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“there is no substitute for guts”

— Paul Bear Bryant

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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.

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…
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<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…
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">An unmistakable look, taste, feel, flavor, or sound. A brand that finds its way above and beyond just gaining respect and becoming successful. An item, a person, place, or something that grows to become woven into the thread of pop culture and society. A true American original. Whether we're talking about a product, a company, a concept, or a brand, it's pretty hard to beat a trendsetter. </h3> <p class="has-drop-cap">Just indulge in the thought briefly, how often does a second attempt, a sequel, or some type of re-creation of a highly successful or iconic person, place, or thing surpass its predecessor? Despite, in most cases coming from the same minds or brain trust that delivered that first offering that resonated so deeply with the public, a second "act" rarely equals or outdoes the original. </p> <p>However, two competitors that even these "kings" of all brands should keep in their crosshairs, as history has shown. One of these "competitors" is themselves and recognizing when whatever industry they are in is changing and evolving. The other competition can be the death nail in a brand if the company fails to see it coming and allows for it to pass right on by.</p> <p>That competitor is time. Once time passes, a brand by, and they did not see it coming and evolve, even in the cases of some of America's most iconic brands, its game over.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Retail Kings for a Day (Well Actually Like 100 Something Years)</strong></h3> <p>Icon. The word is defined as a symbol—someone or something that stands for and represents their industry or profession. In the world of retail, where we now think of Wal-Mart or Target as iconic, there once were other brands synonymous with what became the department store. Likewise, these too were threads in the fabric of American society and, no question, iconic brands. But just as we forewarned above, evolution and time is a formidable opponent and as newer model stores began arriving with lower prices and more modern shopping methods became the norm, these retail icons found themselves a thing of the past</p> <p>I'm going to go out on a limb and say that if you are 40 or older, you remember circling all the toys you wanted for Christmas in the Sears "Wish List" catalog. Likewise, if you are in your thirties or younger, you may ask, "What is a catalog?" This analogy sort of starts painting the picture to explain what happened to Sears Roebuck and Company.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>From "Number One" to All but Done</strong></h3> <p>Sears began, fittingly enough, as a mail-order catalog company in 1888. After initially just selling just watches and jewelry, they would expand to become the United States' largest catalog company. Ironically, seeing the times change and staying just ahead of the curve, they went nationwide to open retail locations in 1925. By 1931, the retail stores were outselling their catalog for those pre-dated by Sears; at points in time, you could get anything from the retailer. Their stores and catalog have featured everything from your standards, toys, clothing, and electronics to farm equipment, cars, furniture, and more. </p> <p>From the mid-1940s through the 1970s, Sears' sales numbers would soar to all-time highs. AS the popularity of shopping malls rose to prominence, Sears was often the "anchor" department store for malls throughout the decade and beyond. They employed nearly a half-million Americans at their peak height. However, remember when Sears saw the writing on the wall and stayed ahead of the curve, moving from the catalog only to opening retail stores across the U.S.? Well, suffice to say, after having monstrous sale numbers throughout the 1980s, they were no longer able to keep ahead of that curve. Things for Sears Roebuck and Company, for nearly 130 years the absolute number one retail store, would never again reach their apex as they moved into the 1990s. By 1993 Sears did what was once unthinkable and discontinued the printing of their annual Christmas catalog. As Bob Dylan might observe, "The times- they-were-a -changing."</p> <p></p> <hr class="wp-block-separator"/> <div class="wp-block-group"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow"> <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"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://www.blevinscreativegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/my-way-high-way-978x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-4008" width="360" height="376"/></figure> </div> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow"> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-style-large is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p><strong>"Sometimes life moves pretty fast if you don't stop and look around once and a while, you could miss it."</strong></p><cite>— <strong>Ferris Bueller</strong></cite></blockquote> </div> </div> </div></div> <hr class="wp-block-separator"/> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Intro to an Icon</strong></h3> <p>Around the same time Sears began enjoying its climb to the retail world's top, a completely unknown, young businessman, Sam Walton, would purchase his first-ever department store. Now, it's safe to say that at the time, given the methods available of circulating information, and the size of Walton's store and its relatively unthreatening suburban Arkansas location that the decision-makers for Sears wouldn't have even known he or his store existed. Given the success they were enjoying at the time, it's a safe bet they did not even care. I'm almost sure looking back, they'd have wished they had the ways and means of knowing of Walton's business model, as in the end, between him and others to follow (Target, K-Mart), it would ultimately prove to be their undoing.</p> <p>Walton was exploring a business model of the higher volume of sales with lower pricing to his products. Though he suffered a few minor setbacks initially, in the Summer of 1962, he opened his first "Walmart Discount City" store in Rogers, Arkansas. Within five years of opening, Walton's stores expanded in numbers to 18 across Arkansas. Three years later, for the first time, Wal Mart opened its doors in a state outside of Arkansas. While Sears continued coasting atop the retail department store world throughout the "excess '80's" Wal-Mart grew to become first a regional powerhouse and through sticking to Walton' "low-price, high-volume" game plan would expand to become the U.S.'s third-largest retailer (Sears and K-Mart) with almost 1,200 stores across the U.S. by 1987. By 1990, they surpassed both Sears and K-Mart and became the top U.S. retailer by revenue. </p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The 90's and Beyond: Evolve or Dissolve</strong></h3> <p>In addition to the more cost-friendly products and model of Wal-Mart, a new and digital age was on the horizon by the mid to late 1990s. As noted above, the once-iconic Sears catalog was discontinued in 1993. Unfortunately, with the success they had in this email-driven type of sales, it would seem if Sears had the right people looking at the future, they could have thrived as the huge boom that would be online shopping began growing, but obviously, those people were not in place. A 2005 merger with K-Mart would prove as nothing more than a band-aid being placed upon an open wound, as after a year of increased sales, this duo's failure to form a strong digital presence would prove to be the eventual undoing of the American icon, Sears Roebuck Company.</p> <p>Like Wal-Mart had now grown to do, Sears had seen in the 1920's the direction shift and was able to move flawlessly with the times. However, as time progressed, Sears no longer did "stay ahead, which led to their experiencing drop-offs in revenue to the tune of tens of billions of dollars annually by 2015. As other online shopping giants such as Amazon began gaining momentum alongside the new "king" of retail, Walmart, the writing was all but on the wall for Sears. It is estimated that due in major part to their failure to evolve from their antiquated business model and their lack of emphasis on forging a strong online presence, Sears sales numbers dropped nearly by 30 billion dollars from 2010 through 2017. In the late fall of 2018, Sears Roebuck and Company officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. As a result of their free fall, which media outlets have dubbed the "retail apocalypse," the once-mighty Sears has just a smattering of operating retail stores left across America. Comparatively, Wal Mart reported that in just the third quarter of 2020, even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, a 5.32 quarterly revenue increase, earning $134.7 billion worldwide in that three-month period.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>If They Could Only Go Back</strong></h3> <p>As emphasized in our introductory few paragraphs, the one opponent that can topple the most unbeatable foe is time. Nearly a hundred years ago, Sears was able to see the retail world evolving from the "mail order catalog" era and get the jumpstart on opening retail stores nationwide. They stayed on top of the game for well over six decades, and this is due in part to the fact that the retail game never really changed. However, when it finally did, after what the once "King of Retail" would enjoy as their most lucrative decade the 1980's, Sears was not prepared and evolution in the. form of a new retail business model and eventually online shopping would spell the end of this American icon.</p> <p><strong>Maybe with the '80s being so successful for Sears Roebuck and Company, they should have listened to a quote from the main character in one of that decade's biggest movie hits, as it could have tipped them off to keep a better look out of their surroundings. The quote comes from the film Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and from Ferris himself who prophetically remarked, "Sometimes life moves pretty fast if you don't stop and look around once and a while, you could miss it."</strong></p>

Out of the Blue and into the Black

An unmistakable look, taste, feel, flavor, or sound. A brand that finds its way above and beyond just gaining respect and becoming successful. An item, a person, place, or something that grows to become woven into the thread of pop culture a…
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