by Miriam Hara | May 6, 2025 | Agency, Branding, Creative
Spring is a season of renewal, an open invitation to reflect, reset, and reimagine. As nature begins to bloom, so too does our perspective. For those just discovering me or my agency, both are deeply tied with the colour purple. As with every year, this season invites reflection. It’s a time to look back with hindsight and forward with hope.
Branding in the Making.
Over 36 years ago, I branded the agency with violet purple as the primary colour and mustard as the accent. Back then, purple wasn’t used in corporate identities. Amidst a sea of blues, burgundies, and greys, our business card stood out.
Branding and Evolution.
Over time, our primary colour remained consistent. In 2008, however, we swapped mustard for titanium. This shift marked our entry into the digital era and underscored our growing expertise in the digital space.
Adding to this punch of colour is the fact that I wear purple, every single workday. Weekends are my break, but with a wardrobe dominated by purple, it sneaks in anyway.
Branding Isn’t…Or Shouldn’t Be Personal.
I am often asked if purple is my favourite colour. Full disclosure: it is not! Purple was chosen based on a specific set of criteria back in 1988:
1) Was this colour unique? At the time, corporate palettes were dominated by blue, grey, and burgundy. Purple was rarely seen.
2) Would this colour be impactful? After 36 years, every time I hand out my business card (yes, I still do), it sparks a comment about the colour… and of course the design! (what is colour without design!)
3) Would it be memorable? Absolutely. Whether it’s a business card or a cold-call package, purple leaves an impression.
The Purple Culture.
Over the years, our team has made 3H synonymous not just with the color purple, but with what it represents: Creativity. Originality. Passion. Boldness. Authenticity.
They’ve embraced our Purple Culture. It’s who we are as a brand.
You’ll see this passion for branding the moment you walk through our agency doors, or when you visit us online. You’ll be immersed in purple because that’s the first step in towards establishing a brand… being immersed it on all levels, and for all the senses.
Don’t hesitate to reach out and contact us. Let’s talk about your brand or your next branding initiative.
by Miriam Hara | Apr 16, 2025 | Agency, Creative, Design
Constructive Criticism… ugh! That’s all I have to say. In the world of marketing creative the use of the term constructive criticism is as prevalent as the air we breathe! Whether designing a campaign, writing a headline, or capturing the perfect shot, everyone has a say on that creative component. It’s part of the creative process and it is integral in crafting and improving the creative asset. But let’s not sugarcoat it: feedback can sting.
Creativity is personal
Despite me telling my team that feedback, “Is not personal” , I do understand that, innately, it is. It’s difficult not for it to feel personal when you’ve taken the germ of an idea and spent hours perfecting it before you even present it. And then someone comes along, squints at your masterpiece, and says, “Hmm… it’s not quite there.”How can it not feel personal?
But when constructive criticism is given, that is the defining moment. Feedback isn’t just about hearing what needs to change, it’s about how you respond to it.
To my way of thinking, constructive criticism is the way any professional can up their game. Become really, really good at their profession. Seriously good!
Understanding the why behind the what.
Giving feedback is an art. It should, by it’s very nature, be directionally but not specific. Alas, too often that is what feedback looks like….Make this bigger. Change this colour. Tweak that headline.
Turning that feedback into being constructive you need to decode the feedback. It’s not about just doing what is requested, it’s about understanding why the change is being requested.
- Why did they ask for more space?
- What’s the real concern behind this change?
- What outcome are we trying to achieve here?
Start thinking this way, you will become a true professional, a collaborator.
Personal or not? Understanding the distinction.
Feedback isn’t a reflection of you. It’s a reflection of the work. And that distinction makes all the difference. When feedback is given, and the understanding of the feedback gets crystallized, the outcome is something everyone will get behind. Feedback isn’t an attack, it’s a way to make a creative stronger…better. If a creative concept or asset cannot handle the modifications, perhaps there’s a bigger issue about the creative.
Constructive Criticism: It’s a mindset.
Feedback is the thing that tells you where to focus, where to sharpen your edge, and where to let go of what isn’t working. If you are truly listening. It’s part of the process that continuously stokes the fire of passion… and refines natural.
Here are my key takeaways on turning feedback into an opportunity to grow and become better (yes, even after 40 years!)
- Listen to understand, not to respond.
- Ask smart questions. “What’s not landing here?” or “What’s the bigger goal we’re aiming for?”
- Pause. Take a walk, sleep on it, let your thoughts settle.
- Look for patterns. If you’re hearing the same note over and over, it’s not a coincidence, it’s an indication that you’re not learning from the feedback… but just doing!
The true professional creatives are the ones who know how to use the feedback to make what they’ve initially created, even better.
Don’t just do.
At the end of the day, addressing feedback isn’t about getting the job out the door. It’s always an opportunity for growth. Evolving your craft, sharpening your skills, and building a resilience will serve you long after the project wraps up.
Consider that every critique is; a chance to become better. An opportunity to think deeper, create smarter, and deliver something that doesn’t just work, it wows.
How you handle feedback will determine your professional trajectory… and subsequently your professional opportunities. Contrary to the very iconic Nike slogan, Don’t just do it, learn from it!
by Miriam Hara | Mar 11, 2025 | Advertising, Agency, Marketing
Test Marketing Needs a Great Concept
It’s always exciting being part of something new. To have a brand venture into a new territory. Reaching out to new audiences with a brand is bold. Often, media costs and full outreach takes dollars… and that’s where test marketing comes in. Suddenly everyone’s talking numbers, timelines, and geographic reach. SO what about the creative?
If you’re rolling out a test market without fully investing in the creative, you’re not testing your brand’s true impact. You’re just guessing. And guesswork has no place in serious strategy.
The Pitfall of Ignoring Creative
When implementing a test market, the focus is often on logistics: which channels, which regions, and what budget. Those things matter, for sure.
But here’s the thing: they only matter if your creative concept is strong enough to deliver
We all know this: creative isn’t just a pretty picture or window dressing. It’s the most essential element in any campaign. Creative is the core of your brand message. It’s what your audience will see, feel, and remember. Skipping over creative development, whether to test a channel or save budget, is a costly mistake.
Think of it this way: placing a “meh” ad in prime real estate is like putting up a billboard with a dense paragraph of unreadable copy. Sure, your brand is in the right place, but without compelling creative, it’s not going to grab attention or make an impact.
“Good Enough” Isn’t Good Enough
Think of it this way. You’re trying a new channel, like TV, radio or digital, to reach new audiences. These are people who may not be familiar with your brand. What kind of impression do you think a lack lustre ad will make?
Test marketing is about seeing if your idea can resonate, but resonance starts with a strong, compelling message, and that’s all about the creative, not the media. (albeit, they need to go hand in hand).
Half-hearted creative efforts lead to muddled results. Instead of testing the potential of your idea, you’re testing a watered-down version of it. So when that version fails to connect, you might assume the whole idea doesn’t work, when the real issue is that you didn’t give it the chance to shine.
Test Marketing isn’t Tactical
It’s tempting to think of test marketing as a purely tactical exercise. You’re testing TV vs. radio, or digital vs. print. But here’s the truth: channels don’t sell ideas, creative does. The channel is just the stage. The performance rests on your creative concept and execution.
If you’re exploring a new medium, your creative has to adapt without losing the core essence. TV needs visuals that captivate. Radio requires messaging that paints pictures with words. Digital demands agility and interactivity. Print needs to speak volumes. Regardless of the channel, all creative adaptations must be remarkable and memorable. The best campaigns understand the nuances of each channel and craft creative that works within them while staying true to the brand.
Test Marketing: Show Up Like You Mean It
Your test market audience doesn’t know they’re part of a test market. For the audience, this is the first impression of your brand. And if you show up with “just good enough” creative, that’s the impression they’ll walk away with. Think of test marketing as opening night for a smaller crowd. You’re not rehearsing; you’re performing. Show up like you mean it.
Creative Is the Test
So the next time the you’re working on a test market initiative, pause and ask: is the creative ready? Is it compelling? Does it reflect the brand’s essence and true personality? Without great creative, you’re not testing your campaign’s potential. You’re testing what happens when you don’t take your own idea seriously.
Test marketing is a chance to learn, refine, and validate. But to get real insights, you need real effort. Don’t just dip your toes in the water. Commit full on. Dive in with creative that makes waves!
by Miriam Hara | Jan 28, 2025 | Agency, Branding, Business Success, Creative, Marketing
If there is one thing that has remained with the test of time in the brand marketing world, it is ‘The Brief’. It has been the ‘one document’ that bridges streamlined information about the brand between brand marketers and creative marketing agencies since… or even before madmen.
It’s in the Brief.
The Brief is about providing the right information, so that it can create and offer up the best possible solution for the brand objective at hand and deliver on the brand strategies it stipulated. It provides the agency with the “objective reference” to assess their creative concepts and innovations against.
It’s the Brief that Counts.
Regardless of the tools that marketers have at their disposal to reach their audiences and to measure the effectiveness of their tactics, It’s the brief that counts. In today’s business world overflowing with marketing tools, data analytics, and performance metrics and, let’s face it, information overload.
As a result of all these metrics there is an undeniable pressure for corporations, brand marketers and agencies to create ideas that deliver on specific KPIs and of course, ROIs. And the only way to achieve this is in the creation of a good brief.
It’s all about The Brief.
What constitutes a good brief is simple, but it isn’t easy to create by any stretch of the imagination. A good brief is based on solid strategic thinking, providing the foundational work for the agency to pick up the baton and run with in.
What’s in The Brief.
Over the decades of running this agency, both my team and myself have had the distinct privilege of attending numerous strategic sessions for many brands… providing our agency an additional vision of the brand. But that is not always the case. Often, more than I would like, we are in a competitive situation where every word and subtlety is weighed heavily. A well written brief provides strategic clarity that enables the agency to deliver on the objectives and perhaps even exceed expectations based on the defined parameters that is set within it.
Where’s the Brief?
When we receive a mandate, this is the first question my teams always ask… Because every great campaign starts with one thing: a great brief.
by Tara Ford | Dec 17, 2024 | Advertising, Agency, Branding
The holiday season is full steam ahead, bringing with it sparkling silver bells, holiday imagery and of course seasonal advertising. It almost seems as though snowflakes come pre-loaded with cherished memories and iconic movie moments that have shaped how we see the holidays, and smart marketers know just how to tap into that nostalgia.
Take A Christmas Story and the infamous leg lamp as an example.
It isn’t just a quirky movie set prop, it’s become a pop-culture icon that shows up everywhere, including in Wayfair’s holiday ad this year. And get this, the actor who played 9-year-old Ralphie Parker even appears in the ad! Suddenly, we’re transported back to cozy Christmas mornings, unwrapping gifts by the tree, and perhaps even daring each other to stick our tongues to frozen flagpoles.
Then there’s Home Alone, where Kevin McCallister peaked our imaginations.
What fun it is to watch him defending his home with creativity, determination, and a heart filled dose of holiday spirit. It’s no wonder brands still reference his booby-trap antics decades later. The mischievous satisfaction of outsmarting the bad guys never gets old.
Even Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, that beloved holiday classic.
This household name owes its existence to a clever marketing campaign. Did you know Rudolph was originally created by a graphic designer for a department store promotion in 1939? Talk about branding brilliance that stood the test of time.
These memories create a common ground for fun conversation across all generations.
It’s funny how something as simple as a familiar movie scene or beloved character can spark such warm feelings. Nostalgia is powerful, and when brands tap into it authentically, they create emotional connections that last far beyond the holiday season.
So, as you wrap up this year (pun intended), take some time to enjoy one of those timeless holiday films that still make you smile. Cheers to a season filled with joy, warmth, and maybe even a leg lamp or two.
by Miriam Hara | Oct 22, 2024 | Advertising, Agency, Marketing
How do you know if you’re suffering from the Agency Blues?
If you’re a brand marketer you’ve lived it… you’ve loathed it.
The Agency Blues symptoms. Your heart is racing. You break out in a sweat (no, it’s not because you’re experiencing hot flashes). You toss and turn, unable to sleep or turn your mind off. Your anxiety is through the roof with “what if’s”. You’re second guessing everything. Concerned about it all, and can’t put your finger on it. You think you’re too judgmental or maybe you’re asking too much? Self doubt and disappointment set in. If you are in marketing or branding, you’ll recognize yourself among these descriptors. But here’s the thing—you don’t have to live with it.
Ideas Feeling a Little Flat?
You started working with your agency with big hopes, expecting creativity that would blow you away. But lately, the ideas coming through feel, well… flat. Not bad, just not the wow factor you expected. It happens. Even the best teams go through dry spells. But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with it forever.
Creativity ebbs and flows—it’s a natural part of the process—but if your campaigns are missing that extra flair, it might be time to have a conversation. Sometimes, all it takes is exploring a new perspective to shake things up. The Agency Blues don’t always mean a complete breakdown…. but sometimes it does. So don’t be afraid to look beyond your current situation—you deserve an agency that never runs out of steam.
Is Your Vision Getting Lost?
You’ve communicated your brand’s vision—multiple times. Yet somehow, what’s coming back to you feels… different. Not quite off the mark, but not quite on it either. This can be frustrating, for sure. It’s easy to fall into the Agency Blues when you feel like your vision isn’t translating. But it’s also a great opportunity to reassess and realign.
If you feel like your brand’s identity is getting lost in translation, it’s a sign that you might need an agency that really gets you. It’s entirely possible to find an agency that can see your vision as clearly as you do—and help you bring it to life in ways you never imagined.
When “Next Week” Feels Like a Lifetime
Deadlines are approaching, the pressure’s on, and yet… you’re still waiting. The Agency Blues might have you checking your inbox more often than you’d like, but delays happen. It’s worth taking a moment to reflect—are these one-offs, or is this becoming a pattern? Biting your nails as the clock ticks is stressful, no doubt, but you don’t have to keep operating like this.
There are agencies that understand how to manage time and resources efficiently, delivering not just on time, but with room to breathe. Whether it’s through better project management or clearer communication, it’s possible to work with teams that respect deadlines—and your sanity.
What’s the ROI? The Numbers Game
You’re investing time and resources into campaigns, so naturally, you want to see results. If you feel like you’re playing a guessing game with results, it’s not unusual. But there’s a better way. You should be able to see the numbers that matter and understand how each campaign is performing without feeling left in the dark.
The Agency Blues can sometimes make it feel like progress is slow, but it’s often just a matter of better reporting and communication. Some agencies prioritize transparency and data-driven insights. They’ll deliver creative work and the metrics to prove it’s working. You don’t have to wonder if your marketing is effective—there are agencies that make it crystal clear.
Can You Shake the Agency Blues?
If any of these scenarios sound familiar, don’t panic. At the end of the day, you’re not trapped. You don’t have to suffer through the Agency Blues. If you’ve been feeling let down by flat ideas, missed deadlines, or unclear results, it might be time to explore other options. Consider this your opportunity to find a partnership that aligns with your goals—without the headaches.
And if you’re looking for that perfect fit, there are agencies (perhaps one with a hint of purple!) ready to come to your rescue. Because the Agency Blues aren’t forever—there’s always a brighter, more creative partnership on the horizon.
