It’s the August Edition of Fascinate And Find Out (#FAFO) where we recap what we’ve found Fascinating out in the wild.
(Have something you want us to consider for September? Send it our way! Email us at [email protected])
INNOVATION
Marcus Theaters – Freakier Friday Movie Buckets
It’s a story as old as time (or at least since the original was released in 1976)… mom and daughter swap bodies and chaos/comedy ensues.
Marcus Theaters flipped the script on snacks.
They sold popcorn in custom containers: popcorn in a soda cup and soda in a popcorn bucket.
Click here to see it in action!
That’s Innovation: Reinvent the familiar. Surprise your audience. Make them talk.
PRESTIGE
Cash App + Timothée Chalamet
If you live in New York or Los Angeles, you may have seen these giant billboards featuring Timothée Chalamet and the Cash App logo.
No text. No features. Just a celebrity.
Their competitors, Zelle and Venmo, focus on functionality in their billboards. Here, Cash App is leaning into status and speaking the language of excellence.
That’s Prestige: Strip it back. Raise the bar. Make it iconic.
TRUST (gone wrong!)
Cracker Barrel’s Rebrand – Submitted by Fascinate Certified Advisor, Michelle Lopez
Cracker Barrel is a classic Trust brand.
They represent comfort, consistency, and a sense of heritage.
But this month, they tried to “modernize” their look. It felt generic, and disrupted the stability their audience expected. They ended up reversing course.
When a Trust brand pivots too fast, loyalty can suffer.
TRUST (with an Innovation Tactic)
TD Bank’s Own a Piece of It Campaign
How can a Trust brand innovate?
TD Bank is another classic Trust brand. Their tagline? “America’s Most Convenient Bank.”
But when promoting fractional shares, they faced a challenge: how can they introduce an investment product while preserving a sense of stability. At the same time, they wanted to highlight well-known companies without creating brand confusion—‘Is this an ad for Apple?’—and while staying within trademark laws.
The solution? Fractional logos. Billboards covered with TD’s signature green and a tiny “window” revealing a fraction of some iconic logos.
The message: you don’t need the whole share to be part of it, and you can do this within the context of the stable brand you’re used to.
That’s the Innovation tactic for Trust brands: don’t *break* the rules, evolve them, and make the solution part of the story.
PASSION
Beam Paints: Perfect Imperfects
Beam Paints already stands out. They create handmade, plastic-free, vegan, and non-toxic watercolor paint.
What caught our attention? Their “Perfect Imperfects” offer. Instead of tossing slightly flawed paints, they sell them as mystery packs at a lower price.
It cuts waste, delights customers, and adds an element of mystery that keeps customers coming back for more.
That’s Passion, with a hint of a Mystique tactic: create connection, add joy, and stir in curiosity.
September Challenge: Embrace Your “Perfect Imperfects”
Beam Paints reminded us: imperfections aren’t flaws. They’re the qualities within us that make people love us, hire us, and support us.
Instead of trying to polish yourself into “perfect,” lean into your differences!.
Pick one area in your work, brand, or life where you normally try to “smooth the edges” and let your Perfect Imperfects shine.
We’d love to hear from you! Which brands are fascinating you? Which of your “Perfect Imperfect” qualities will you be embracing this month? Share your thoughts by emailing us at [email protected].
P.S. Want a daily reset to help you lean into what makes you different? 49 Days to YOU delivers small, powerful experiments to put your Advantages into action. Get started here.
