Beware! The Ultimate Canadian Donut Rush

Canadians are very Canadian when it comes to loving donuts!

On a recent world donut day, I was listening to the Calgary CBC Eye Opener as hosts David Gray and Angela Knight helped us celebrate.

Listeners were texting and emailing their favorite sweet treat. As the volume increased the tone of the messages became harsher and there was a real danger the conversation might spiral out of control and into a full-on viral donut war! For the record, mine is an apple fritter.

The idea of a revolution caused by donuts would be hard to imagine in any part of the world but Canada. We love our donuts!

Top 10 Brandit Posts of the Past Year - Branding, Sales, Inspiration

Every summer I publish the Top 10 Brandit posts for the previous year. Whether you own an established business, are bootstrapping a startup or just looking for a good read, there is something listed below for you. I Am Honored 

More that 70,000 people have read one or more articles since we launched Brandit. Most live in Canada but many are in different parts of the world. 

My goal is to help you grow your business or personal brand. Thank you for your loyalty and placing your trust in my content. Please reTweet or Facebook any you find helpful! Also comment with any ideas the posts give you . 

What You Need to Know Before Launching Social Media for Business

Written by Robyn T. Braley

I know you’ve heard it. "Forget Social Media. It’s just a passing fad!"

The next time someone at your company says that, ask them to take an Aspirin, Tylenol or Advil. Then, ask them to lay down and rest until the feeling passes!

Is it finally time for your business to launch a social media program? Think about it this way.

Think As if There is no Box! Creative Solutions for Challenging Problems

Think as if there is no box!

Written by Robyn T. Braley 

Business survival depends on producing results even when economies tank. To keep existing clients while trying to find new customers, the challenge is not to think outside the box. It is to think as if there is no box!

Every market segment is different. They just are. And, that is the fun in working with unique clients.

So, to suggest there are one-size-fits all solutions runs counter to the way we think at Unimark Creative. We like to walk beside our clients, learn more about their needs, and find ways to solve their marketing problems.

I always feel uncomfortable when asked to come up with lists of “must-have” marketing tools. The secret to business success is to identify your client’s needs and provide a solution that will meet them. Simple, right?

Hold on. When hit by an unpredictable economy, business owners are forced to consider programs they may not have considered previously. Some get back to the basics that helped them get started. Others do things they've never done before as they shore up existing business while also searching for new opportunities.

Grow Your Brand in Uncertain Times

The Perfect Time to Analyze Your Brand is When Times are Tough

Written by Robyn T. Braley

When economies are threatened by war, trade uncertainty,  natural disasters, pandemics, domestic unrest or changing customer needs, it's time to reassess and realign your brand. 

During the recent COVID lockdown, governments had to intervene in the economy to help companies survive. In a free enterprise-driven province like Alberta or a state like Texas, being forced to accept that reality spoke to the severity of the situation. 

Many companies made it through. They adapted, adjusted and carefully managed their operations as they find ways to survive by finding new markets. 

Other companies were not so lucky. One of my clients manufactured huge five-million-dollar processing units for the petroleum industry. Their market disappeared overnight. 

How to Build a Multi-Million Dollar Brand

Branding begins on the inside.

Written by Robyn T. Braley

Brands are built by delivering on promises to customers. Delivering on promises with continuity, consistency and predictability earns customer loyalty. It's at that point that a brand becomes sustainable.  

However, being predictable doesn't mean you are rigid and don’t adapt or respond to new opportunities or threats. Doing the same thing in the same way for too long can put you into a rut. And, a rut, as they say, is a grave with the ends kicked out. 


While a brand has meaning, it must also remain relevant year after year. As customer needs change, so must your company. Building your brand requires flexibility in order to stay relevant.

It's Not Always About the Logo

Your brand is what customers think it is! It's defined by how they feel about your company, product or service.

Our company, Unimark Creative, did marketing projects for an Alberta based drilling tool company. It was a startup in the true sense of the word. 

Two young men founded the company out of the back of an old half-ton truck. They stored  product on one side of a two-car garage. 

Forty years later the business had grown to become the dominant supplier within the Canadian and US drilling industry. The company was worth many millions of dollars.

Re-branding the Pig and the Cow

Re-branding the  Cow

Written by Robyn T. Braley 

I am still asked the question when I speak about branding or communication. “What exactly is a brand?” 

The question often comes from older people who think "brand" refers only to a logo. On the other side, similar questions come from younger people who are confused by the overuse of the term. 

I’m not surprised. The word is thrown around in different ways and in different contexts. No wonder there is confusion.

Crises Communication; Managing the Risk

When Lightning Strikes

Written by Robyn T. Braley

No matter how much time you spend creating a Crises Communication plan, you are never fully prepared when the unthinkable happens. 

You will never know how deeply the devastation can cut into your soul until it happens to you.

As you try to assess the degree to which your business has been destroyed while standing waist-deep in liquid filth, a crises communications plan may not be the first thing that comes to your mind.