From the Kelce School of Business at Pittsburg State University comes this report about the November 7 appearance of our Creative Chairman, Steve Cranford, speaking with students, faculty and university leadership on the topic of Marketing in the Real World: Snapping Stereotype to Reveal Superpower as Leadership Imperitive. Individual attention spans are shrinking under the expanding crush of information available in contemporary culture.  Faced with this challenge, enterprise leaders must understand how desired audiences become aware of, develop…
Where you've been during a lifetime stays with you, or so they say. In my case, life's journey led me through a number of communities throughout the United States. Including one smack in its middle: Wichita, Kansas. It was in Wichita that so much came together that my time there became the inflection point in my life, with 12 years of early career experiences that continue to shape a life today. For those unaware, Wichita…
On October 6, 2014 the Wall Street Journal reported the ambitions for a first-of-its-kind executive program for Chief Marketing Officers [CMOs] created by The Wharton School and IBM. The ambition is now real. The new program, CMO Advantage: Evolving Beyond the Digital Revolution, led to invitations by The Wharton School to some 45 select CMOs among Global Fortune 500 companies and equivalent enterprises, including our own Steve Cranford, who was nominated for CMO Advantage by…
Yes, he's truly exceptional. Enrique Johnson. Real Madrid Club de Fútbol thinks so, they the 2014 European Cup Champions and the world's most valuable sports team. As do a long list of many others in a range of industries, such as banking & finance, telecommunications, airlines, sports, consumer goods, and entertainment, an example of the latter most recently mentioned in The New York Times. Enrique Johnson joins WHISPER as our director in Madrid. Get to know him by taking a look at his story at this link.…
The 2014 PR Week Awards have been announced. Our congratulations to a profound purpose-driven client, the March of Dimes. We are honored to have worked with this iconic institution in creating the ImBornTo® brand asset, which has been honored with the Nonprofit Campaign of the Year Award. We are privileged to have played our role in this March of Dimes success. Here's the story. Beginning with a focus on eradicating polio, for 75 years March…
Built upon the passion of one man, and launched over three decades ago, AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions has become a force in the weather information technology industry. The latest story of the man and how his passion has created business success for many is shared in this media report: AccuWeather...purchased WeatherData Inc...from Mike Smith, who launched the business in 1981. WeatherData has since become Accuweather Enterprise Solutions, today led by the same man, Mike Smith, who at age five…
JANUARY 28, 2014 – NEW YORK WHISPER has been appointed brand development partner by Stonework Foods, a gourmet food sauces producer based in the San Francisco Bay Area.  The announcement concludes a lengthy competitive pitch process. "Since opening our doors in New York City over five years ago, our ambition has been to partner with the most promising leaders and brands of influence," says Steve Cranford, Founder and Creative Chairman of WHISPER.  "To be chosen…
NOVEMBER 4, 2013 – NEW YORK WHISPER has been appointed brand strategy partner by George Washington's Mount Vernon, the home and library of the first President of the United States, George Washington.  The announcement concludes an extensive pitch process. "Since opening our doors in New York City over four years ago, our ambition has been to partner with the most promising leaders and brands of influence," says Steve Cranford, Founder and Creative Chairman of WHISPER. …
SEPTEMBER 23, 2013 – NEW YORK WHISPER globally [WHISPER] has been appointed brand strategy and marketing partner by sports medicine and pain expert Sean Wheeler, MD of College Park Family Care Center in Overland Park, Kansas.  The announcement concludes an extensive pitch process. "Since opening our doors in New York City over four years ago, our ambition has been to partner with the most promising leaders focused on their brands," said Steve Cranford, Founder and…
JULY 14, 2013 - NEW YORK CITY On Monday, July 15, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will host former President George H. W. Bush, former First Lady Barbara Bush, and members of the Bush family for an event to honor the winner of the 5,000th Daily Point of Light Award. Also participating in Monday's ceremony will be Michelle Nunn, CEO of Points of Light, Neil Bush, chairman of Points of Light, and members of…
MAY 22, 2013 - NEW YORK CITY Gavin Peters is documentating the history of manned space exploration, through photography WIRED magazine describes as "Awesome." Which confirms what we've known of Gavin all along. Here's the story. Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos has a consuming interest in space exploration, and the history of space exploration. In March, a team organized by Mr. Bezos recovered NASA's Apollo Saturn V engines after they spent some 40 years on the ocean floor, as reported in WIRED: The corroded F-1…
MAY 15, 2013 - NEW YORK CITY generationOn - where teens, tweens and younger tap into their basic human need of helping others, and exercise their power to do so - honored Chelsea Clinton, Julie Fisher Cummings, and Bank of America for their commitment of encouraging community-transforming service by young people. In addition, six leaders, age 8 to 17, were honored with generationOn's highest recognition, the Mark Award, as each make their mark on the world through their local…
30 JANUARY 2013 - NEW YORK CITY WHISPER client Richard Sexton has been selected by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for 2013 New Year's Honours, and awarded the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, or MBE. The MBE Honour recognizes Mr. Sexton's "services to UK charitable work, particularly for children and to the British and Commonwealth community in New York," through his work on behalf of St. George's Society of New York and through his organization, CAPTAIN'S KNOCK, on…
AUGUST 3, 2012 - NEW YORK CITY generationOn, the global pre-adult age service movement igniting the power of all kids to make their mark on the world, visited the NASDAQ MarketSite in Times Square. In honor of the occasion, Concetta Bencivenga, Executive Director of generationOn, rang the Closing Bell.  Others in attendance included pre-adult age members of the generationOn national Advisory Board, staff, and Steve Cranford, Managing Director of Whisper, creator of the generationOn property.…

Ghana to host African Brand Conference Friday, September 9th, 2011

SEPTEMBER 9, 2011 - ACCRA This year’s African Brand Conference will be held in Accra from 3 to 4 November, it has been announced. The conference, which is expected to be attended by 500 business executives, will outline social media branding tactics. The growth of social networking platforms such as Facebook and Twitter will be emphasised, with “Transforming your Brand in the New Media” as the theme. “New media has a key role in transforming…
9 SEPTEMBER 2011 - KAMPALA Ghana will this year host the Africa Brand Conference that is aimed at exposing African businesses to social media branding tactics to help them expand markets for their products and services. According to Akin Naphtal, the conference director, this year's conference will focus on digital marketing in the face of the fast growing use of social media such as Facebook, and Twitter. The conference will be held in Accra, 3-4…
JANUARY 19, 2011 - BOGOTA Following the success of the 1st international Place Branding Conference in Berlin in 2008, we move one step closer to developing a ‘common language’ among the different disciplines involved. The conference enriches dialogue between academics, practitioners and city representatives who often approach very similar issues from different angles. Among those speaking at this event and their topics: Sebastian Zenker, Concept & Measurement of Place Brands (Germany) Steve Cranford, Whisper, Cities…

Umbrella brand Tuesday, September 21st, 2010

SEPTEMBER 2010 - BUCHAREST An "umbrella brand" is a high altitude articulation of difference and benefits with several sub-conversations captured beneath. It unites a series of sub-brands with one voice, leaving room for each sub-brand to engage in sub-conversations relevant to more precisely targeted markets, through use of different products, communication channels, and promotional means. As with all effective brand strategy, umbrella brands require a single message, an expression of a common sense benefit grounded in…
MARCH 29, 2010 - NEW YORK CITY Representatives from generationOn visited the NASDAQ MarketSite in Times Square and presided over the NASDAQ Opening Bell ceremony. In honor of the occasion, Maggie Patton, Executive Director of generationOn, rang the Opening Bell together with members of her staff.  Others in attendance included Steve Cranford, Managing Director of Whisper, creator of the generationOn brand property. About generationOn:generationOn is the global pre-adult age service movement igniting the power of all kids…

B2B SOCIAL COMMUNICATIONS Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

SEPTEMBER 16, 2009 - NEW YORK CITY B2B communicators and marketers increasingly embrace social media to achieve business objectives.  B2B companies use their organization's knowledge and experience within the social web to attract and connect with prospects, customers, employees and media.  This half-day conference demonstrates the best B2B case studies from leading organizations Speakers and moderators, and their topics include: Steve Cranford, WHISPER                 Your Blog as Brand Builder
JUNE 25, 2009 - SURREY, ENGLAND BY MICHAEL CLANCY What role does the state have over national development within an increasingly globalized economy? Moreover, how do we conceive 'nationality' during periods of rapid economic and social change spurred on by globalization? By examining tourism in the Republic of Ireland over the past 20 years, Michael Clancy addresses these questions of national identity formation, as well as providing a detailed understanding of the political economy of tourism…
MAY 12, 2009 - NEW YORK CITY Social media continues to make a significant impact on how consumers and organizations communicate and operate.  This event showcased the best examples and case studies from leading organizations including B2C and B2B global 1000 and emerging growth companies as well as non-profit, educational, and government entities. Speakers and moderators, and their topic include: Steve Cranford, WHISPERUse of Social Communication As a Demonstration of Your Brand Link
JANUARY 2009 - BEIJING JOURNAL OF CHINESE ECONOMIC AND FOREIGN TRADE STUDIES [We] examine the different strategies implemented by a number of successful Chinese firms currently striving to build global brands in order to improve their export capabilities. A particular emphasis is put on the transfer of marketing technology for brand engineering in order to achieve this goal. [Our] analysis uses case study methodology to understand what many prominent Chinese exporting firms have achieved, and develops…
MARCH 10, 2008 - TORONTO In Western lore, cattle ranchers used hot irons to "brand" their livestock, thus ensuring they could identify any animal that wandered away from the herd. The process was risky, involving the use of red-hot tools and calves that could put a hoof through your spleen if they managed to wriggle loose. Today, branding hasn't changed much. Your brand is the identity of your product or company -- an emotive touchstone…

Circuit City: Schoonover's Brand Disconnect Saturday, February 16th, 2008

FEBRUARY 17, 2008 - NEW YORK CITY By STEVE CRANFORD, WHISPER If an interview in the Wall Street Journal is any indicator, the latest demonstration of this inability to grasp the obvious comes from the Chief Executive of Circuit City Stores Inc. (CC). Too often, the new CEO of an under-performing company focuses first on cost-cutting rather than revenue growth. The reason is that cost-cutting is easier than increasing sales. A cost-cutting plan may also be…
2 MAY 2007 - DUBAI Arabian Travel Market is the travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals. It has become the region's leading conference and trade exhibition for travel industry professionals. Speakers included: 10.30 am: Country As Brand, the ultimate marketing challenge by Rina Plapler, executive director, brand experience, FutureBrand 11.30am: Engaging the National Psyche for Delivery by Judy Neil, consultant, FHS Global 1.30pm: MICE…
APRIL 11, 2007 - DUBAI The Summit features leading edge tactics for harnessing mediums such as advertising, internal employee communications, the web, logos, brand experiences and much more to create, build and maintain a successful brand. The GCC National Branding Strategies Summit will addresses the regional industry trends and the latest branding issues to help today's GCC corporate leaders compete more successfully in the battle for customers. Speakers include: Stephen A. Greyser, Professor of Business Administration-Emeritus of…
JUNE 27, 2006 - NEW YORK CITY Rebranding one of the best-known brands in the world takes...well, these days it takes new media. "Life Takes Visa," the credit card company's first rebranding effort in 20 years, launched with an interactive microsite at its core, complemented by forays into gaming, mobile television, mobile phone ads, and more. The campaign, which enjoyed a massive launch during the 2006 Winter Olympics, incorporates plenty of traditional media in the…
23 MARCH 2006 - DUBAI Brand strategy is vital for massive business investments. Creating or revitalising a positive brand image is a basic component of every business as it lays a foundation on which companies can build their future. This was highlighted at 'The Leading CEO Summit' at the Burj Al Arab yesterday. In the session on 'Branding Strategy in the Real World,' Steve Cranford, Chief Executive Officer of Whisper Brand Strategy Consultants said: "Develop…
MARCH 22, 2006 - DUBAI Datamatix Group today organized the 'The Leading CEO Summit' at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, UAE. The event aimed to identify and outline key issues facing today's leaders in government and business organizations. Joschka Fischer, Former Deputy Chancellor and Foreign Affairs Minister of Germany delivered the keynote address at the summit. Mr. Fischer known for his unconventional but inspirational leadership style urged an audience comprising of top decision makers…

Brand Aids Monday, August 1st, 2005

AUGUST 1, 2005 - NEW YORK CITY The always-slippery topic of branding becomes more so on the Web, where "brand" bloggers typically spill the most ink on, well, blogging. We found three that offer on-target insights. BLOG: BrandShiftWHO WRITES IT: Four branding gurus: Andy Lark, Johnnie Moore, Jennifer Rice, and John WinsorWHY YOU SHOULD READ IT: While their individual blogs often wander off-topic, BrandShift's authors stick to their knitting at this site. There's a healthy…

What's The Word: Cereologist Saturday, January 22nd, 2005

JANUARY 22, 2005 - LONDON N. cereal server A cereal cafe is a cafe serving scoops of cereals, in the 'blends' and with the 'milk options' and toppings of one's choice [e.g., 'Kix & Coco Puffs in warm strawberry skimmed, with M&Ms and half a banana.'] Also on sale are 'Cerealities' - cereal bites, bars and parfaits. Cereal cafes may be 'an entirely new consumer category, tapping into imprints humans develop at a very early…

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