The Brand Promise
I think it was my 6th or 7th Christmas. My mom knew that I needed a winter coat, so she bought one – at K-Mart – and I opened it on Christmas morning. She made me try it on, over my pajamas. She was happy it fit. I was just happy to have a coat. My dad looked puzzled.
It was a Miami Dolphins coat, bright aquamarine and blaze orange faux fur lining the coat and hood. Looking back through pictures, it stood out as horribly garish – even by 1973 standards. I looked like a 70s sitcom version of a pimp. Sure, the Dolphins were winners, but we were Redskins fans. “We’ve never even been to Miami,” my dad groused.
The next day we returned to the store and exchanged it for a Redskins coat. I’ve never worn another NFL brand since. The Redskins have had their ups and downs – trust me, I know – but I’ve always stayed loyal. When you’re loyal to brand you buy their stuff. Building a brand isn’t always about winning and losing. Mostly it’s about creating lifelong fans.
Brands keep loyal fans when the brand keeps their promises. They lose customers when they don’t. Part of implied brand promise is that the Redskins ownership will do what it takes to win. The coach will put the best players in, like Adrian Peterson, not a rookie at running back. The players will play their best. We promise. This year, my beloved Redskins, are 0-3 and will be 0-4 by Sunday when they face Tom Brady and the Patriots. They have broken their promises to me and millions of others.
When does basketball season start? #VCUGoRamsGo
Monday, September 30 – Wired For Your Future
Our client Chewning & Wilmer recently called us to light the way. So that’s exactly what we did. We had a lot of fun creating new business cards for them that were both electrifying and elegant. If your company is in need of some bold new branding, give us a shout at shout@madisonmain.com — we’d love to collaborate.
Tuesday, October 1 – Happy Birthday To Us!
On Tuesday, we celebrated Madison+Main‘s 14th Anniversary at the Virginia State Fair. We ate fried Oreos, rode a few rattling rides, and I challenged the ladies to a showdown on the mechanical bull. There apparently is a video of me saddling up and besting the mechanical beast for 29 seconds. That’s not bad, right? #SqueezeWithYourKnees #BullBrandsWin
Wednesday, October 2 – Pawsibly The World’s Best Job
On Wednesday and Thursday, I got the change to hang out with my fellow Virginia Council of CEOs Roundtable members at the Boar’s Head Resort in Charolottesville. It was a great time visiting King Family Vineyards and a brewery in Crozet that I forget the name of because I enjoyed a little too much Crosé Rosé. One of them asked me if the before and after picture was going in the Weekly Report. My response, “Of course.”
Thursday, October 3 – We Aim To Please
Special thanks to our good friend Jeff Katz at WRVA for shouting out Communications Director Kent Brockwell and Madison+Main on Thursday. Kent shot him a note keeping him in the loop of Green Top’s 3rd Annual Outdoor Expo this weekend and Jeff ended up getting Green Top CEO Blaine Altaffer on the line to talk about the fun and educational event and their plans to takeover Winding Brook Shooting Range. If you’re looking for something to do this Saturday, or simply want to sip sweet tea with Uncle Si of Duck Dynasty, head on over to their free Expo!
Friday, October 4 – Come On, Ride The Train
Just as a reminder, now is your last chance to book your $10 train ride. To celebrate a decade of rail, Amtrak and the Commonwealth of Virginia are offering inexpensive one-way tickets to/from D.C., Fredericksburg, and other parts of Virginia until next Thursday. It’s the perfect time to experience A. Smith Bowman Distillery, a.k.a. Virginia’s most award-winning distillery and enjoy bourbon, brunch, and a beautiful day in the historic city along the Rappahannock.
A Few of Our Favorite Events
Magnificient Midlothian Food Festival
Westchester Commons | Midlothian, VA
October 12, 2019 | 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Eat, Drink and Be Magnificent! It’s the 31st Annual Magnificent Midlothian Food Festival – Presented by Wegmans. Live Entertainment with performances by South of James and The Party Fins! Live music all day! Enjoy small plates from area restaurants, wine, beer (including Craft Beer), mixed drinks, complimentary soft drinks, and more. Proceeds benefit local charities. Get your tickets today!
CowanGates’ Memorial Blood Drive
Salisbury Country Club | Midlothian, VA
October 8, 2019 | 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Every day, blood donors help patients of all ages: accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those battling cancer. In fact, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Help save a life by donating blood. CowanGates’ annual Memorial Blood Drive will be held at Salisbury Country Club this October.
Got an upcoming event you want to share? Can we come? Send us the deets!
“It is easy to make promises — it is hard work to keep them.”
— Boris Johnson