by Evelyn Starr | Feb 23, 2023 | Brand Purpose & Values, Brand Storytelling, Brand Strategy
For decades M&M’s conjured memories of focus groups for me. During my years in consumer insights departments (aka marketing research) for Veryfine Products and Dunkin’, I sat behind the mirror watching customers react to new product ideas, ad campaigns, and new...
by Evelyn Starr | Dec 10, 2021 | Brand Experience, Brand Storytelling
On a bright mid-October Monday, my friend Liz and I had a strange experience when we had lunch outside at a restaurant. Sunlight warmed the patio where two parallel rows of tables were spaced about 15 feet apart. Liz sat across from me, with her back to the other row...
by Evelyn Starr | Jun 14, 2021 | Brand Storytelling
I love to write. I’ve been writing since I was 15 years old. My brother Ken led me to discover this passion. (Thank you, Ken!!) Ken is nearly six years younger than I am. When he was nine years old, he gave me a small journal for Hanukkah. It was about five by...
by Evelyn Starr | Jul 10, 2020 | Brand Growth & Rebranding, Brand Storytelling, Marketing Insights, Starter Set
This post originally appeared in March 2012 and remains one of my most popular. Updated on July 10, 2020. That’s me in the Polaroid instant photo with actor Michael Vale, better known as Fred the Baker, or the guy who used to utter “Time to make the donuts.” Mr. Vale...
by Evelyn Starr | Dec 13, 2019 | Brand Storytelling
It is rare that I don’t finish a book. I’m a voracious reader and will almost always stick with a book to its conclusion. One of the few books I did not finish was The Stars in Our Eyes. Several pages in I could not relate to the story. Nothing against the author,...
by Evelyn Starr | Feb 9, 2018 | Brand Storytelling
Are you a fan of the movie The Shawshank Redemption? I am. Something about that movie makes it easy to watch over and over again, in snippets on television and occasionally all the way through. It’s a story about hope and freedom. The acting is superb. Morgan...
by Evelyn Starr | Feb 9, 2017 | Brand Storytelling, Marketing Tools & Tactics
When I read Bruce Springsteen’s autobiography Born to Run in January, I learned that he and I have a few things in common. Both of us like the smell of coffee but not the taste. Neither of us can read sheet music. Both of us grew up in New Jersey (okay I knew that),...
by Evelyn Starr | Oct 9, 2015 | Brand Storytelling, Marketing Tools & Tactics
I love autumn in New England, so I’m a happy camper up here right now. And yes, autumn presages a long winter, but I have found ways to enjoy that too. One of the benefits of New England’s long winters is that you can wear boots six months of the year. ...
by Evelyn Starr | Dec 12, 2014 | Brand Storytelling, Marketing Insights, Marketing Tools & Tactics
I missed seeing Harry Chapin in concert by three days. If you don’t know Harry Chapin by name, you would probably recognize one of his songs, particularly Cat’s in the Cradle or Taxi. I was at a summer program in East Brunswick, New Jersey with 21 other teenagers in...
