Crow news

Crow Essentials / Strategy

A couple of weeks ago we posted that no matter how long you’ve been around, any brand or business shouldn’t ever forget to remind, refresh and reinforce what it is about.

And, as a brand building agency we really ought to practice what we preach – with that in mind, here’s the second part of our ‘Basics’ series; this time on our strategy offer.

Dispassionately working out where you are, and what the options are going forwards, bearing in mind your competitors, consumer or customer dynamics, or the general shifts in attitudes and behaviours in your category, is critical to any business or brand.

If you need help working out what your options are, then get in touch.

We build brands sure, but strategy is vital at any level – it could be your business EVP. It could be a business unit strategy. It could be your corporate direction. Or understanding what the options are if you’re undertaking M&A.

Or of course, it could be what you do with your brand or your portfolio.

Crow Essentials / Research

We passed our 11th Birthday in December which is uncrowlievable… but it’s important to never assume that everyone knows what your company is and what it does. So here’s the first in a series of Crow ‘101’s which we’re putting out in our social feeds.

If you’ve got a brand building challenge and what a rigourous, pragmatic and pacey answer – get in touch (+44 (0) 7885 408367 or caw@thecrowflies.co.uk

So here we go, Crow ‘Basics’, part 1, with a little focus on how we help our clients with market research.

It’s time… the Christmas Brand Mashups!

The long wait is over. The searing heat and parched, chapped lips of Summer a distant memory. The crisp, loamy mulch of leaves now all gone. Yes, the World has turned on its axis once again and the time for The Crow Flies’ famous (and celebrated) Christmas #Brand #Mashups is here. Do enjoy!

Answers at 3pm on Christmas Day here and on the Crow Socials (not Twatter) FB @crowflieshigh INSTA @crowflieshigh.

Creative success for Warwickshire Buses

It was great to hear about the advertising success for Warwickshire Buses – we helped our friends at One Black Bear with the research for their creative development work for Warwickshire Buses, operated by Warwickshire County Council. The aim is to recruit more young bus users, and underline that bus travel is great value for money. Use a bus, and you’ll be Squids In, no squidding.

 

New innovation launch for Pieminister: Handy Pies

Whoop! Here’s another amazing *new* innovation from our pie-fectly formed friends at Pieminister and lovely to have played a small part in developing the idea and getting them to market.

It’s time to dump the lunchtime soggy sandwich, sad slice or joyless wrap and feast on these handily handheld, deep filled, and seriously delicious Handy Pies.

There are four delicious flavours including a veggie and vegan option and they’re piefect to eat hot or cold.

Available in Ocado right now, Tesco to come very soon!

—

Links:

Pieminister webpage

Pieminister insta

 

Crow Chronicle – unlocking the power of great plans

Ah, Crow Friends, please find attached for your delight and cawsome delectation this Spring’s Crow Chronicle, which this season is mostly focusing on plans and planning. Now, yes, here at Crow we are a brand building business, but creating great plans and much bigger than that. Whether it’s the plan for the whole business; a BU; a function or a brand portfolio or range, the power of a compelling plan, and the process that gets you there is often under-appreciated.

A great planning process aligns and unites the whole business. A great process not only delivers a plan that everyone then works to, but also drives engagement because of the confidence it creates.

A great plan focuses minds. Too often plans are flabby, unfocused and don’t talk to the key issues at play. The Chronicle offers a few tips and thought-starters for how to ensure this doesn’t happen.

Us Crows are absolute converts to the power of a great plan to drive a business positively forward. It takes effort, commitment, guts and no end of cat-herding, but get it right, and the domino effect you can create in the business will repay that investment in time and energy thrice over*

Enjoy the read!

Link here: Crow Chronicle on Planning

—

*Yes, Crow said ‘thrice’ there. It’s a word that is not used often enough. Like ‘nuptials’, ‘egregious’, or ‘snollygoster’

Innovation Success for Pieminister

Oh, it was so cawsome to hear the Piefect news about Pieminister’s – now *award winning* – Souk Chouk chicken and harissa filo pie in the British Pie Awards 2024! (Yes, very delightfully, there is such a thing). It’s always great to see the fruits of the team’s efforts do well, and in this case great to have been part of the  ‘filled-right-to-the-brim’ team at Pieminister that conceived and brought this beaut to market!
—
Honestly, if you haven’t tried one yet they’re in Waitrose & Partners, Tesco and Ocado Retail Ltd – very much a case of winner, winner, filo pie dinner. Or lunch.
—

Looking to build your innovation pipeline? Call Crow!