Food that reflects your personality? That's just one of the trends the Food Channel predicts this year, according to a recent Natural Marketing Institute article published in the
LOHAS Journal.
As a brand strategist who specializes in organic branding, green marketing, social change communication and green advertising, this trend seems only natural. After all, food is a brand. And like all brands, food has personality attributes.
A common branding exercise invites businesses to choose foods that represent their brand. For instance, a yoga brand might choose miso, edamame and rice—while a produce company might choose fresh lemons and strawberries. It only makes sense that as consumers continue to seek self-actualizing experiences, we begin to choose and serve foods that represent an actual extension of ourselves.
Lisa Proctor is the president and creative director of firefly180 marketing—a branding and advertising agency that specializes in LOHAS marketing, wellness marketing, green marketing and renewable energy marketing.
The
holiday gift giving season has begun. As businesses get serious about choosing gifts for clients and loyal customers, two vital considerations are often overlooked:
1. What does your brand represent?
2. How can your gift extend your brand?If the answer is environmental sustainability, fair trade, health or wellness, I strongly recommend giving green gifts. As the owner of a green advertising agency that specializes in organic branding, social change communication, yoga studio marketing, renewable energy marketing and the LOHAS consumer, that's not only what I recommend to clients, it's a philosophy I practice myself as a business owner.
A couple sites I recommend include:
spiralfoundation.org,
vivaterra.com,
heifer.org and
organicbouquet.com. Of course, this is just a start. There are literally countless creative ways you can choose gifts that are not only meaningful and beautiful, but that align with your values as a global citizen.
What's important is that you consider ways to give—and give back—
far beyond the holiday season.
Lisa Proctor is the president and creative director of firefly180 marketing—a branding and advertising agency that specializes in LOHAS marketing, wellness marketing, green marketing and renewable energy marketing.
Thanksgiving may be over, but the
season for giving thanks has just begun. That's why I plan to spend tomorrow joining a roomful of others in a day-long sitting mediation. Why? To dedicate one day to immersing myself in gratitude.
As the head of just one of the few green marketing agencies in Minnesota, I spend my days creating advertising and marketing campaigns for yoga advertising, organic branding, social change communication, wellness companies and progressive businesses.
It's such a gift to create work that is in complete alignment with my values. I feel such gratitude for my clients. My colleagues. And the good we are doing together. Tomorrow is a day to give thanks. And to be fully present to that gratitude.
Lisa Proctor is the president and creative director of firefly180 marketing—a branding and advertising agency that specializes in LOHAS marketing, wellness marketing, green marketing and renewable energy marketing.
If you haven't seen
Food Inc., move it to the number one position in your Netflix queue or rent it
now.
This amazing and engaging documentary
lifts the industry's veil of illusion and shines a light on the truth about how food is grown, processed and sold in this country. As a lifelong advocate for organic and locally grown food, I loved this film. And I applaud its makers for being catalysts for change.
As a leader in the areas of organic branding, social change communication and the LOHAS consumer, it's exciting to see this message play out on the big screen. While much has been made of the H1N1 virus "pandemic,"
it's food related conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity that are killing our family, friends, co-workers and neighbors in record numbers.
Science has long ago established that we are what we eat. The good news is we can
vote for change every time we check out at the grocery store. The more we demand locally and sustainably grown fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains and meats, the more products will become available. And with scale, the price will drop. Making healthy eating available to all.
Lisa Proctor is the president and creative director of firefly180 marketing—a branding and advertising agency that specializes in LOHAS marketing, wellness marketing, green marketing and renewable energy marketing.
The
Oregon Sustainability Center, which is being called the first large-scale “living building,” is projected to have a zero carbon footprint, according to a recent issue of
Environmental Leader.
Powered by solar and geothermal energy, this 12-story office building complete with a plant-based water filtration system, is a prototype for the future. It makes so much sense.
Green marketing is another plant-based model. Each ad, message, website, social media campaign, logo and sales pitch is a closed loop. It's a creative and strategic process that guides consumers deep into the soil to explore the root of the message, then back up to the sun where they can see the light and take action. As the head of a green marketing agency that specializes in the LOHAS consumer, green advertising, yoga studio marketing, organic branding and renewable energy marketing, I believe that nature has much to teach. All we need to do is listen.
Lisa Proctor is the president and creative director of firefly180 marketing—a branding and advertising agency that specializes in LOHAS marketing, wellness marketing, green marketing and renewable energy marketing.
What if we turned our city rooftops into solar power plants?
The
Wall Street Journal takes the city of Austin as a case-in-point in a recent article,
Solar City: Austin Sees Huge Potential for Solar Power, Thanks to Satellites
For most Americans, energy use is invisible. The only time it comes to mind is when we pay the
power bill. We turn on a light and give little thought to climate-change-causing emissions from coal or the radioactive nuclear waste that will stick around for thousands of years. But that may be changing. It's about time.
As the owner of a green marketing agency who specializes in green energy marketing, organic branding, social change marketing, green advertising and the LOHAS consumer, I know I'm as much a part of the problem as I am part of the solution. But I am conscious of my power use. That's why both my home and office are heated and cooled with geothermal energy, solar lights keep outdoor paths lit, compact fluorescents reduce our energy use and I drive a car that gets 50 mpg.
Each of us leaves an environmental footprint. But it's up to us how light or how deep it will be.
Lisa Proctor is the president and creative director of firefly180 marketing—a branding and advertising agency that specializes in LOHAS marketing, wellness marketing, green marketing and renewable energy marketing.
It used to be that the world of calculating pollution levels was reserved for those who were: A) Nerdy B) Academic or C) True Blue Enviros. But no more.
Thanks to a
marketing climate that increasingly emphasizes transparency, so called green geeks are now mainstream. Fueled by concerns about climate change, more and more businesses are looking to track, measure and reduce their environmental footprint through life cycle assessment. And they're sharing their results with consumers through product labeling and environmental assessment reports.
As a leader in the field of green energy marketing, social change communication, organic branding and the LOHAS consumer, I've worked with a lot of green and progressive businesses. Being at the forefront of this segment has very much been an exercise in rewriting long-established marketing rules.
Green marketing companies like mine have long known that the surest path to success is to run every aspect of your company in the most sustainable manner possible. In the best models, green companies take a
lesson from nature so that waste from one aspect of their business becomes food for another. The good news is, the idea is catching on. Why? Because sustainably run companies are profitable companies.
Lisa Proctor is the president and creative director of firefly180 marketing—a branding and advertising agency that specializes in LOHAS marketing, wellness marketing, green marketing and renewable energy marketing.
If you think social media is a fad—think again.
Then check out this YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVXKI506w-E.
Not only are the graphics and stats interesting and fun—if you've been trying to convince your company or your client to jump on board, this four-minute video might just do the trick.
Thankfully, my clients are way ahead of the game. They
understand the power of a message that's communicated instantly. And they have come to know that sometimes email is just much too slow. As the head of an advertising and marketing agency that specializes in organic branding, the organic industry, social change communications and the LOHAS consumer, I work with many progressive companies who work hard to maintain their sense of immediacy.
And while many of us aspire to live our lives in the present moment, by the time you've finished reading this sentence, that moment has passed.
Lisa Proctor is the president and creative director of firefly180 marketing—a branding and advertising agency that specializes in LOHAS marketing, wellness marketing, green marketing and renewable energy marketing.
Mark your calendars!
One of my favorite clients, Yoga Alliance, is once again hosting Y
oga Day USA on January, 23, 2010. This is an amazing national event that invites not just yogis, but novices, couch potatoes, triathletes, young, old and everyone in between to join together to stretch mind, body and spirit through the practice of yoga.
Find out how to host a gathering or participate at:
http://www.yogadayusa.org.
According to a recent
Yoga Journal study, nearly 16 million Americans practice yoga. And with more and more medical research supporting its benefits, the numbers continue to climb. Not only do I love the practice of yoga, I love to create yoga advertising and work with yoga studios to develop smart, strategic marketing campaigns.
As the head of an advertising and marketing agency that specializes in the LOHAS consumer, green advertising, organic branding and green energy marketing,
yoga marketing is a natural extension of the work we do with businesses and organizations that create positive change.
Ghandi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world." These wise words are as true today for the actions of individuals, as they are for the decisions we make in business.
Lisa Proctor is the president and creative director of firefly180 marketing—a branding and advertising agency that specializes in LOHAS marketing, wellness marketing, green marketing and renewable energy marketing.
According to U.S. Department of Agriculture research, watermelon may become more than a summertime favorite—but fuel for our cars.
How's that for the ultimate in flower power?It turns out that watermelon contains a large amount of fermentable sugars; which makes them a great candidate for a potential biofuel.
As a pioneer in green energy and renewable energy marketing, I find the thought of watermelon power rather irresistible.
As the head of a Minneapolis marketing firm that specializes in working with progressive businesses, organic branding, social change communications and green marketing, we dive deep into our clients' stories to uncover what's unique, fresh and media worthy. What's really fun is to uncover a story you can really sink your teeth into.
Can watermelon help us kick our addiction to fossil fuels? It just might.
Lisa Proctor is the president and creative director of firefly180 marketing—a branding and advertising agency that specializes in LOHAS marketing, wellness marketing, green marketing and renewable energy marketing.
There is a new proposal to build a transmission link that would connect our nation's major energy grids. New wind energy sources are coming on line, but our lack of
connectivity is making it difficult, if not impossible, to get that clean energy to the homes and businesses who need it.
It's the same with green marketing. Lack of connectivity means your message is not going to get to the eyes and ears of those who need to hear it. As the head of an advertising and marketing firm that specializes in green energy marketing, yoga advertising, green ad campaigns, organic branding and the LOHAS consumer, I know with absolute certainty
the power of connection.
Those of us in the the progressive marketing space are like transmission towers beaming our message of change to millions around the world. Fortunately, we are not intrinsically linked to pole and wire. We send our message through a myriad of ways. Some of us have abandoned the outmoded mass media wire and are marketing in sustainable ways entirely off the grid. Who needs traditional lines when you have resourcefulness, imagination and the courage to go where others have not thought to tread.
Lisa Proctor is the president and creative director of firefly180 marketing—a branding and advertising agency that specializes in LOHAS marketing, wellness marketing, green marketing and renewable energy marketing.
According to treehugger.com:
"A new study by the University of Rochester found that
after looking at nature scenes, people feel closer to their community, are willing to give more money to a charitable cause, and care more about social outcomes than they are after looking at man-made scenes. The reason, the researchers state, is communing with nature helps people also commune with their basic values."
Of course, those of us who have pioneered green marketing categories like LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) and environmental marketing, discovered this fact long ago. But it's always great when
research quantifies what we've arrived at through intuition, experience and proven success. As the head of a Minnesota marketing agency that specializes in yoga advertising, green ad campaigns, organic branding, social change communication and eco marketing, I have long believed that the reason an image from nature resonates so strongly is that while most of us live in cities, we are intrinsically connected to the natural world.
Even if we see a dandelion poking through cement, sunlight rippling over a fountain, or a moon rising over a cityscape, we can't help but be entranced. We are drawn to all that's green, living and alive. That's the essence of being human. And it's only natural.
Lisa Proctor is the president and creative director of firefly180 marketing—a branding and advertising agency that specializes in LOHAS marketing, wellness marketing, green marketing and renewable energy marketing.
Suburban developments have long been the bastion of lush, green, chemical-laden, thirsty and
unsustainable lawns. Now a new development south of Denver is
challenging existing bluegrass dogma in favor of a concept they call "Agriburbia," with ground cover crops like strawberries, sweet corn and herbs.
As the head of a marketing and advertising agency that specializes in green ad campaigns, organic branding, green energy marketing and social change communication, I say to grass, "Your days are numbered." A typical dry climate household today uses about 23,000 gallons of water a month—most of it for lawn maintenance. What a waste. Of time. Of money. And of natural resources.
There is a growing segment (the LOHAS consumer) who are pulling out their wallets and trading in the hassle of sod for beautiful, yet low maintenance plants and shrubs. As one of them, I love the fact that I don't have to water or mow. I just
let nature do her thing. And as usual, she gives back far more than I could ever have imagined. Denverites who buy into Agriburbia are in for a treat.
Lisa Proctor is the president and creative director of firefly180 marketing—a branding and advertising agency that specializes in LOHAS marketing, wellness marketing, green marketing and renewable energy marketing.
Today is October 12 and this is the view outside my office door.
Look closely, you'll see a herd of deer running by. But it's not the deer that are surprising. In a season that is generally all about crunching through colorful fall leaves, those of us who live and office near Minneapolis are looking for snow shovels.
J
ust as weather can take us by surprise, so can marketing campaigns. As the head of a green advertising agency with a focus on organic branding, the LOHAS consumer, yoga studio marketing, green energy marketing and social change communication, we strive to create surprise. We live in a media climate that is in continuous hyperdrive. And yet there is a pervasive cookie-cutter blandness that stifles most marketing messages.
Today, an early snow generated national media and shook up millions in my region. Tomorrow, I hope the same is true for
green marketing companies like mine. The stories of our clients are unique. Their messages are relevant. And their potential to generate change is as refreshing—and as surprising—as snow in October.
Lisa Proctor is the president and creative director of firefly180 marketing—a branding and advertising agency that specializes in LOHAS marketing, wellness marketing, green marketing and renewable energy marketing.
It's a beautiful thing when green marketing, organic branding and social change communication become supercharged through media.
One of my favorite organic tea brands, Zhena's Gypsy Tea, got a great media hit recently when Jennifer Aniston prepared cocktails at a party using the Zhena's Super Berry Blend. Zhena, the founder of this brand, is an incredible visionary, authentic spirit, green goddess and master tea blender. I couldn't be happier for her.
Mass media has incredible power to educate, enlighten and inspire the mainstream. The organic industry, green companies and progressive businesses have amazing stories to tell. Put them together and you have a force for change. It's
a win for green business. And a win for consumers who are exposed to new ways to live healthier and more sustainably.
Lisa Proctor is the president and creative director of firefly180 marketing—a branding and advertising agency that specializes in LOHAS marketing, wellness marketing, green marketing and renewable energy marketing.
A client came to me yesterday with a request to create a
"quick ad" for immediate
insertion. When I asked about message, desired response, audience demographic and points of uniqueness, she admitted her team hadn't quite thought that through.
I suggested she save her money. As the head of a green advertising agency that specializes in social change communication, the LOHAS consumer, yoga advertising, organic branding and green energy marketing, I urge our clients to remain proactive—not reactive.
While it's difficult sometimes not to get caught up in the office swirl, a clear head is an essential element when it comes to good advertising and marketing strategy. So the next time you find yourself reverting to reactive mode, take some advice from the yogis. Take a breath. Find your center. And listen to the wisdom within.
Lisa Proctor is the president and creative director of firefly180 marketing—a branding and advertising agency that specializes in LOHAS marketing, wellness marketing, green marketing and renewable energy marketing
My round trip flight from NYC and Mpls last week created nearly a ton of climate change causing carbon dioxide emissions.
As the head of a green advertising agency that specializes with the LOHAS consumer, yoga advertising, organic branding, renewable energy marketing and social change communications, I had two choices. I could do nothing. Or I could
counteract my CO2 by buying an offset that helps bring about new renewable energy.So I went to my favorite offsetter (www.nativeenergy.com) and for $14 bought an offset that will help build new wind turbines in the Midwest. My carbon footprint for air travel for that trip is now zero. At the end of the year, I'll tally commuter miles, electric usage and of course, additional air travel to offset the entire year.
Running a climate neutral business is a small, but significant step toward protecting the future of the planet. Blogging about it to educate others is just one more.
Lisa Proctor is the president and creative director of firefly180 marketing—a branding and advertising agency that specializes in LOHAS marketing, wellness marketing, green marketing and renewable energy marketing.
As marketers, there are important lessons to be learned from compost.
Listen to this. According to greenerdesign.com, researchers in India have figured out how to turn toxic textile sludge waste into lovely compost. As the owner of an advertising and marketing agency that specializes in environmental advertising, organic branding, green advertising and sustainable advertising, I can relate.
Clients often come to us with a similar problem. Although instead of slimy sludge,
the mess they most want to clean up is their messaging. That's where good brand strategy comes in. Our team takes a look at the sludge and through a variety of creative and strategic filters begins to remove unwanted waste, impurities and artificial ingredients. The result?
Rich, beautiful, exciting and nourishing advertising and marketing that benefits consumers as much as it boosts our clients' bottom lines.
Lisa Proctor is the president and creative director for firefly180 marketing—a branding and advertising agency that specializes in LOHAS marketing, wellness marketing, green marketing and renewable energy marketing.
Government is often criticized for being too big. Too slow. And too late.
Not the case for the wildly popular
Cash for Clunkers campaign. In fact, according to one of my favorite eco news sources,
Environmental Leader, this program which is one part
green public relations, two parts sustainable marketing strategy and seven parts economy-boosting eco business brilliance—has resulted in a 58% increase in fuel efficiency.As a leader in LOHAS marketing, organic branding, green energy and sustainable marketing arena, I love the fact that
700,000 gas guzzlers were traded in for more fuel efficient models. I also love the fact that this quick cash infusion has meant that many auto industry jobs from salespeople to line workers were saved. At least for now.
The beauty of good green business strategy is that it is based on a model of inherent sustainability. That means both profit for a business and low impact on the planet. U.S. car makers, buckling under pressure from shareholders, have for too long focused on short term gains. This was not only arrogant. It was bad business all around.
Now that U.S. car makers have been forced to reap what they have sown, I only hope that they have seen the light. And that they launch a course correction that is not about big and bigger. But green and greener.
Lisa Proctor is the president and creative director for firefly180 marketing—a branding and advertising agency that specializes in LOHAS marketing, wellness marketing, green marketing and renewable energy marketing.
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