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“there is no substitute for guts”

— Paul Bear Bryant

Engage. Inspire. Motivate.

Let us engage you on a journey through a world of creative, inspirational storytelling that motivates us to expand our minds, build on our experiences and humanize the branding process.

<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Are you building a brand? <a title="Print Design" href="https://www.blevinscreativegroup.com/print-design/">Branding</a>; by official definition is the promotion of a particular product or company by means of advertising and distinctive design. Far more than this, though, a brand represents a clear identity of your company to your audience and potential clients. It defines what separates you from the crowd. Your brand is what makes you different from any other competitor in your field or marketplace.</h3> <p class="has-drop-cap">You may set out to become the top seller of homes in your real estate marketing area. The most successful car dealer in town. Possibly your goal is to gain notoriety for making the best cheeseburger on the block. Or, in rare cases, you might strive to be the most significant female recording artist of all time. But, no matter what area of expertise you seek to reach the top in, <a href="https://www.blevinscreativegroup.com/" title="Digital Marketing Agency">branding</a> is the key. Building a <a href="https://www.blevinscreativegroup.com/services/">strong brand</a> is not just crucial to your eventual financial success. Your brand will become the perception of how and what you are as a company.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Turning an Identity into an Icon</strong></h2> <p>When building a brand, you are creating an <a href="https://www.blevinscreativegroup.com/logo-design/" title="Logo Design">identity</a> for your company. This isn't unlike how a celebrity markets their persona in the public eye. Name any type of celebrity. Big-time actors or actresses. Pro sports stars. Singers and musicians. In all these areas of fame, a certain level of success is attainable. Many become famous and well-known. But very few become icons in their respective industry. In achieving celebrity status, these stars are essentially building a brand. Those successful, famous stars usually become what is called an identity brand. But very few will in any of those areas will reach iconic brand status. So, what's the difference?</p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://www.blevinscreativegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/MTv.jpg" alt="MTV Logo for brand reference" class="wp-image-4269" width="397" height="298"/></figure></div> <p>To become an icon in marketing or celebrity, it is essential to differentiate between an Identity and an Iconic Brand. An identity brand is one that the audience sees as representing a lifestyle, traits, or emotions that they identify with. An iconic brand takes that concept and grows to define its own sub-culture of society. An icon represents something that their audience can become highly involved with and are emotionally attached to.</p> <p>Think about <strong>building a brand</strong> that's public perception grows bigger than even the industry they are a part of. That's an iconic brand. It is also one able to evolve organically over time. This ability to "change with the times" follows in line with changing needs and wants of the audience. Thus, through their reinvention of the brand, the consumer can identify even greater with that company. Through effective marketing, it is these brands that increase the consumer's emotional attachment to them. Thus, as they evolve, the marketing messages continue to resonate with and grow their loyal audience.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>I Want My MTV</strong></h2> <p>In August of 1981, the music industry would be changed forever. This would be from the debut of a new cable music channel, Music Television (MTV). With the launch of this new concept, "music videos" gave the consumer a new way to look at the artists. They could, for the first time, "see" their songs.  </p> <div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex"> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow"> <p>As if an image was not essential enough to the success of aspiring or established musical acts to this point. It was now more critical than ever. Many could use this new platform to soar to heights and success they hadn't before thought imaginable in those early days of MTV. About a year and a half after the launch of MTV, a new female star emerged. She would find success primarily because of her innovative approach and ability to seemingly change her image to fit each individual song she released.  This would be a precursor of this to come for this rising star who was building her "brand" through MTV and the music video. Following mild success in 1982-83, her single, "Holiday," would climb as high as number 16 on the Billboard chart. Her self-titled debut album was soon to follow.</p> </div> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow"> <figure class="wp-block-pullquote is-style-default"><blockquote><p>In the four decades that have followed, Madonna has become the most iconic female performer of all time.</p></blockquote></figure> </div> </div> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">"Borderline" Debuting in February 1984 </h2> <p>Would become the first top ten hit for a new face on the scene. She went by only one name, Madonna. The second single off that debut album, "Lucky Star," was her first top-five hit. Madonna had successfully parlayed this new medium to climb to the top of the charts. Continuing to evolve with each release, by the end of 1984, Madonna's "brand" was gaining its initial identity." What was to come next was the first of many reincarnations of the Madonna brand. In those latter months of 1984, she released a more controversial and suggestive collection of songs and the album Like a Virgin.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Getting into the Groove</strong></h2> <p>Yes, the new album featured an array of vocal and musical styles. The music videos were provocative and felt fresh to the audience. It was also at this time we'd first see Madonna's uncanny knack to push the envelope. Both in her slinky attire or the suggestive choreography in her videos and performances. This new, riskier Madonna saw her popularity balloon worldwide. Her performance of Like a Virgin at the 1984 MTV Music Video Awards is now legendary. It's probably the most remembered in the history of that popular annual event. "Like a Virgin" was the first in a long line of successful variations we would see in the evolution of Madonna. But this was only the beginning of building what was becoming an iconic brand.</p> <p>In the four decades that have followed, Madonna has become the most iconic female performer of all time. This is a testament to her ability to evolve. She has continued providing her audience fresh, daring, and risky material consistently. To date, she's released 14 albums and performed over a dozen completely sold-out world concert tours. Madonna's brand would grow from music to the silver screen. There she has starred in 17 and directed two major motion pictures. Her brand has also expanded into the world of fashion. Here she has created no less than seven of her very own fashion brands.</p> <p>The "<a href="https://www.blevinscreativegroup.com/storytelling/how-a-creative-logo-can-enhance-your-bottom-line/" title="How a creative logo can enhance your bottom line.">iconic brand</a>" that is Madonna is one that brought generations of fans and performers together. A perfect example of this was at the 2003 MTV Music Video Awards. It was there she gave us a flashback to the 1984 live performance of Like a Virgin. Bringing generations of fans together as one, that night, joining her on stage this time were two biggest female pop stars at the time, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. As recently as September of 2019, Madonna's innovative abilities still separate her brand from the competition. So it was that Fall when she scheduled an intimate, all-theatre concert tour across North America and Europe. But, flexing her now-iconic muscle, she implemented a "no-phone" policy to maximize intimacy. She wanted her fans to get a unique and personal experience, so none were in the theatres with smartphones.</p> <figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p>Greta Garbo, Marilyn Monroe, Marlene Dietrich, Joe DiMaggio, Marlon Brando, Jimmy Dean, Grace Kelly, Jean Harlow, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Rita Hayworth, Lauren Bacall, Katherine Hepburn, Lana Turner, and Bette Davis.</p><cite>— Madonna</cite></blockquote></figure> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Strike a Pose</strong></h2> <p>Madonna's iconic brand finds her today worth an estimated $800 million. She has sold more than 300 million records across the world. The Guinness Book of World Records has acknowledged her as the best-selling female artist of all time. She is the highest-grossing individual touring artist in history. She's earned upwards of $1.5 billion in concert revenue during her career. Likewise, Billboard recognizes her as the most successful solo artist in their Hot 100 chart history. She has won twenty MTV Music Video Awards and seven Grammys.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://www.blevinscreativegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/vogue-1024x701.jpg" alt="Brands like Vogue" class="wp-image-4268" width="415" height="284"/></figure></div> <p>In 1990, another evolution of Madonna's brand would take place.  This was with the release of one of her most famous singles and music videos, Vogue. Ironically, in one of the song's refrains, the "Queen of Pop," as she was beginning to be called, would list off some of the most iconic celebrities of an era gone by. In what was a quasi-rap, she sang of Greta Garbo, Marilyn Monroe, Marlene Dietrich, Joe DiMaggio, Marlon Brando, Jimmy Dean, Grace Kelly, Jean Harlow, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Rita Hayworth, Lauren Bacall, Katherine Hepburn, Lana Turner, and Bette Davis. These names epitomized the celebrity and iconic brands of the first half of the 1900s. To put into perspective just how iconic Madonna's brand has grown, all of the celebrities sang of in the song Vogue have a net worth combined over $340 million less than Madonna by herself, and if that doesn't make her feel (yeah, ma-aa-aa-ke her feel) all shiny and new, than I don't know what would.</p> <p>While writing this article we noticed that <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/madonna-madame-x-concert-film-paramount-1197502/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Modonna's 'Madam X' Concert Film</a> will Premiere on Paramont+ on October 8th 2021.</p>

Building a Brand? Don’t go for second best.

Are you building a brand? Branding; by official definition is the promotion of a particular product or company by means of advertising and distinctive design. Far more than this, though, a brand represents a clear identity of your company to…
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Organic content is anything you produce that does not solicit paid traffic. Instead, users find you through a keyword search.

How organic content will make your competitors green with envy.

Organic content is anything you produce that does not solicit paid traffic. Instead, users find you through a keyword search.
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"> In an ever-changing and ultra-competitive world in all facets of business, one of the most critical parts in establishing and sustaining a successful brand is the first impression and remaining identifiable to the public and especially the targeted audience that you are setting out to attract. This is why, when developing a marketing strategy, it is essential to top hire a true professional and expert in the field to build your brand, starting with an unforgettable, <a href="https://www.blevinscreativegroup.com/logo-design/" title="Logo Design">creative logo</a>. This is often an overlooked or undervalued part of the marketing strategy of many; however, looking at <a href="https://www.blevinscreativegroup.com/storytelling/hitchcock/" title="Hitchcock">logo development</a> in this manner can be a huge mistake. Some of the most recognizable brands in the world over time have become identifiable solely on the sight of their logos, growing from being a way to identify these brands into making these companies an iconic part of our lives and our world.</h3> <p class="has-drop-cap">Sure, you might say, it is easy for a worldwide business powerhouse as these <a href="https://www.blevinscreativegroup.com/our-work/" title="Our Work">iconic brands</a> have come to point at their identifiable <a href="https://www.blevinscreativegroup.com/logo-design/" title="Logo Design">logo</a> and say how crucial it is to design and develop a creative logo that gives them an immediate identity with their audience. Everybody knows these logos as the symbols they have become for each company over the years. However, it was not always like that for these companies that are now embedded into pop culture. Everyone had to start the process exactly as you are, with strong ideas and a vision for their company. In actuality, the stories behind some of the most recognizable and creative logos of all time might show you that great ideas to start this process can come from unexpected places at unexpected times. If you can believe it, some of these companies were unsure of the logos that would now seem unfathomable if they chose a different direction. But the truth is, even the icons at one point had to start somewhere.</p> <p>So, let’s look at one of the most iconic brands in the entire world. In doing so, let’s examine not their identifiability and status on a global level but instead the how, why, and when that went into developing their creative logo. You might be surprised at the process behind how this logo was actually designed and the thought process and decisions made on this company’s journey to becoming a global powerhouse, recognizable to nearly every human being on the planet. </p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://www.blevinscreativegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/7.-tens-to-billions-1.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-4212" width="424" height="282"/><figcaption><a href="https://www.nike.com/jordan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Nike Air Jordan</a></figcaption></figure></div> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Irony Turns a “Blue Ribbon” Into a “Greek Goddess”</strong></h2> <p>Sure, “Just Do It” was not always the slogan used by iconic sneaker and sporting goods brand Nike. But we have come to know and love that three-word catchphrase since its introduction over 40 years ago as the tag line for an ad campaign launched in July of 1988. Sure, some of us will remember a Nike before “Just Do It,” but I’m pretty sure that the number significantly dwindles when asking who remembers Nike before the unveiling of its famous “Swoosh” logo.</p> <p>In many publication surveys and rankings, the <a href="https://www.nike.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nike</a> “Swoosh” is referred to as “the most iconic and creative logo of all time.” However, many do not know that the company we have all become so familiar with for their sneakers and apparel was first founded in early 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports by the duo of Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman. As irony would have it, Knight, while still a student at the University of Oregon, ran track, and his coach at the school was Bowerman. The ironic twist here that would lead to the iconic Nike “Swoosh” would come after graduation, when Knight, as Bowerman before him, became a college professor.</p> <p>It was then, at Portland State University, that Knight overheard one of his students, Carolyn Davidson, saying to a classmate that she couldn’t afford the supplies for her oil painting class and offered to help. So Knight asked Carolyn, a graphic design student, to take a job with him to create charts and graphs that he could use for meetings with Japanese footwear executives. She accepted his offer, and her outstanding work would lead to her moving on to make posters, ads, and flyers for Knight’s Blue-Ribbon Sports company. Then, innocently enough, in early 1971, Knight and his partner, Bowerman, would seek a creative logo for a new line of running shoes they had developed. So they went to Davidson because of her exceptional design and graphic skills and tasked her with coming up with the logo, with the simple directions, make it a stripe that can go on the shoes, but make it “have something to do with movement.”</p> <h2 class="has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-heading"><strong>The Logo Study</strong></h2> <p>Davidson would begin her <a href="https://www.blevinscreativegroup.com/case-study/triangle-builders-guild/" title="Triangle Builders Guild">creative logo design</a> process by placing a piece of tissue over a drawing of a shoe, trying to get a feel for how each idea she had would eventually look on the product. In the end, she presented Knight and Bowerman with a logo study that featured five designs to choose from. The co-founders were not strictly sold on any of the five designs she submitted, but production deadlines were looming and rapidly approaching. Infamously, Knight would say, “I don’t love it, but it will grow on me,” when reluctantly deciding on what would become arguably the most iconic brand logo ever crafted.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>How to Turn 35 Bucks into Over 32 Billion</strong></h2> <p>The “Swoosh,” as we all have come to know it, that fifth design that Knight “didn’t love,” came out of Carolyn’s creative attempt at mimicking the “line” she was told to design so that the end hooked and would look like a wing. As she was told to, her thought process behind this came from research and her desire for the most creative logo possible while having some reminder of movement. Thus, her inspiration for the logo was a tip of the cap to the Greek goddess of victory. That goddess was named Nike.</p> <figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p>Sure, “Just Do It” was not always the slogan used by iconic sneaker and sporting goods brand Nike. But we have come to know and love that three-word catchphrase since its introduction over 40 years ago as the tag line for an ad campaign launched in July of 1988.</p><cite>JUST DO IT</cite></blockquote></figure> <p>For her time and services in designing the creative logo, Davidson was paid $35. To put that into perspective in today’s terms, that would be the equivalent of only $217 for designing the most recognizable symbol of any business worldwide. Not to mention, on the heels of the logo becoming popular and eventually “growing on” Knight, it wasn’t long after the logo submissions from Davidson that Blue Ribbon Sports would also change its name in accordance with the talented designer’s inspiration behind the “Swoosh.”</p> <p>Thus, on June 18, 1971, the world would first be introduced to the “Swoosh.” In January of 1974, the logo Carolyn Davidson crafted with a Greek goddess in mind and adding a “wing” to a simple line on a rendering of a shoe would be registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. As for that inspiration that led to the “wing” on the line? Blue Ribbon Sports officially adopted the name of the “Greek goddess” that was the catalyst behind the “swoosh,” and on May 30, 1971, it became known from that day forward as Nike, Inc.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>“The Logo Lady” Cashes in on Her Creative Logo</strong></h2> <p>Oh, and as for those “cheapskates” Knight and Bowerman only paying <a href="https://awkward-media.com/student-designed-nike-logo/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Carolyn Davidson</a> a measly $35 for developing the most iconic symbol of any business in the world…well, let’s just say they would later make good on what would have been the biggest bargain ever in marketing history. For starters, she would continue working for the company until their design needs grew to where they needed more than a one-person staff to handle the workload. Davidson, at that point, would move on to work on other clients’ needs, but she would be personally invited to a company reception by her former professor and employer, Knight, in September of 1983.</p> <p>Not necessarily expecting what was to follow, Davidson attended the reception. Once there, she would be presented with several gifts of gratitude and thanks for her creative vision being the force behind what had already in 1983 become an iconic logo. The first presentation given to Carolyn was a box of delicious and fancy chocolates in the shape of the “swoosh” she had sought to make in attempting to design a creative logo some 12 years previously. While everyone has a “sweet tooth,” the two gifts to follow would undoubtedly prove “much sweeter” in the overall scheme of things and Davidson’s life. Present number two? Well, that was a fabulous diamond ring made of gold and engraved with the “swoosh.” Finally, the third gift was the one that would be the actual financial “payback” or compensation, let’s say from Knight to his former student.  That was an envelope, which inside carried 500 shares on Nike stock.</p> <p>To put into perspective what type of payday that equals, as of 2015, it was estimated that Davidson’s 500 shares would be worth $ 1 million. That same stock valued at a million would go then in 2016 split into 32,000 shares. So, yeah, the initial recipient of $35 for crafting the most significant and maybe the most creative logo of all time did “get paid” some twelve years later. Unlike her reasoning for taking her former employer upon his initial job offer, it’s safe to say that she was not worried about being able to cover the costs of any oil painting classes after this reception. Carolyn actually would speak of her ex-professor’s generosity in having her at that September 1983 reception.</p> <p>“That was something rather special for Phil to do because I originally billed him, and he paid that invoice,” she said, recalling the $35 payment received. In addition to the well-deserved compensation from the company, it was also at this point that she had earned a new nickname that would stick. The name, fittingly enough and much like the global icon of a logo she created many years ago, was pretty simple. But from there on out, she would become known as” The Logo Lady.”</p>

How a creative logo can enhance your bottom line.

In an ever-changing and ultra-competitive world in all facets of business, one of the most critical parts in establishing and sustaining a successful brand is the first impression and remaining identifiable to the public and especially the…
Read Story
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">In just the past five calendar years, the world of beards has become more than just a fashionable look for men. It has become “big business,” and more specifically, the beard grooming market has proven to be a rising and lucrative one.  Valued at $24.1 billion in 2018 and expected to reach $43.1 billion by 2026, it would appear for the “beard game,” at least from a financial standpoint; this is just the beginning.  New trends in this red-hot industry, including the rise in popularity of USDA Certified organic luxury scent beard oils, like the <a href="https://www.luthertaylor.com">Luther Taylor brand</a>, has recently introduced, are sure to do nothing but add to the meteoric rise in beard grooming sales. However, despite experiencing what would seem a more current rush of popularity, beards, and facial hair growth have long been the subject of many interesting facts, theories, and even myths. </h3> <p>There has always seemed to somewhat of a fascination with the growth of this type of facial hair throughout history. In some cases, the public curiosity may be for a famous person or people whose facial hair had become synonymous with them. Others have been so intrigued as to study or try and prove and dispel myths about the fabled art of grown facial hair. Still, others were seemingly decades ahead of their time in the creation of their beard grooming products. This again could be said of the <a href="https://www.luthertaylor.com/luxury-scents/">legendary Luther Taylor</a>, who, in his initial attempts to crates the best smelling beard oil in the world, he would develop an all-organic recipe that was decades ahead of the times. Taylor’s innovative approach would lead to the seven private label luxury scents currently available from the company bearing the Taylor name. With such interest and a market that is obviously on the rise and appears here to stay, the stories “behind the stubble” throughout history are seemingly endless. </p> <p>It’s safe to say that there are enough old “beard tales” that we could ever put them all in one story. However, an area that has consistently been discussed and debated is the physical or medical benefits one can enjoy by growing in a beard. Are they legitimate? Is it another case of “facial hair fables?” That would apparently depend on who you inquired about the topic to. One thing we think you will agree with, however, is that there is more to the “beard culture” than just “letting grow” or going in for a shave. Who knows, by the article’s end, you might even let that “five o’clock shadow” grow in yourself. </p> <figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p>Current count has over 55 percent of all males wearing some type of facial hair.</p></blockquote></figure> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Early Evolution of Beards</strong></h2> <p>For those who think that the “beard boom” in recent years has spurned the upswing in an array of products and actually at current count has over 55 percent of all males wearing some type of facial hair, you couldn’t be more wrong. While at times the reasoning behind either wearing a beard or being told in some eras to be clean-shaven has vastly differed, “facial hair fodder” has never seemed to be lacking since the dawn of man.</p> <p>Going all the way back to the early stages of evolution, historians believed that a beard was grown by prehistoric men to keep them warm in the wintertime. Not only was it thought to have protected them from the cold, but it was also felt that beards were a method of protection from sandstorms and insects. Also, during these early stages in evolution, it is believed that in these dangerous times that men wearing facial hair did so to present a more intimidating appearance, a key to survival at this point in history.</p> <figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p>Valued at $24.1 billion in 2018 and expected to reach $43.1 billion by 2026, it would appear for the “beard game,” at least from a financial standpoint; this is just the beginning.</p></blockquote></figure> <p>In addition to offering protection from the cold, experts felt that it was also grown to combat the hot summer sun. If we fast forward to more modern times briefly, studies eventually will show this to not only be correct in protecting one from the heat, though, as the beard’s ability to protect from the sun is one that goes even deeper. For one, it has been discovered that a beard will grow best in the warmer summer months of the year. Scientific studies proved this as fact, revealing that since a man’s testosterone levels are elevated during the summertime, that this is when facial hair grows in best. Even more importantly, a study completed by the University of Southern Queensland found that beards actually do provide protection from the sun as first thought in those prehistoric times. The research shows that beards offer 90-95 percent protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays. </p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Facial Hair Through History</strong></h2> <p>Moving along in time, beards became very popular in ancient Greece. In this society, full facial hair was seen as a sign of masculinity, knowledge, and wisdom. When someone actually did shave their beard in ancient Greece, it was seen as a sign of mourning or sometimes was even dealt out as a punishment.  Maneuvering through time, beards would “come and go” in popularity, but by the mid-1800s, the full beard was back in full effect. </p> <p>One of the first times it is believed that an actual medical opinion was voiced on the growth of beards was in 1843. This was when the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal hypothesized that a beard could act almost as an air filter of sorts and help to block out illness. The article would go on to suggest that a “thick beard” can trap harmful particles before they entered the body. Thus, through this piece, doctors encouraged men to grow their beards. This same type of premise would later be revisited by medical experts when encouraging those suffering from allergies to grow facial hair. The mustache and beard, it was said, traps disallowed debris to enter the body through the nose and mouth.</p> <p>The United States President at about this same time, Abraham Lincoln, had also begun growing out his now-famous beard during this point in time. This combination led to a spike in the U.S. of upper-class men wearing beards. In Britain, the popularity of the beard returned as well at this point. It was primarily due to the conditions during the ongoing Crimean War of 1854-56. In that battle, it was perceived that the protection beards provided from freezing temperatures were the main reason for their popularity. </p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The 20<sup>th</sup> Century Beard</h2> <p>In the first part of the twentieth century, the beard began showing up on some very prominent and famous faces worldwide. Respected and brilliant men such as Sigmund Freud, Albert Einstein, and Marcel Proust were visibly sporting facial hair during this period. However, by the 1920s in the United States, the full beard was, for the most part, rarely seen. Around or about the time that unrest began with the Vietnam War, the beard came back in full force. It was considered “anti-establishment” by some to grow in facial; hair, as many well-known writers, artists, and musicians would begin sporting beards. Even the clean-cut, “bubble gum pop” look of the Beatles took a turn to the “hairy side” during this era of the late 1960s. Other famous bearded musicians through this period included Jimi Hendrix, Willie Nelson, and Jerry Garcia, among countless others. </p> <p>Sure, long hair and facial hair grew freely during this time and would become synonymous with the “hippies” and “counterculture” movement. But rising up against “the man” was definitely not the only thing prominently uncovered about beards at this point. It was about this time that medical and physical “perks” of growing facial hair would continue being unveiled. Many of these trends and “tips” from experts are ones that would seemingly be an influence today on the 55 percent mentioned above of American males sporting facial hair. Some may actually come as a surprise, as often a beard is thought to be scratchy or irritate the skin.</p> <p>On the contrary, studies show that growing a beard can help to heal your skin. Since when using a razor for shaving, bacteria and dirt are spread, especially in those with sensitive skin, letting a beard grow in steering clear of said razor for a while allows the face time to refresh and heal. Another revelation that may be surprising to some is that a beard is also said to help keep the face moisturized. How, you might ask? This is due to your facial hair protecting the sebaceous glands, which produce oil on the face that naturally moisturizes the skin. </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://www.blevinscreativegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/5834CA69-3765-4F27-B466-95A703562073-1024x618.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-4141"/></figure> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Beards to the Future</strong></h3> <p>So, with the skyrocketing popularity of the beard care and grooming industry, it has maybe never been more “in” to sport a long and luscious beard. In an age where skincare and all aspects of heath are analyzed in such great detail, the “beard game” has followed suit accordingly. The introduction by the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.luthertaylor.com/luxury-scents/" target="_blank">Luther Taylor brand of the first 100 percent organic jojoba oil</a> carrier base and the usage of all-natural, organic essential oils in all seven of their luxury scents has undoubtedly made this brand appear as a new trendsetter in the beard grooming industry. So, what else does the future hold as far as the evolution of the beard? It looks like we will just have to wait for the final verdict to “grow in.”</p>

Beard—volution

In just the past five calendar years, the world of beards has become more than just a fashionable look for men. It has become “big business,” and more specifically, the beard grooming market has proven to be a rising and lucrative one. …
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Let's face it; we've all heard the old saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words" well, it's worth way more.  Consumers usually do not want to be told why they should choose a brand; they want to see it!  You are looking for an immediate connection versus, "yeah, right, pal."</h3> <p class="has-drop-cap">You've got a great product, an incredible story, and then a stock photo. It's just like having a perfectly decorated room that has become showcased on a magazine cover, and all you see is the ugly, boring beige drapes.  Most of us already know that a professional photographer can produce stock photos and are used quite frequently because they are free, or you sometimes can be charged a minimal fee.  There is nothing wrong with the fact you want to use a stock photo but beware of the visual cliches and choose wisely.  When selecting a stock photo for your brand, remember it's not your vision. It is someone else's vision, idea, interpretation, and concept.  Most clients balk at the professional photography line item in their budgets; why would you ever teeter on such an essential key element to achieving branded success. </p> <p>Professional photography is a must to help identify your brand and story in a sea of competition. It gives your brand credibility, relevance, and differentiation.  How many of you know the old saying, "you eat with your eyes"?  When we got into a nice restaurant and sat down to order our meal, our choices are typically made from a menu.  If the photos are visually un-appetizing, you simply do not order that dish, even if it is something you like.  Consumers do the very same when choosing a brand.  For instance, when scrolling through social media or websites, do consumers look at or click on the text to learn more or a visual image?  The human brain processes images 60,000 times faster than text, and 80% remember what they see versus 10% of what they read. 90% of the information transmitted to our brain daily is visual.  Creating stunning and killer images for your brand is a no-brainer.  Visual content tells your story and represents your brand.  It is essentially the first impression connecting your consumers to your account.  You want to be relevant, professional, unique, trustworthy, but overall memorable.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://www.blevinscreativegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/photoshoot-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-4116"/></figure> <p>In today's ever-changing world of technology, it seems everyone has a smartphone with a camera, and everyone can 'Take" a photo. Still, it takes a professional to "Make" a photo, which is a critical distinction in successful marketing. When you take a photograph, at that moment, you are capturing an existing scene, and when you are making a photograph, you are capturing a scene by setting it up, using perfect lighting, edits, and retouches. </p> <p><strong>Do you want to be "close enough" or "just as boring as everyone else"?  The average human brain becomes distracted in 8 seconds so hiring a professional expert that can capture and make captivating visual content that is effective and memorable is key to your story, growth, and success.Or go ahead and cut out that most crucial budget line item, and then you become just another member of the "dime a dozen" club.</strong></p>

The Good, The Bad, and Just Good Enough

Let’s face it; we’ve all heard the old saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words” well, it’s worth way more.  Consumers usually do not want to be told why they should choose a brand; they want to see it!  You are looki…
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The adventure is planned, bags are packed with all the road trip accessories, GPS, and we are ready to go on an inspiring Road Trip.  A Road trip is a favorite family-type vacation, and trip effects were bonding and forging close friendships are a reality.  It is often referred to as the "Summer Camp Effect," where you are cooped up in less-than-comfortable accommodations with individuals you barely know, you know too well, or do not know at all. Yet, at the end of summer, you've developed a lifelong friendship, loving that we get to experience new acquaintances and strengthen old ones.</h3> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">We're Off!</h2> <p class="has-drop-cap">No matter your destination, whether it be The Road to Hana, The Blue Ridge Parkway, Route 66, or California 1, you want it to be memorable and comfortable. Although I could feel the summer's heat against my skin, there was a cool breeze coming through my open window. I loved having my hair was pulled back in a messy bun tied with a broken hair tie. I was wearing draw-string linen pants with a black camisole and oversized hooded top, knowing that wrinkles and coffee stains were sure to be a part of my wardrobe along the way, you know, saving the best outfits for the destinations. We churned quickly past big trucks whose massive tires howled with the scream of stressed rubber dying away and thin drifts of moving smoke behind them. Big rigs are thundering down the highway, and I anticipated the nearby back roads' slower pace.</p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-style-default is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p><em><strong>Maybe something catches your eye out the window like a giant majestic Oak; I have always felt drawn to these magnificent and century-old trees. I always felt as if they were a bodyguard. The thick hard trunk was like a shield protecting from imaginary foes and the million branches protecting from everything above. These beauties were considered a stop-the-car photo opportunity.</strong></em></p></blockquote> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Honeybuns</h2> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright size-medium is-resized"><img src="https://www.blevinscreativegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/oreo-289x300.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-4065" width="433" height="449"/></figure></div> <p class="has-text-align-left">Everyone in the car started to belt out the lyrics "Don't stop believing" and making giddy minor dance moves. We were on the country roads, with very little traffic, beautiful scenery, and the feeling of freedom. It's the unexpected journey that makes it memorable. Taking the scenic route, roadside diners, visiting weird roadside attractions like the one last summer. Remember, "The Museum of Everyday Life" in Glover, Vermont. The museum of the mundane and familiar, self-serve, make any donations at the door and turn the lights off when you leave. On this gorgeous sun-filled day, while performing my duet with Steve Perry, it was not an unusual museum; I was looking for it was another must-see attraction, The General Store.  According to GPS, we were not far from Bessie's Ole Country Store. Plan to stock up on road trip snacks and soda from any gas station or convivence store; it is what we love about road trips—excited to enjoy popcorn, pretzels, old-fashioned candy, lollipops, Root Beer, and oh yes, chocolate milk, chocolatey goodness that allows you to feel like a kid again.  The honeybun, the fried yeast pastry, contains honey and a swirl of cinnamon in the dough and topped off with confectionery icing. We all know Honeybuns are bad for you, but if you only eat them once on a road trip, it's okay, so indulge in the most basic ingredients of appetite satisfaction.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Boredom Buster</h2> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://www.blevinscreativegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/travel-1024x769.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-4070" width="492" height="369"/></figure></div> <p>Road Tripping Expert to have this distinguished title. It's all about the entertainment aspect of the trip; whoever is the party planner of your group should be the entertainment organizer—fun, exciting, daring, and inspirational entertainment that never dulls the senses. The perfect entertainer will have a top road trip playlist with everyone's favorite songs, including a corny sing-along like 99 bottles of beer on the wall, and guess that song. Fun and competitive games like Trivia, Mad-Libs, I Spy, the license plate game, and Twenty Questions, for example, what would you buy first if you won the lottery? Stretching your legs is a must and was planned by this individual too. They would always have significant little roadside areas with picnic tables near a small stream where you could watch and enjoy babbling and burbling water spring over limestone rocks or scenic parks to enjoy a quick hike, play a sport or just explore. Maybe something catches your eye out the window like a giant majestic Oak; I have always felt drawn to these magnificent and century-old trees. I always felt as if they were a bodyguard. The thick hard trunk was like a shield protecting from imaginary foes and the million branches protecting from everything above. These beauties were considered a stop-the-car photo opportunity.</p> <p><strong>During a road trip, there will be several times that you will see a sunrise and sunset, and your entertainer is aware of these phenomenal happenings and plans for everyone to take time out of the day to experience and enjoy both. With all this fun, we have failed to mention electronics, so many numerous activities with a podcast, game apps, blogs & reviews, movies on your -Pad, and social media, but make no mistake, a perfect planner will also have you writing a journal about the most memorable part of your journey. An essay about your experience, how you slowed down and moved through the world to experience it firsthand, and it's okay if you are not that great at writing, remember it is your experience and for your eyes along. So, if all you said was my most memorable moment was when I realized I had forgotten to put on sunblock, and all I had was a one-armed sunburn to show for it, we would kind of know just what you're talking about.</strong></p>

Things we love about Road Trips

The adventure is planned, bags are packed with all the road trip accessories, GPS, and we are ready to go on an inspiring Road Trip.  A Road trip is a favorite family-type vacation, and trip effects were bonding and forging close f…
Read Story

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