:Canadian Marketing Association’s Code of Ethics https://thecma.ca/resources/code-of-ethics-standards
Quote of the Episode:
"The way that you handle data and privacy is very much a part of your brand." - Amina Mattern
Timestamps
0:51 - Introduction to Amina Mattern
2:15 - Amina’s career path
4:00: - How roles in brand, agency and platform shaped Amina’s perspective on marketing ethics
5:53 - More data, more regulations
8:30 - Directional trends on regulation and policys
10:40 - Ethics and data privacy impacts brand reputation
12:40 - How local consumer expectations affect ethic & policys
15:28 - Data is currency
17:50 - If you collect data, you need an ethical data strategy
20:09 - Cookie deprecation & ethics
28:43 - A consumer’s responsibility with data collection
32:02 - Ethics in synthetic data
35:30 - Future of ethics in advertising
38:18 - Technology isn’t a substitute for ethics
42:22 - Post-pod with V and Marc

Aug 1, 2024 • 23min
SBP 082: The Barber's Brief - August 1, 2024
Welcome back to another episode of The Barber’s Brief. A segment where we cover news that caught our eye, a marketing moment where we highlight a case study, and our ad of the week.
We hope you enjoy the show!
Our Hosts:
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/
Time stamps:
0:00 - Introduction
2:56 - Measuring the relationships between brands and AI Models
06:11 - The rise of brand refreshes over splashy ads
09:30 - Diageo's commitment to marketing investment
11:48 - Partnerships between media agencies and research firms
19:06 - Ad of the Week - CeraVe New Campaign
25:57 - Coming up next week
In The News Links:
The Sandbox’s terms of service may be “onerous, discriminatory and one sided,” according to an open web advocacy group.
Source: The Drum
Link: https://www.thedrum.com/news/2024/07/15/google-s-privacy-sandbox-terms-may-ironically-violate-privacy-law-new-research-says
Amazon Prime Day
Source: VOX
Link: https://www.vox.com/money/360028/amazon-prime-day-2024-target-walmart-temu
Amazon’s AI shopping assistant Rufus is live for all U.S. customers
Source: Search Engine Land
Link: https://searchengineland.com/amazon-rufus-live-444097
Loyalty scheme will enable ‘even smarter’ pricing
Source: MarketingWeek
Link: https://www.marketingweek.com/mcdonalds-loyalty-scheme-smarter-pricing/
Marketing Moment:
Converse Create Now, Create Next
Video: https://youtu.be/FIS_JkNnCeI?si=vglmjRBUtyoXXs2O
Summary of the Initiative
Converse implemented a dynamic Instagram marketing strategy to boost engagement and brand visibility by leveraging user-generated content, influencer partnerships, and engaging visuals For their create now, create next campaign.
What Was the Problem They Were Trying to Solve?
Converse aimed to engage a younger audience on social media and stand out in a competitive market by creating a strong, relatable brand presence on Instagram.
Who Was Involved in Creating This?
Converse’s in-house marketing team drove the initiative. While specific agencies or external vendors were not mentioned, influencer partnerships played a significant role in the campaign.
What Solution Was Engineered?
User-Generated Content: Encouraged followers to share photos using hashtags like #ConverseStyle.
Influencer Partnerships: Collaborated with influencers and celebrities to reach a wider audience.
Engaging Visuals: Maintained a vibrant, dynamic feed with a mix of professional photos, user-generated content, and artistic graphics.
Interactive Campaigns: Ran contests and interactive campaigns to boost engagement.
Consistent Brand Voice: Maintained a casual, fun, and relatable tone across all posts.
Results
Converse achieved a higher engagement rate on Instagram than many competitors, significantly increasing its brand visibility and follower growth.
Key Takeaways
Leverage User-Generated Content: Encouraging followers to share their own content can create a sense of community and provide authentic marketing material.
Influencer Partnerships: Collaborating with influencers can help reach a broader audience and add credibility to your campaigns.
Consistent Brand Voice: Maintaining a consistent and relatable tone helps build a strong brand identity.

Jul 25, 2024 • 1h 14min
SBP 081: Not All Data is Evidence. With Prof. Koen Pauwels.
This week, we dive deep into marketing effectiveness with the distinguished Professor Koen Pauwels. Get ready for a treasure trove of insights, including a checklist on increasing sales, the two most common mistakes marketers make, and whether a discount or doubling your budget will drive sales. Professor Pauwels, Vice Dean of Research at Northeastern University, shares his expertise on data-driven decision-making, the difference between efficiency and effectiveness, and the role of intuition in marketing.
This episode is packed with actionable advice and thought-provoking discussions you won't want to miss!
Don't forget to leave a review on Apple or Spotify if you enjoy the show. Your feedback means a lot to us!
Our Guest:
Professor Koen Pauwels
Distinguished Professor of Marketing and Vice Dean of Research at Northeastern University
Consultant for companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Unilever, and Sony
Author of multiple books and award-winning papers
Website: www.marketingandmetrics.com
Our Hosts:
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/
Topics Discussed:
• Data-driven vs. evidence-based decision making
• Marketing effectiveness and efficiency
• The importance of goal alignment in marketing
• How to avoid common marketing mistakes
• The role of intuition and creativity in marketing
• Segmentation, targeting, and positioning
• Old world vs. new world marketing
• Effective use of discounts and advertising budgets
Quote of the Episode:
"In marketing, it’s better to be vaguely right than precisely wrong." - Professor Koen Pauwels
Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction to the theme and Prof. Pauwels
2:55 - How Prof. Pauwels got into marketing effectiveness
3:52 - The model + the manager is better than either individually
5:20 - The difference between marketers in the US vs Europe
7:22 - Marketing Effectiveness vs. Effeciency
9:20 - ROI is limiting if you’re a mid to large size company
11:54 - ROI is NOT an effectiveness metric
14:50 - Improving marketing ROI is a team sport
16:05 - Looking for evidence where the light shines
17:37 - When Facebook Likes isn’t an objective
22:22 - Reach is a proxy metric
25:19 - The two big mistakes marketers consistently make
30:45 - Marketing theory: what still matters and what doesnt
35:43 - How does advertising actually work
38:30 - The common response to how sales volume respond to discount
41:27 - A checklist to quickly increase sales
45:40 - Reference pricing
48:30 - How do we get from here to there?
54:29 - Find out more about Prof. Pauwels
56:30 - Post-pod with V and Marc
Long-Term effects of Advertising https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/long-term-effects-advertising-prof-dr-koen-pauwels-gasve/?trackingId=ydTzAVjqTFujBWIsvMnupQ%3D%3D
Reference for all Published Papers https://marketingandmetrics.com/sitemap/
It’s not the size of the data, it’s how you use it https://www.amazon.ca/Its-Not-Size-Data-How-ebook/dp/B00HSUWKY4?ref_=ast_author_dp

Jul 18, 2024 • 24min
SBP 080: The Barber's Brief - July 18, 2024
Welcome back to another episode of The Barber’s Brief. A segment where we cover news that caught our eye, a marketing moment where we highlight a case study, and our ad of the week.
We hope you enjoy the show!
Our Hosts:
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/
Time stamps:
0:00 - Introduction
2:56 - Measuring the relationships between brands and AI Models
06:11 - The rise of brand refreshes over splashy ads
09:30 - Diageo's commitment to marketing investment
11:48 - Partnerships between media agencies and research firms
19:06 - Ad of the Week - CeraVe New Campaign
25:57 - Coming up next week
In The News Links:
Measuring the relationship between brands in AI models and market share
Source: WARC
Link: https://www.warc.com/content/feed/tom-roach-measuring-the-relationship-between-brands-in-ai-models-and-market-share/en-GB/9684
Why marketers keep refreshing brands instead of betting on splashy ads
Source: Marketing Dive - Opinion Piece
Link: https://www.marketingdive.com/news/companies-rebranding-in-2024/719804/
Diageo commits to ‘strong’ marketing investment as efficiency improves
Source: Marketing Week
Link: https://www.marketingweek.com/diageo-strong-marketing-investment-efficiency/
Omnicom Media Group strikes a deal with a top marketing research body
Source: More About Advertising
Link: https://www.moreaboutadvertising.com/2024/07/omnicom-media-group-strikes-deal-with-top-marketing-research-body/
Marketing Moment:
A marketing Case study
Alka Seltzer
Plop Plop Fizz Fizz
Background
In the 60’s Alka-Seltzer was suffering from poor reputation with younger buyers
They associated the product with over-indugence
Needed a new strategy to revitalize sales
Hired Tinker & Partners
Previous campaigns focused on speed of relief - no matter what shape your stomach is in
Insight
Mary Wells AE caught wind that two tablets were better than one and came up with the now infamous Plop Plop Fizz Fizz campaign
Added the jingle, suggested how to use the product with Plop Plop (2 tablets)
Result
Sales nearly doubled overnight
About Mary
Later became the first woman to own and run a major nationa ad agency (came up with the I love NY slogan) Wells Rich Green and first female CEO of a NYSE listed company
Ad of the week:
CeraVe takes on soap operas in new genre-spoofing campaign
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNNwE-GZC_A
CeraVe launches a dramatic new campaign today (July 15) for its Hydrating Facial Cleanser, featuring video content, influencer marketing, and a mobile tour focused on skincare education, as shared with Marketing Dive.
The campaign includes a two-minute “Cleanse Like a Derm” video starring actress Xochitl Gomez. The storyline, full of soap opera clichés like overacting, frosted lenses, and doppelgangers, revolves around a family whose CeraVe has been replaced by bar soap. Media placements will span digital, social, and streaming platforms.
Fresh from a big win at Cannes, the L’Oreal brand continues to push creative boundaries. This latest initiative partners with 30 influencers to create soap opera-inspired content and kicks off a mobile tour with stops in New York, Chicago, Nashville, and Atlanta, featuring games, photo ops, and expert skincare advice.

Jul 11, 2024 • 1h 25min
SBP 079: First, Look Like Your Brand. With Dr. Ella Ward.
In the latest episode of the Sleeping Barber Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Ella Ward, a senior marketing scientist from the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute.
Dr. Ward shares her expertise on the importance of visual brand identity, the difference between being data-driven and evidence-based, how to create cohesive brand packaging and most importantly Marc and V get a lesson on Aussie rules footy! This is an episode you do not want to miss!
Don't forget to join our hosts, Vassilis and Marc, for some post-podcast banter!
Quote of the episode:
“Your strategy can’t be based on differentiation. Your competitors will catch up."
Our Guest:
Dr. Ella Ward
Sr. Marketing Scientist @ Ehrenberg-Bass Institute
Enhancing visual brand identity across a product portfolio.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ella-ward-/
Our Hosts:
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/
Background Research & Literature:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/14707853231201852?icid=int.sj-abstract.citing-articles.4
https://www.unisa.edu.au/media-centre/Releases/2023/coloured-by-numbers/
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ella-ward-_distinctiveassets-evidencebasedmarketing-activity-6785027383834611713-eeTI
https://marketingscience.info/research-services/distinctive-assets/
Timestamps:
0:00 - Podcast Introduction
0:50 - Introduction to Ella
3:31 - Path to becoming a Marketing Scientist @ Ehrenberg-Bass Institute
4:28 - Ella’s areas of research
5:23 - Visual cohesion across the brand portfolio
6:40 - The scientific revolution happening in marketing
8:39 - Marketing science matters because the real world is a very weird place
10:33 - Data-driven vs. Evidence-based marketing
13:05 - Using science to lead change
16:40 - Bloodletting & changing paradigms
18:30 - The difference between brand books and Distinctive Brand Assets (DBA)
20:44 - Making brands available & linking brands to memory
23:22 - Brand management isn’t about policing, it should be fun
26:45 - Rebranding? Know what assets trigger the brand
29:20 - How effective are your DBAs at triggering memory
30:52 - Why characters are more memorable than other types of distinctive assets
34:20 - Rebranding? know the strength of your distinctive assets
36:15 - Adding to your distinctive asset pallet - Ikea voiceover
39:10 - Hagen-Dazs Case Study
39:40 - Package colours used to signal variety aren’t often effective
43:17 - The danger of using colour to signal a variety
45:38 - Prioritize your branding over colour signalling
49:43 - Decreasing product packaging types to improve advertising efficiency
51:00 - Cohesive branding improves the bottom line
53:17 - Differentiation v. Distinctiveness in product packaging
58:25 - Packaging Services
1:01:45 - Post-pod with V and Marc
Where to Listen:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-sleeping-barber-a-business-and-marketing-podcast/id1609811324
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4v0kaM350zEY7X2VBuyfrF?si=7083317d5afd488b
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sleepingbarberpodcast
© 2024 Sleeping Barber

Jul 4, 2024 • 32min
SBP 078: The Barber's Brief - July 4, 2024
Welcome back to another episode of The Barber’s Brief. A segment where we cover news that caught our eye, a marketing moment where we highlight a case study, and our ad of the week.
We hope you enjoy the show!
Our Hosts:
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/
In The News:
Nike ramps up innovation to combat sales slip in ‘transition year’
Link: https://www.marketingweek.com/nike-accelerate-innovation/
Ritson on Creativity - WARC Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mark-ritson-on-creativity-brand-and-the-need-for/id1563243327?i=1000660441127
The Boston Marathon Got a New Logo and Runners are Not Happy
https://www.fastcompany.com/91148937/the-boston-marathon-got-a-new-logo-and-runners-are-not-happy
Get ready for the Echo-Verse: New Rules of Cross-Channel Marketing
https://hbr.org/2024/06/the-new-rules-of-marketing-across-channels
Marketing Moment
The Field Trip to Mars - 2018
Video: https://youtu.be/FIS_JkNnCeI?si=vglmjRBUtyoXXs2O
Lockheed Martin, a Global Security and Aerospace company wanted to Inspire interest in Mars exploration and STEM education.
The Brief:
Space was/is experiencing a cultural Renaissance to rival the excitement of the Space Race. SpaceX, Virgin Galactic and Mars One, and movies recaptured the general public’s imagination with space. It is estimated that humans will set foot on Mars within two decades, making STEM education more important than ever. So they set out to inspire the next generation of deep space explorers, creating a VR experience that shows them what it’s like to visit Mars
Solution & Cultural Context:
They rendered 200 sq. mi of Mars’ surface based on real Mars geography and mapped it to D.C streets.
Then we bought a school bus.
The bus was gutted and equipped with custom electric glass that switched from transparent to opaque, plus 4K transparent LCDs, while preserving its school bus appearance.
Integrating our Mars landscape, custom screens, GPS, accelerometer, magnetometer and laser velocimeter, the bus became a VR headset. When it moved, Mars moved and when it turned, it turned on Mars.
Impact:
Generated extensive social media buzz and media (NBC, ABC, and Fox, Engadget, Futurism and Digital Trends) coverage.
Trended on Facebook globally for over 24 hours.
Featured in major news outlets and tech sites.
In a week after it’s debut, Lockheed Martin saw a 3000% increase in Mars-related conversations post-launch, 260% more than spaceX.
Videos of the experience garnered over 6 million views.
References:
https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/spotlights/out-of-this-world-an-inside-look-at-the-making-of-field-trip-to-mars
https://www.dandad.org/awards/professional/2017/direct/26343/the-field-trip-to-mars/
Audience Q&A (2-3 minutes):
Jon Lorenzini post - Do you know marginal ROAS is better than incremental or regular ROAS?
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jonathanlorenzini_marketingscience-marketinganalytics-marketing-activity-7209922721428729858-wi0B

Jun 27, 2024 • 1h 12min
SBP 077: Creativity In Service of the Customer. With Andrew Tindall.
Welcome to the Sleeping Barber Podcast, where business leaders get the best and most credible information on marketing, strategy and innovation.
In our latest podcast episode, we sit down with Andrew Tindall, Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships at System1, to explore the crucial role of creativity in advertising.
Andrew shares his journey from starring on "The Young Apprentice" to leading global partnerships at System1. Learn why creativity ranks second in driving ad profitability, the pitfalls of AI-generated content, and the elements that make ads truly effective. We also discuss why dull ads pose the biggest risk to your business and so much more.
Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the brightest minds in marketing.
Enjoy the show!
Our Guest:
Andrew Tindall
SVP Global Partnerships @ System1
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-tindall/
https://system1group.com/
Our Hosts:
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/
Podcast Literature:
Holistic Effectiveness Framework https://www.linkedin.com/posts/andrew-tindall_advertising-marketing-activity-7202563554573438976-Oh8T
Creatively Awarded Ads are Average https://www.thedrum.com/opinion/2024/05/21/creatively-awarded-ads-once-effective-are-now-officially-average
Creative is undervalued https://www.linkedin.com/posts/marcbinkley_we-marketers-underestimate-the-value-of-activity-7188522028625231872-0GXU
The best & Wurst of pre-testing https://www.thedrum.com/opinion/2024/04/25/the-best-and-wurst-pre-testing-why-marketers-need-visit-my-sausage-factory
Majority of B2B ads are ineffective https://www.marketingweek.com/majority-b2b-creative-ineffective/
Kantar - Paul Dyson https://www.kantar.com/inspiration/advertising-media/the-advertising-multipliers-that-matter-are-not-what-marketers-think
Definitions for Paul’s Work https://www.thinkbox.tv/research/thinkbox-research/the-drivers-of-profitability#the-drivers-of-profitability
TimeStamps
0:00 - Podcast Intro and Introduction to Andrew Tindall
3:22 - Andrew’s career from TV to Medicine to Alcohol to Ads
7:10 - The importance of good product design - Burger King
8:30 - Creativity is the biggest driver of ad profitability
11:57 - The problem with AI-generated creative & platform metrics
13:38 - Why do we undervalue the inputs and overvalue the outputs
16:53 - Making time to think
20:15 - Awards for creativity vs. creative effectiveness
24:34 - Refusing to learn performance marketing
26:09 - Why we’ve not seen massive effects in creative effectiveness
27:45 - Measuring effectiveness with System1
31:08 - eSOV + Emotion drives profitability
35:16 - Nearly 75% of B2B ads are not effective in the long term
36:45 - B2B customers are not different than B2C
38:50 - Creative effectiveness is against a benchmark
39:59 - Strategy is critical for effective advertising
41:58 - 3 elements of effective ads: Unique, Engaging, Craft
46:30 - Dull ads are the biggest risk to your marketing investments
48:43 - Outdated ideas on pre-testing ads
50:04 - Shit that arrives at the speed of light is still shit
52:08 - Post-pod with V & Marc
Where to Listen:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-sleeping-barber-a-business-and-marketing-podcast/id1609811324
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4v0kaM350zEY7X2VBuyfrF?si=7083317d5afd488b
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sleepingbarberpodcast
© 2024 Sleeping Barber

Jun 20, 2024 • 29min
SBP 076: The Barber's Brief - June 20th, 2024
Welcome back to another episode of The Barber’s Brief. A segment where we cover news that caught our eye, a marketing moment where we highlight a case study, and our ad of the week.
We hope you enjoy the show!
Our Hosts:
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/
In the News:
Nvidia's 10-for-1 Stock Split Is Over. Here's What's Next for the Stock.
Link: https://www.fool.com/investing/2024/06/16/nvidias-10-for-1-stock-split-is-over-heres-whats-n/
Meta announces new enhancements to Reels and AI-powered solutions at Cannes
Link: https://www.socialsamosa.com/2023/06/meta-reels-ai-solutions-at-cannes/
How to Kill Creativity
Link: https://hbr.org/1998/09/how-to-kill-creativity
TikTok ads will now include AI avatars of creators and stock actors
Link: https://techcrunch.com/2024/06/17/tiktok-ads-and-branded-content-will-now-include-ai-avatars-of-creators-and-stock-actors/
Marketing Moment: Highlighting Case studies (3-4 minutes):
Bubly / Buble Launch - ARF Advertising Research Foundation
Link: https://thearf-org-unified-admin.s3.amazonaws.com/ARF%20Ogilvy%20Award%20Case%20Studies/2020%20ARF%20David%20Ogilvy%20Award%20CS/Buble%CC%81-vs.-bubly.pdf
Challenge - Gain market share in a fast-growing category
Background
PepsiCo looking at breaking into a emerging category
La Croix was established market leader with 20% MS
Product lacked personality
Sparkling water category $2b industry by end of 2018
CAGR around 20%
Expected growth over the next 5 years of 74%
Targeting millennials = generation play
Insight
Adulting is hard
millennials dealing with adulting want an everyday sparkling water brand that felt as fun, colorfoul and playful as soda.
Used customer interviews, social listening, quant/qual message testing & google search trend analysis
Most other brands had very little personality
La Croix was positioned as fancier than others - name became territory for playful approach
Creative
Brand took on a “playful instigator” role
Focused on fun & colour in media placements, partnerships, creative and spokesperson (buble)
Launch
2019 superbowl kickoff with Buble convincing people how bubly was pronounced
Partnership with Ellen Degeneres show featuring Buble in a fun skit
Snackable video on most platforms, GIFs, BublyV.Buble gif
Media placements on TV, CTV
Results
77% increase in brand awareness among category users
Doubled retail sales in 2019 to $250M
Purchase consideration grew by 2x
Tripled category share
La Croix reported 16% drop in 3rd quarter earnings
Ad of the Week
Paddy Power - Danny Dyer and Peter Crouch star in Paddy Power's new Euros advert
Link: https://youtu.be/BdavDrqE2jg?si=vyfH-5jhmfesqcM4
Danny Dyer (English actor and presenter) brings his Cockney charm to Paddy Power’s ad, capturing the nation’s excitement for the tournament with a humorous twist. The commercial playfully pokes fun at British quirks, featuring diverse characters who deliver sarcastic ‘compliments’ to the English. From Italians mockingly admiring our fashion to Germans grumbling about World Cup chants, and Dyer himself, portraying the quintessential English dad abroad, the ad is a witty celebration of our national character.