Weekend Reading: August 23, 2025
My recap of the week: Local connection,
Sorry for not getting this out last night! Getting sick and planning an emergency trip back home took it out of me this week and on a Friday night, I enjoyed being curled up on the couch without my phone, the news, or my friends here at Strategic Growth Lab.
But! Here goes! Grab a coffee and catch up on the week…
Branding Tips
Three strategies to grow your credit union
You don’t have to be a credit union to find values in this piece from America’s Credit Unions. One of their tips for credit unions to position themselves for strategic growth is to tell local impact stories. It’s a no brainier. But that’s one of the very few points of differentiation that can connect with people and break through the noise.
Influencer Marketing
Does it really work?
I have a hate love hate relationship, but really hate relationship with Influencer Marketing. Does it work? Sure. How often? Not enough to be worth the money that continues to pour into it. My friend
dove into the complexity of the strategy on his Substack HIRED.Nostalgia or Broken Brand
Can you rebrand an old country store?
Did you miss it this week? Cracker Barrel not only changed their logo (cue the outrage) but also began an effort to rebrand the entire experience from the “old country store” to a “modern country store”. Perhaps they know more than we do (data does help businesses make decisions) about why the change. But it is a massive change for any brand. From an LA Times Column: “We believe in the goodness of country hospitality, a spirit that has always defined us. Our story hasn’t changed,” said Cracker Barrel Chief Marketing Officer Sarah Moore in a statement. “Our values haven’t changed.”
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