Inspiring Workplaces: The Dirty Secret to Fun Branding

Published: Wed, 07/12/23

Inspiring Workplaces

ISSUE 980 - July 12, 2023


		The Dirty Little Secret to Fun Branding

	The Dirty Laundry Winery in Summerland, B.C. is one of my favorite Okanagan wineries. What I appreciate so much about Dirty Laundry is how they've built their fun brand into every aspect of their business, starting with their name, which comes from a historic Summerland laundromat that reportedly housed a brothel upstairs, earning the business the nickname, The Dirty Laundry. So, Dirty Laundry's tagline is "The Okanagan's Dirty Little Secret." Their newsletter is called Laundry Lines. The welcome sign resembles a giant sheet hung on a clothesline, while the entrance gate posts are giant clothes pegs. The tasting room and gift shop decor is reminiscent of an old-fashioned bordello (not that I'd know what one looks like) complete with lingerie strewn about the display cases. They sell products that fit their brand, such as pink stiletto wine bottle holders. Their membership tagline is "Friends with Benefits." And of course, the names of their wines include, "A Secret Affair," "Naughty Chardonnay," and "A Girl in Every Port." Even the descriptions of the wine are playfully suggestive. Dirty Laundry carries their branding theme throughout every element and every touch point to reinforce their fun brand and image. I see too many businesses drop the ball by not integrating a fun theme as completely as they could, so their branding comes across has half-hearted, when the real dirty little secret to standing out from the herd to be heard with your brand, as the Dirty Laundry winery folks might suggest, is to go all the way.

		Mike's Fun at Work Tip

Employees who work for the Peabody Hotel in Orlando, Florida, must sign a Grumpy Pledge as a way of reinforcing the importance of choosing their attitude at work and not wearing their grumpy pants to the office. So why not create your own version of this pledge? (You could try it with your teenagers as well!) Just make sure it's done in a light tone so as not to induce too many eye rolls!
		Groaner of the Week
"I made some fish tacos today, but they ignored them and just swam away!"

		Funny Business

As proof yet again that darn near anything can be turned into a fun contest at work, for 40 years the Bulwer Lytton Fiction Contest has invited people to submit their worst fictitious opening lines to a novel. (And hey, you could always modify this for the worst opening line to an annual business report or strategic plan.) Here's the winner of 2022 worst opening novel line: "I knew she was trouble the second she walked into my 24-hour deli, laundromat, and detective agency, and after dropping a load of unmentionables in one of the heavy-duty machines (a mistake that would soon turn deadly) she turned to me, asking for two things: find her missing husband and make her a salami on rye with spicy mustard, breaking into tears when I told her I couldn't help — I was fresh out of salami."

WANTED: Audiences in Need of Inspiration! Respond to this email to find out how Michael can help re-energize your workplace!

“Michael’s talk was both enlightening and entertaining.
Michael delivered everything we hoped for and more. 83% of our delegates rated him as excellent; 17% as very good. How many speakers earn ratings like this? I recommend Michael without reservation!" Julie Feuling, Independent Community Bankers of America

Cost-Saving Opportunities to Book Michael
Kelowna/Penticton: August 4-20
New Brunswick: Aug 26-Sept. 7
Edmonton, AB: Sept. 18-20
Cold Lake, AB: Oct. 3-5
Vancouver: Nov. 13-17

Creating Culture Champions
If you want to create a truly inspiring workplace that drives outrageous results, then you need to nurture as many culture champions as possible. Find out how The Culture Leadership Academy can help you achieve outrageous results in your workplace!

Follow Michael Kerr - The Workplace Energizer!

Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options