Brand Shorthand

The digital accessibility expert, James Warnken, is back for this week's episode of the Brand Shorthand Podcast to continue the discussion on all things web accessibility. Join Mark and James to hear the reasons why businesses should care about digital accessibility, and the principles that can help guide you through making your digital content accessible. 

 Join Mark and James for 30-ish as they discuss all things marketing, advertising, and of course … positioning!

James Warnken, a digital accessibility expert, joins Mark on this week's episode of the Brand Shorthand podcast to dive into the world of accessibility. Tune in to hear about James's journey to becoming an expert in the field, the company he founded, and how he’s working to make the user experience both usable and accessible. This episode covers the full scope of digital accessibility and why it matters.  

Join Mark and James for 30-ish as they discuss all things marketing, advertising, and of course … positioning! 

Kraft Heinz announced on September 2nd that they would be splitting into two separate companies. This split, occurring about a decade after the initial merger of Kraft and Heinz, will result in two new companies. One company will focus more on the global leader brands such as Heinz, Kraft Mac & Cheese, and Philadelphia, while the other will focus on North American food and beverage brands such as Lunchables, Oscar Mayer, and Capri Sun. Join the positioning duo for this week's episode to hear their thoughts on the Kraft Heinz separation.

Join Mark and Lorraine for 30-ish as they discuss all things marketing, advertising, and of course … positioning!

Football season is upon us, and fans are gearing up to watch their favorite teams take the field! So, what does this mean for advertisers? Join Mark and Lorraine on this week's episode of the Brand Shorthand podcast to learn all about the benefits of advertising during sporting events, how tapping into an emotional environment with advertising can be effective for a brand, and things to consider for a strategy for sports advertising. The positioning duo also goes through a few examples of ads airing during the 2025/2026 football season, sharing their thoughts on whether these brands scored a touchdown or fumbled.  

Join Mark and Lorraine for 30-ish as they discuss all things marketing, advertising, and of course … positioning!

On this week's episode of the Brand Shorthand podcast, Mark is joined by the Executive Director of Client Services and Media at Innis Maggiore, Tony Bell. Tune in to learn all about multi-channel marketing including what it is, some of its advantages, some of the biggest mistakes businesses make with multi-channel marketing, the strategy behind choosing which channels are right for a client, and the key steps that go into implementing a multi-channel marketing campaign.

Join Mark and Tony for 30-ish as they discuss all things marketing, advertising, and of course … positioning!

What happens when you try to change something that customers know and love? Cracker Barrel had something unique to offer its customers. Established in 1969 and filled with vintage Americana, the “Old Country Store” offered customers a warm and cozy atmosphere to gather with family and friends. Now, over 50 years later, Cracker Barrel has decided it is time for a rebrand. From a logo refresh to restaurant revamps, Cracker Barrel is taking on a modern look and feel. Join Mark and Lorraine for this week's episode of the Brand Shorthand podcast as they dive into Cracker Barrel's rebranding journey.  

Join Mark and Lorraine for 30-ish as they discuss all things marketing, advertising, and of course … positioning!

Our strategy gurus never shy away from controversy. In this episode, Mark and Lorraine dive into 2025’s biggest advertising controversy – the Sydney Sweeney American Eagle Jeans/Genes campaign! See how the positioning duo impartially shares their thoughts on the campaign and why the stock soared, the jeans flew off the shelf, and how American Eagle may once again be relevant to a new generation.

Join Mark and Lorraine for 30-ish as they discuss all things marketing, advertising, and of course … positioning!

Did you know that franchising is one of the most popular methods to growing a business? Over 700,000 franchise units have opened in the past 15 years and the projection is that by the end of 2025, there will be more than 850,000 units. Mark and his special guest, Steve, discuss what makes a great franchise system and why Innis Maggiore and FranSource decided to join forces.

Join Mark and Steve for 30-ish as they discuss all things marketing, advertising, and of course … positioning! 

Following a brand refresh earlier this year, Walmart has officially reintroduced itself with its latest campaign, “Walmart. Who Knew?” as a way to showcase all its new offerings. Walmart has always been a well-known example of the low-price position, but is it trying to change its image? Join Mark and Lorraine as they share their thoughts on Walmart's new offerings, the campaign, and some recent brand news from Pepsi.

Join Mark and Lorraine for 30-ish as they discuss all things marketing, advertising, and of course … positioning! 

What happens when you step out of the norm with your advertising efforts? Tune in this week to hear about different non-traditional campaign types including larger-than-life campaigns, guerrilla campaigns, and IRL experiential campaigns. The positioning duo, Mark and Lorraine, go through some examples of the non-traditional campaign types, sharing their input on each. They will also kick off the episode with some recent brand news including the latest update on Jaguar and the newest Skinny Pop ad featuring Jennifer Aniston.

Join Mark and Lorraine for 30-ish as they discuss all things marketing, advertising, and of course … positioning!