Can They Brand That?

Turning Hot Dog Water into a DTC Brand [LIVE!]

Once in everyone's career, comes a challenge so great, so daunting, the only thing to do is jump in headfirst. This week's hot dog water episode is exactly that for Allie and Lyndsay. Not only do they rise to the occasion, but they soar among the stars, going from bottled hot dog water concepts to shelf-stable broth concepts to bar mixers and then landing on the glorious hot dog water vodka concept: Boozehound. Here's a glimpse at what else we cooked up in just 20 minutes (with no prep work, just vibes and our vast knowledge of hot dogs): * Brand names like Haute, Wurst Water, (bottled) Dog Broth, Brat Broth (for cooking!), Boozehound (vodka), Cocktail Weiner (alcohol mixer) * Branded copy like, "Boiled in the USA," "The world's first hot dog water vodka," "Fresh from Glizzy Falls," "Hand-harvested hot dog water," "It was the brat of times, it was the wurst of times." * Label concepts like houndstooth patterns, Sherlock Holmes aesthetic, and illustrations of hot dogs in a hot tub at a fancy ski resort * Marketing shticks like bar vernacular, "Walking the dog" (adding a shot of Boozehound to any order) or "Tini Weenies" (a martini made with Boozehound). * Mascot ideas like anthropomorphized tongs, a mythical creature with hot dogs for legs, a dog dressed like Sherlock Holmes, and three hot dogs in a trench coat. And we did it all with the help of our very funny commenters in the live stream (Join us every Wednesday @ 12p CT for a new one, btw!!!!) ICYMI, this show exists 1) to champion originality and creativity in a sea of AI slop, 2) to show potential clients the power and value of fun as a consumer-converting strategy, and 3) to offer some much-needed levity to the world. Get your (hot dog) buns over to Youtube and watch the full episode: https://youtube.com/live/WFOZZNMqRfc [https://youtube.com/live/WFOZZNMqRfc] — Timestamps: * 00:00 Can They Brand Hot Dog Water? * 01:46 Let the brainstorm begin! * 01:52 Brainstorming funny brand names: Wet Dog, Dog Water, and more * 03:51 Exploring branding concepts for hot dog water: from beverage to cocktail mixers * 11:54 Developing visual branding ideas: logos, packaging, marketing potential, and other branding absurdity * 19:24 Brainstorming more funny brand names: Worst or Wurst Water, Boozehound, and more * 29:02 Imagining the product in real-world settings: at stadiums, as city staples, as hilarious pop-ups * 38:16 Mascot O'Clock * 47:50 Funded or Done-ded — As the world's first humor branding agency, Semiserious has worked its magic for industry darlings like Clif Bar, Native, Waterboy, Blue Bunny, Yogi Tea, JOI, Alleyoop, The University of Chicago, Hilton, and Pie. But they would never brag about it in their episode description. Say hi or snoop around: https://semiseriousagency.com [https://semiseriousagency.com/]

Building a Coffee Helmet Brand for Mother's Day [LIVE!]

What does Mom really want for Mother's Day? To enjoy her bleeping cup of coffee. Enter: Bevy, the hands-free temperature-controlled coffee helmet. Beer Helmet WHO?! At least that's the fictional product we built a real brand for on this week's latest episode of Can They Brand That? We spent 20 minutes (with no prep work, just vibes and our "mom brains") exploring the idea of a wearable cup of joe. Picture a chic helmet that distributes your beverage of choice to you through a straw; keeping your drink at your desired temperature and allowing you to sip on it at your leisure while you go on with your morning (chasing children, getting dressed, doomscrolling, whatever you want!). No more graveyard of lukewarm cups of coffee all around the house that you never got to enjoy. Bliss! Buzz! Bravo! Here's what we came up with: * Brand names like Bevy, Hat Trick, Brutus, Headcase, and CAPpuccino. * Taglines like, "Drinks on us," "Let us give you a hand. Or two." "No one takes their coffee lukewarm," "The perks are endless," "Don't spill the beans, and "Hands down the best way to drink up." * Mascot ideas like a lightning bolt character named Bolt, a beaver who is a morning person, an Elizabethan Era dude named Brutus (or, Brew-tus), and a bat (the kind that eats coffee fruit before it turns into beans) named Batty (she's over-caffeinated), and Rick Moranis' character from Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Wayne Szalinski. * Marketing shticks like special straw attachments for hot drinks, a light-up front panel to distract babies during diaper changes, and Bluetooth technology for the tech bros. And we did it all with the help of our very funny commenters in the live stream. Strap on your favorite beverage and watch the full episode: https://youtube.com/live/DaLpc0sNGQM [https://youtube.com/live/DaLpc0sNGQM] ICYMI, this show exists 1) to champion originality and creativity in a sea of AI slop, 2) to show potential clients the power and value of fun as a consumer-converting strategy, and 3) to offer some much-needed levity to the world. — Timestamps: * 00:00 Welcome to Can They Brand That? * 07:42 Today's Challenge: Can They Brand Coffee Helmets? * 13:34 Brainstorming Names and Features for the Coffee Helmet * 20:22 Creative Branding & Name Ideas * 23:08 Exploring Coffee Culture and Terminology * 28:44 Humorous Marketing Strategies * 32:27 Product Development and Features Discussion * 34:36 Tech Bro Trends and Coffee Culture * 37:34 Redefining Mommy Brain * 40:07 Innovative Product Ideas for Moms * 46:17 Mascot O'Clock * 49:46 Funded or Done-ded — As the world's first humor branding agency, Semiserious has worked its magic for industry darlings like Clif Bar, Native, Waterboy, Blue Bunny, Yogi Tea, JOI, Alleyoop, The University of Chicago, Hilton, and Pie. But they would never brag about it in their episode description. Say hi or snoop around: https://semiseriousagency.com/ [https://semiseriousagency.com/]

Building a Zero Waste Edible Undies Brand [LIVE!]

You change your underwear every day, sure, but what if changing your underwear could CHANGE THE WORLD?! We've all been there: changing your underwear each morning; wishing your skivvies were more sustainable. If only my carnal nature helped Mother Nature, you mutter to yourself. Well, wish no longer, earth lovers!!! Planties is here: the world's first compostable, plantable panty brand. At least that's the fever dream we came up with on this week's latest episode of Can They Brand That? In honor of Earth Day. We spent 20 minutes (with no prep work, just vibes and chutzpah) exploring the idea of sustainable underwear. What started as a gimmick to rebrand edible underwear as a sustainable hero turned into a brainstorm for an undies brand that's hotter than the Earth's average surface temperature. Sexy! Depressing! Inspiring! Here's what we came up with: * Brand names for plantable panties like, "Planties" and "Good in Bed," + names for rebranded edible undies like, "E.A.T." (Eco-friendly And Tasty) and "Forbidden Valley Ranch" * Taglines like, "Don't let the earth be hotter than you," "Carnal nature meets mother nature," "G strings for good," "Easy on the planet and the eyes," "So thong, it's right," and "Reduce, caboose, recycle." * Visual ideas like a logo of planet Earth wearing a green thong, and a 90s style "Save the Rainforest" identity or campaign featuring endangered species thanking the consumer. * Branding shticks like plantable packaging (in an 80s egg-style case like L'eggs), naming the technology that makes the underwear compostable, "Green Butt Technology," and a sexy campaign called "Lingerie for Good," where we insist that pleasure is endangered too. AND MORE because we can't ever stop riffing once we get started. And we did it all with the help of our very funny commenters in the live stream (Join us today for a new one, btw!!!!) ICYMI, this show exists 1) to champion originality and creativity in a sea of AI slop, 2) to show potential clients the power and value of fun as a consumer-converting strategy, and 3) to offer some much-needed levity to the world. Make like a wedgie and get all up in the full episode: https://youtube.com/live/KI4qikHVly8 [https://youtube.com/live/KI4qikHVly8] — Timestamps: * 00:00 "Brief" Banter * 02:55 Welcome to Can They Brand That? * 05:57 Can They Brand Edible Underwear as a Sustainable Hero? * 08:55 Let the brainstorm begin! * 11:47 Creative Ideas for Sustainable Products * 14:38 Exploring Names and Taglines * 17:29 Plantable Panties * 20:27 Creative Branding Ideas for Eco-Friendly Products * 24:03 Exploring Fun and Cheeky Marketing Tones * 26:55 Innovative Concepts for Edible Underwear * 29:54 Sustainable and Humorous Packaging Ideas * 33:53 Playful Language and Taglines for Eco-Conscious Products * 36:53 Sustainable Branding and Humor * 38:39 Mascot O'Clock * 46:24 Funded or Done-ded — As the world's first humor branding agency, Semiserious has worked its magic for industry darlings like Clif Bar, Native, Waterboy, Blue Bunny, Yogi Tea, JOI, Alleyoop, The University of Chicago, Hilton, and Pie. But they would never brag about it in their episode description. Say hi or snoop around: https://semiseriousagency.com/ [https://semiseriousagency.com/]

Building a Competitor Brand to WD-40 [LIVE!]

Call us crazy (behind our backs, please), but we believe that just because a product has a boring use-case doesn't mean they have to have boring branding! And we've always said that. Which is why this week on "Can They Brand That?" we ideated a modern, fun competitor to the household brand WD-40. We spent 20 minutes (with no prep work, just vibes and genius) exploring core brand names, positioning, and thematic structures that could help a WD-40 competitor steal some market share from the classic shelf staple. Here's what we came up with: * Brand names + Taglines like, * Agent 41 | "One-upping the original." * Unhinged | "Home repair that goes nuts." * Handy | "Garage lube that gets the job done." * Loose Parts | "We guarantee it." * Mascot ideas like a well-meaning eel, a hummingbird whose little beak reflects the shape of the can nozzle, and a happy, Frankenstein-esque monster made up of loose screws and such. * And so many other crazy brand schticks, including an entire female-focused angle called Rosie modeled after Rosie the Riveter with rose-colored cans, a Metalhead direction, and other personified brands like Uncle Rusty's and Slick Rick's. And we did it all with the help of our very funny commenters in the live stream (Join us today for a new one, btw!!!!) ICYMI, this show exists 1) to champion originality and creativity in a sea of AI slop, 2) to show potential clients the power and value of fun as a consumer-converting strategy, and 3) to offer some much-needed levity to the world. Loosen up and watch the whole thing: https://youtube.com/live/pwxXmvMy9Es [https://youtube.com/live/pwxXmvMy9Es] — Timestamps: * 00:00 The Humiliation Ritual of Client Projects * 05:48 Welcome to Can They Brand That? * 10:50 Recap of Last Week's Episode * 13:44 Can They Brand a New, Hotter WD-40? * 19:31 Creative Naming Ideas for a New Product * 41:55 Mascot O'Clock * 47:31 Funded or Done-ded — As the world's first humor branding agency, Semiserious has worked its magic for industry darlings like Clif Bar, Native, Waterboy, Blue Bunny, Yogi Tea, JOI, Alleyoop, The University of Chicago, Hilton, and Pie. But they would never brag about it in their episode description. Say hi or snoop around: https://semiseriousagency.com/ [https://semiseriousagency.com/]

Branding Waterbeds as the Hot, Go-To Mattress [LIVE!]

Nearly nothing makes you think of the 80s and 90s as much as the humble waterbed. But what if it got an updated brand identity worthy of the 21st century in order to position it as the hot, new mattress choice? That, my friends, was the challenge on this week's episode of Can They Brand That? We spent 20 minutes (with no prep work, just vibes and genius) exploring core brand names, positioning, and thematic structures that could turn the waterbed from a relic to a major competitor in the mattress space. Here are a few that we came up with: * Brand names like, * Cannonball | "Making a big splash in your bedroom." * Siren | "The waterbed legends are real." * Matt | "Sleep with someone new." * Taglines like, "Sail the high Zzzs," "All aboard the snooze cruise," and "Mermaid in the USA." * Mascot ideas like a little conch shell who spells its name "Conk," as in going to sleep, a personified wave, and a siren whose song lulls waterbed owners to sleep. * And so many other crazy brand schticks, including an entire Mafia theme (sleep with the fishes, duh!) and Shakespeare theme (midslumber night's dream anyone?) And we did it all with the help of our very funny commenters in the live stream. ICYMI, this show exists 1) to champion originality and creativity in a sea of AI slop, 2) to show potential clients the power and value of fun as a consumer-converting strategy, and 3) to offer some much-needed levity to the world. — Timestamps: * 00:00 Introduction and Technical Difficulties * 02:45 The Concept of Branding and Creativity * 05:43 The Importance of Humor in Branding * 08:40 Reflecting on Previous Branding Challenges * 11:41 Introducing Today's Product: Water Beds * 14:43 Exploring Branding Ideas for Water Beds * 17:32 Personal Anecdotes and Relatable Stories * 20:30 Creative Naming Ideas for Waterbeds * 20:59 Exploring Mafia Themes in Branding * 24:04 Creative Naming Ideas for Waterbeds * 27:59 Island and Ocean Themes in Branding * 31:51 Humorous Approaches to Mattress Marketing * 35:03 Innovative Campaign Ideas for Waterbeds * 35:50 Creative Naming and Branding Ideas * 39:42 Exploring Nostalgia and Thematic Elements * 44:05 Mascot O'Clock * 49:58 Funded or Done-ded — As the world's first humor branding agency, Semiserious has worked its magic for industry darlings like Clif Bar, Native, Waterboy, Blue Bunny, Yogi Tea, JOI, Alleyoop, The University of Chicago, Hilton, and Pie. But they would never brag about it in their episode description. Say hi or snoop around: https://semiseriousagency.com/ [https://semiseriousagency.com/]