MAGIC QUADRANT FOR GLOBAL DIGITAL MARKETING AGENCIES

As traditional agencies, consulting firms and system integrators add capabilities and compete head-to-head for brand engagements, marketing leaders gain manifold options within the global digital marketing agency ecosystem. For this year's Magic Quadrant, Gartner looked beyond the ability of global digital agencies to meet current market needs. Rather, they used their analytical lens on an agency's ability to drive client growth through its keen interpretation of marketplace trends and deliver transformational technologies or approaches that meet marketers' future needs.

businessNicki Lange13 October 2017customer experience, customer journeyComment

SUPREME CONFIRMS INVESTMENT FROM THE CARLYLE GROUP

Supreme founder James Jebbia has confirmed that the labe has sold a stake in the company to private equity firm The Carlyle Group. “We are a growing brand, and to sustain that growth we have chosen to work with Carlyle, who has the operational expertise needed to keep us on the steady path we’ve been on since 1994,” said Jebbia in an exclusive statement to The Business of Fashion.

business, fashionNicki Lange7 October 2017supreme, the carlyle groupComment

CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS REIMAGINED: EXTREME SAILING SERIES

Sports have become more competitive than ever and the fan experience is improving exponentially with technological advances. Similar to Nike, who has recently unveiled their new NBA Connected Jersey, the Extreme Sailing Series aims to re-create sailing regattas and turn such into exhilarating sport events, where fan experience comes first.

sports, technology, businessNicki Lange6 October 2017sap, nike, sailingComment

GLOBAL CONSULTANCIES ARE BUYING UP AGENCIES AND RESHAPING THE BRAND MARKETING WORLD

In the past, consulting firms' bread and butter has traditionally been large IT and business-transformation projects. Nowadays, project scopes increasingly require new skills, such as user experience, human-centered design, agile and more. Skill sets that have historically been offered by agencies.

technology, businessNicki Lange5 October 2017Comment

A BUSINESS LEADER’S GUIDE TO AGILE

Agile development has become popular in conjunction with digitization. It entails frequent interactions between business and IT groups, and it requires widespread acceptance of a test-and-learn approach. Agile work flows create positive business outcomes, such as a more engaging customer experience, streamlined internal processes, and a thriving, collaborative corporate culture. My team and I at Alchemist have been adopting an agile work flow from the start. In turn, this outcome-driven approach greatly enhanced our progress, work environment and culture.

technology, businessNicki Lange30 September 2017mckinsey Comment

THE FUTURE OF LIFESTYLE BRANDING: THE TOP 5 MOST WANTED

What defines ‘lifestyle’ today and which brands are really defining it? The strategy of moving beyond products and services to own a larger slice of the customer’s identity has proven to be an excellent recipe for success. Today's leading lifestyle brands are the likes of Airbnb, Rapha and Tesla, which perfectly reflect people's busy, mobile and demanding lives. They touch upon the consumer's individual style and are influenced by the way we choose to live.

businessNicki Lange24 September 2017brandingComment

DROPBOX Q&A WITH CHRIS ROWSON: TEAM BUILDER, MAKER, SPONGE

Chris Rowson is the head of design and group creative director at TBWA in New York, which is one of the most storied and successful creative agencies in the world. The firm has a knack for surprising, disruptive work, and Rowson has played a big role in many of the agency’s campaigns. Dropbox has sat down with Rowson to discuss where he finds creative inspiration, how he thinks about teamwork, and what advice he has for the next generation of creators.

businessNicki Lange12 September 2017dropbox, tbwaComment

THE DAILY DONUT

Campaign Monitor provides simple email marketing, automation and online surveys that help growing businesses. The company has shared a fictional story that outlines the potential of digital media and what opportunities it can offer if applied correctly. It tells the story of two friends from New York City that have started their donut shop in Chelsea and how they have turned a passion project into a full-time business.

technology, businessNicki Lange10 September 2017brandingComment

THE MAN BRINGING DOWN THE BANKS

London’s emerging financial technology (short: “fintech”) sector is full of clever people doing things with cash and code. Monzo, Revolut, Tandem and TransferWise are all tackling similar issues. But Mr Blomfield has done something different, which the others have not. He has made banking cool. Monzo is disrupting banking with his little pink cards, which have turned into a must-have for millennials and creatives. Blomfield and his team have somehow made personal finance palatable to millennials. In an interview with Mr Porter, he shared a few very interesting insights about his business plan and fashion preferences.

business, technologyNicki Lange6 September 2017monzoComment

WOLFF OLINS’S NEW CEO ON BRANDING, AI, AND THE FUTURE OF THE DESIGN AGENCY

The newly appointed CEO of Wolff Olins, Sairah Asham, spoke to Co.Design about her new role as a CEO, the intersect of branding and technology and what digital sociology means and how it impacts the design industry.

businessNicki Lange29 August 2017wolff olins, brandingComment

RUF VS. SINGER: IN PURSUIT OF THE PERFECT PORSCHE

The Porsche 911 needs no introduction. It is what many boys dream about in their teenage years. People talk about Turbo, Targa, GT2, GT3 and so. However, recently I came across a post on Petrolicious that looks beyond the stock version of those dream cars. It does not matter how pure, raw, distilled, whatever adjective you like, it just does not matter how good you think your car is, there will always be something that can be improved. And that 'something', RUF and Singer Vehicle Design try to deliver, all in pursuit of the 'perfect' car.

businessNicki Lange17 August 2017porsche Comment

TO DO ANYTHING WELL IS A STRUGGLE

"To do anything well is a struggle. You need to give it everything," says Rapha’s founder, Simon Mottram. In fact, this man has certainly thrown it all into creating an one-of-a-kind company that has made him cycle around the the world and gotten to know and work with the likes of Dave Brailsford, Paul Smith, Bradley Wiggins and Norman Foster. Mottram says that the key to Rapha's success was shaped by a three core principles namely: commerce, content and community.

business, fashionNicki Lange11 August 2017raphaComment

STONE ISLAND SELLS 30% STAKE TO TEMASEK

Stone Island was one of the first brands to connect the fields of technical wear, streetwear and high-fashion. Though recent collaborations with Supreme, Nike and Kith have already elevated the company's status and strengthened its position in the highly competitive fashion market, the latest investment shall help the brand to grow globally.

business, fashionNicki Lange6 August 2017stone islandComment