Simon Mainwaring

We First provides consulting and training to help companies tell the story of their good work in ways that build their business

Values

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Coca-Cola is currently rolling out an innovative and environmentally responsible initiative called Coca-Cola 2nd Lives, starting in Vietnam and then expanding across Asia. At the heart of this effort is the intent to give their disposable bottles a second life that is meaningful, adds value to the lives of customers, and also avoids those bottles […]

Coca-Cola is currently rolling out an innovative and environmentally responsible initiative called Coca-Cola 2nd Lives, starting in Vietnam and then expanding across Asia. At the heart of this effort is the intent to give their disposable bottles a second life that is meaningful, adds value to the lives of customers, and also avoids those bottles …

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At the end of 2010 I wrote about the ‘Coming Decade of Radical Transparency.’ My prediction for 2012 was the ‘Rise of Consumer Activism.’ We now find ourselves in mid-2013 and these two issues have combined, leaving brands facing a well-informed, media-savvy and mobilized audience intent on punishing behavior that does not serve the greater good. …

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Last year I shared a sample social contract between a brand and its customers as a demonstration of how a company builds a community around shared values and a common purpose, the goal being to not only build a better world but to inspire customers to help build your business with you. In addition, I …

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Howard Schultz has long been know for his strident leadership positions from calling for a CEO boycott of corporate campaign donations to his ‘Create Jobs for USA’ which invited customers to contribute $5 to help entrepreneurs kick start the national economy. This week he went one step further in his support of same sex marriage. In doing …

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As We First moves into its new offices in heart of Silicon Beach in Venice, California, I wanted to share perhaps the most important item in the new space. These are the We First Values, Beliefs and Manifesto mounted on the wall. It’s amazing how important these things are to remind us what we are …

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I had the pleasure of speaking at the San Diego Ad Club last week after Dan Burrier, the Chief Innovation Officer at Ogilvy and my former boss on the Motorola account. Not only is Dan a friend and someone I greatly admire, but he said something that evening that struck me very deeply. He said that branding is now more …

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