What do Cadillac, Old Spice, and Lego all have in common? They each have had to make a significant business decision that would change the future of their respective brands and put them back into the hearts and minds of consumers.

While many brands continue to take steps to pull in the coveted millennial demographic, others are trying to get ahead of the curve with their successors, Generation Z.

As competition increases and brands vie to stay relevant, the strategic dilemma brands are often faced with is one that transcends just the marketing industry: should I take a risk or should I go with a “safer” bet? However, as the old adage goes, “nothing ventured, nothing gained.” While sometimes a safer bet seems like the most rational approach, some instances dictate taking risks —risks that, in turn, reap rewards that would’ve never otherwise been realized, helping differentiate the brand and grow mindshare. 

Case in point: Target in their sponsorship of the Grammy’s. In 2015, armed with eight 30-second commercial spots, they wanted to pull a stunt that reinvigorated their brand and its ties to culture. With the help of creative agency Deutsch, they convinced CBS to place all of their spots in one, contiguous four-minute block. With that big commercial, though, they had to do something extraordinary.

Apple has long been among the world’s most innovative companies when it comes to advertising, so it goes without saying that their efforts should be closely monitored. That’s why all eyes were on Apple when they revealed that they were restructuring their relationship with their ad agency, TWBA\Media Arts Lab.

SXSW has always been always been a hot topic amongst marketers, and these days, it is no different. However, conversation in recent years has been surrounded by scrutiny. Those who have long made the annual trek to Austin will readily remind you that, “it’s not what it used to be.” Still, as cries from purists and pundits proliferate, the reality is that SXSW still represents a one-stop shop for the up-and-coming trends and technologies — each of which will have a residual effect on how marketers curate the next iteration of experiences for their consumer base.

As marketers have found more channels and means to communicate their message, the number of branded messages that consumers are exposed to on a given day has ballooned to nearly 5,000. The residual effect has left consumers largely immune to marketing messages, allowing only 100 or so to permeate through their attention wall.

Buying a car has always been a simple process. One can simply stroll into the dealer, decide on a model, pick a color and sign the papers. With research tools like TrueCar and Cars.com, the process of finding the right car at the right price has become even easier.

Alecia Dantico, the GM of our Chicago office, is a veteran of the influencer conference circuit, with a decade of experience in the space. But, after years of deep involvement, she became jaded by the same faces and the same conversations at conference after conference. Sure, the technology and toolsets had evolved, but the influencer community seemed stuck on the same, tired topics and generic brand experiences.

At the recent TED2015 conference, Delta Air Lines gave consumers an experience far more valuable than in-flight snacks or first-class seating. The airline created an exhibit called “Stillness in Motion,” inspired by Pico Iyer’s book “The Art of Stillness,” that was designed to teach serenity.

Experiential marketing (brand messaging that a consumer can touch, view, or otherwise feel within a physical space—i.e., an experience) is unlike any other form of marketing: No social media post, email attachment, mailer, or television advertisement can inspire, evoke emotion, and generate brand loyalty as much via a single experience.