The ShopTalk Blog

Conversations and perspectives from our favorite people working at
the intersection of marketing x impact — with a Straight Up twist.

Introducing Brand Integrity: Who Has It, Who Doesn’t & Why It Matters More Than Ever
Straight Up POV
Introducing Brand Integrity: Who Has It, Who Doesn’t & Why It Matters More Than Ever

In an interview with the founders of Ben & Jerry’s published in The New York…

How and Why Regenerative Economies are the Path to Widespread Health and Prosperity
Conversations
How and Why Regenerative Economies are the Path to Widespread Health and Prosperity

We sat down with Lynelle Cameron, the sustainability pioneer and managing partner…

The 5 Tenets of Meaningful Marketing
Straight Up POV
The 5 Tenets of Meaningful Marketing

Consumers have moved beyond simply buying a product or service from a company….

“Play the Long Game” and Other Principles to Make Your Marketing Meaningful
Conversations
“Play the Long Game” and Other Principles to Make Your Marketing Meaningful

We sat down together to talk about meaningful marketing — what it is, who we’re…

Why We’re Committing Our Work to Social Impact Causes
Conversations
Why We’re Committing Our Work to Social Impact Causes

We sat down together to talk about our long history of collaboration, our passion…

4 Ways to Take the Marketing Hustle out of the Holiday Season
Straight Up POV
4 Ways to Take the Marketing Hustle out of the Holiday Season

As we close out 2022, it’s safe to say that everyone has been through A LOT —…

Straight Up POV
“The Devil Is in the Details” — Why Every Detail Matters Before, During, and After a Customer’s Journey

“It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose…

Is LinkedIn Getting Less Professional?
Straight Up POV
Is LinkedIn Getting Less Professional?

LinkedIn is getting more confessional and less professional. At first, I thought it…

“Connections Make All the Difference”: Building a Meaningful Team Culture in Today’s Marketing Landscape
Conversations
“Connections Make All the Difference”: Building a Meaningful Team Culture in Today’s Marketing Landscape

I sat down with Mike Colombo, Head of Global Demand Generation at Bricsys, to chat…

Your Marketing Budget Just Got Cut … Now What? Try These 5 Strategies
Straight Up POV
Your Marketing Budget Just Got Cut … Now What? Try These 5 Strategies

With a possible recession looming, brand and marketing budgets will no doubt get…

“Tend to Relationships First and Last” and 3 Other Lessons I Learned from My Family’s Business
Straight Up Stories
“Tend to Relationships First and Last” and 3 Other Lessons I Learned from My Family’s Business

Starting as a sixth-grader, I grew up working in my father’s specialty men’s…

Marketing Morality: What Can Smaller Brands Do to Engender Trust?
Straight Up Stories
Marketing Morality: What Can Smaller Brands Do to Engender Trust?

In 2022, ethics and moral principles are an endangered species. Morality lacks in…

In Defense of the Middle Manager
Straight Up Stories
In Defense of the Middle Manager

During the pandemic, much has been written about the middle manager — though, to…

Conversations
“It’s All About Communication and Open Partnership”: Building Better Relationships with Sales Teams

I sat down with the director of global customer growth and loyalty at Headspace…

4 Ways to Reduce Anxiety at Work
Straight Up POV
4 Ways to Reduce Anxiety at Work

We’re all struggling with anxiety at work — we were long before the pandemic…

8 Ways to Be a Good Partner (and Make Your Partner Look Good!)
Straight Up POV
8 Ways to Be a Good Partner (and Make Your Partner Look Good!)

When I became a consultant after 30 years in corporate marketing, I realized I no…

5 Ways to Avoid Engaging a Difficult Client
Straight Up POV
5 Ways to Avoid Engaging a Difficult Client

We’ve all had our fair share of difficult clients — ones who behave…

5 Unhelpful Phrases You’re Using as a Leader (and What to Try Instead)
Straight Up POV
5 Unhelpful Phrases You’re Using as a Leader (and What to Try Instead)

Some “helpful” phrases have become pervasive throughout modern work culture that…

5 Ways to Manage a Difficult Client
Straight Up POV
5 Ways to Manage a Difficult Client

Every agency and consultant has experienced it: a difficult client. Clients are…

Jam sessions: A local music store connects teachers and students with digital bridges
Conversations
Jam sessions: A local music store connects teachers and students with digital bridges

After much interest in our interview with The Magic Flute’s co-owner, Tamara…

From acoustic to electric:  A local music store reopens with the help of digital
Conversations
From acoustic to electric: A local music store reopens with the help of digital

I sat down with Tamara Osheroff to discuss why she left her high-powered marketing…

Keywords are your customer’s words – are you listening?
Straight Up POV
Keywords are your customer’s words – are you listening?

Hate keywords? You’re not alone. To the uninitiated, SEO keywords can feel like…

Marketing In Our New Reality
Straight Up POV
Marketing In Our New Reality

5 Marketing Truths in Our Changing Reality(and 3 Actions You Can Take) There’s no…

Are PR Agencies the New Dinosaurs?
Conversations
Are PR Agencies the New Dinosaurs?

The simple answer is “no”…in the sense that it is unlikely all PR agencies…

The Meaning of Design
Conversations
The Meaning of Design

Design, the profession, began in 1850 during the first Industrial Revolution, when…

My Origin Story
Straight Up Stories
My Origin Story

At age twelve, I started working in my father’s specialty men’s clothing store…