Brand Shorthand
Mark Vandegrift and Lorraine Kessler
Mark Vandegrift and Lorraine Kessler
Mark Vandegrift and Lorraine Kessler discuss advertising, public relations, sales, positioning, branding, and more in this podcast designed for those who want to do a deep dive into the world of marketing. Mark and Lorraine discuss the psychology of what makes great brands. They break down the details of the good moves and some really bad moves by brands big and small. It's like a play-by-play of what went right, or what went wrong. If you're in the world of marketing, learn tips and tricks that will help you develop a new brand, from finding and focusing on a position, dramatizing that position in the marketplace, and distributing through the wide, wide world of media. With a combined 80 years of marketing experience, both Mark and Lorraine provide insights on campaigns they've led or seen others lead. All gloves are off when it comes to their take on great strategic marketing moves and those that might have seemed like a good idea at the time, but later flopped. No matter what part of marketing interests you, there'll be something for everyone as we cover positioning strategy, branding, creative dramatization, media selection, sales techniques, analytics, and less discussed parts of the spectrum such as distribution and growth strategies. You can be a strategist, a copywriter, an art director, a web developer, a digital marketing specialist, a sales person, an SEO specialist, and pretty much anything else in the advertising world and you'll find something on the Brand Shorthand podcast that interests you.
Oct 27
That’s a wrap on season 3 of the Brand Shorthand Podcast! Join Mark and Lorraine as they go back through some of the biggest brand moves and marketing trends seen throughout 2025. The positioning duo will touch on AI, storytelling with long-form video, the loss of high-profile CEOs, the ongoing battle of the healthy sodas, and of course, the importance of positioning. Join Mark and Lorraine for 30-ish as they discuss all things marketing, advertising, and of course … positioning!
Oct 20
The digital accessibility expert, James Warnken, is back for this week's episode of the Brand Shorthand Podcast to continue the discussion on all things web accessibility. Join Mark and James to hear the reasons why businesses should care about digital accessibility, and the principles that can help guide you through making your digital content accessible. Join Mark and James for 30-ish as they discuss all things marketing, advertising, and of course … positioning!
Oct 13
James Warnken, a digital accessibility expert, joins Mark on this week's episode of the Brand Shorthand podcast to dive into the world of accessibility. Tune in to hear about James's journey to becoming an expert in the field, the company he founded, and how he’s working to make the user experience both usable and accessible. This episode covers the full scope of digital accessibility and why it matters. Join Mark and James for 30-ish as they discuss all things marketing, advertising, and of course … positioning!
Oct 6
Kraft Heinz announced on September 2nd that they would be splitting into two separate companies. This split, occurring about a decade after the initial merger of Kraft and Heinz, will result in two new companies. One company will focus more on the global leader brands such as Heinz, Kraft Mac & Cheese, and Philadelphia, while the other will focus on North American food and beverage brands such as Lunchables, Oscar Mayer, and Capri Sun. Join the positioning duo for this week's episode to hear their thoughts on the Kraft Heinz separation.Join Mark and Lorraine for 30-ish as they discuss all things marketing, advertising, and of course … positioning!
Sep 29
Football season is upon us, and fans are gearing up to watch their favorite teams take the field! So, what does this mean for advertisers? Join Mark and Lorraine on this week's episode of the Brand Shorthand podcast to learn all about the benefits of advertising during sporting events, how tapping into an emotional environment with advertising can be effective for a brand, and things to consider for a strategy for sports advertising. The positioning duo also goes through a few examples of ads airing during the 2025/2026 football season, sharing their thoughts on whether these brands scored a touchdown or fumbled. Join Mark and Lorraine for 30-ish as they discuss all things marketing, advertising, and of course … positioning!
Sep 22
On this week's episode of the Brand Shorthand podcast, Mark is joined by the Executive Director of Client Services and Media at Innis Maggiore, Tony Bell. Tune in to learn all about multi-channel marketing including what it is, some of its advantages, some of the biggest mistakes businesses make with multi-channel marketing, the strategy behind choosing which channels are right for a client, and the key steps that go into implementing a multi-channel marketing campaign.Join Mark and Tony for 30-ish as they discuss all things marketing, advertising, and of course … positioning!
Sep 15
What happens when you try to change something that customers know and love? Cracker Barrel had something unique to offer its customers. Established in 1969 and filled with vintage Americana, the “Old Country Store” offered customers a warm and cozy atmosphere to gather with family and friends. Now, over 50 years later, Cracker Barrel has decided it is time for a rebrand. From a logo refresh to restaurant revamps, Cracker Barrel is taking on a modern look and feel. Join Mark and Lorraine for this week's episode of the Brand Shorthand podcast as they dive into Cracker Barrel's rebranding journey. Join Mark and Lorraine for 30-ish as they discuss all things marketing, advertising, and of course … positioning!
Sep 8
Our strategy gurus never shy away from controversy. In this episode, Mark and Lorraine dive into 2025’s biggest advertising controversy – the Sydney Sweeney American Eagle Jeans/Genes campaign! See how the positioning duo impartially shares their thoughts on the campaign and why the stock soared, the jeans flew off the shelf, and how American Eagle may once again be relevant to a new generation.Join Mark and Lorraine for 30-ish as they discuss all things marketing, advertising, and of course … positioning!
