Sonia Andresson-Nolasco

If the tale of the tortoise and the hare has taught us anything it’s to never underestimate the underdog. Big brands with big budgets may have a head start in the marketplace but just like the clever tortoise creative challenger brands are finding ways to win the race. To stand out against the big guns challenger brands are going smaller and more intimate—tapping into target demos with grassroots guerrilla word-of-mouth and influencer programs.

Celebrity appearances are a perennial tactic in the event marketer’s cookbook. But there’s a new winning recipe on the rise: celebrity chefs. Popular Food Network stars like Emeril Lagasse and Rachael Ray have been cooking their way into America’s hearts for years. And cookware brands like All-Clad and Meyer have put these chefs’ signatures all over their products. But it’s not just kitchen brands that are picking up on celebrity chefs’ thunder. Meow Mix threw a celebrity chef into the marketing mix to tout its natural ingredients.

Brands are whisking consumers off to exotic locations for once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences

MOST PEOPLE WILL NEVER GET TO GO on the vacation of their dreams. Hot air ballooning across the globe? Unlikely. But thanks to a few industrious brands like Budweiser Air New Zealand and spirits brand Drambuie some consumers are changing their fate and getting a shot at an international travel experience that’s big on adventure and rich with brand engagement.

Sampling grows up as marketers hand out much-needed education with their product