Larner Caleb
Columnist
About Me
Trained in Graphic Design and a Copywriter by trade, Larner has worked for some of the world’s biggest agencies, including WWAV Rapp Collins and TMP Worldwide. He’s enjoyed spells as Creative Director at The Black Hole and ripe design(UK), leaving one agency after its best financial returns in its 16 year history and the other having won the UK’s best independent agency in its sector. After ripe, Larner offered copywriting, conceptualising and branding services on a freelance basis to a large range of agencies and direct clients. Larner is now founder, co-owner and Creative Director of Jump Response, a Leeds-based brand response agency offering direct, digital and brand marketing services to clients across the UK and internationally.
Recent Comments
Action on Depression looks to raise awareness with ‘never judge a book’ campaign
In my head I'm seeing the impactful, memorable campaign that John Hamlin conceived. On my screen I'm seeing the 'guidance' from Act on Depression.
16 Apr 2013 - 16:15
Copycat packaging: plain plagiarism or valid competition?
Plain plagiarism. But it's not just brands; it's the actual products. How supermarkets get away with knocking their own version of cereals such as Cheepios, Cheetabix and Not-as-nice Krispies (names may vary) I'll never know. Or I may if there's someone kind enough to explain breakfast-based R&D copyright/legislation to us all on here.
Also, further to your post, Silas, I would hazard a complete and utter guess that consumers are only loyal to between 0 and 2 brands in their whole lives. #hazyfact
15 Apr 2013 - 12:29
Is Thatcher Dead Yet? authors face death threats
Depressingly childish, the whole unsavoury business.
9 Apr 2013 - 09:42
Tesco: When crisis management is nothing less than horseplay
Should we really be that shocked? We're a consumerist society - one that's currently getting hammered financially. Aside from the things we buy that we don't need, we constantly demand lower prices. Those lower prices unfortunately come at another cost: quality.
We're happy to buy a spangly outfit from Primark, made by sweatshoppers who should really be reciting their ten times table, yet we go ballistic over the garden fence that it didn't even survive one wash.
It takes time to ensure quality; time to ensure the stitching is durable in a dress; time to ensure there are no bits of small children in our chicken nuggets. If we're not prepared to foot the cost of that quality assurance, no one can afford to make sure it happens.
I'm afraid Tesco have misconstrued the word, 'Value'. Value is the balance between cost and quality. Value isn't the consumer, or the seller getting away with murder. Okay, murder's too strong - but it's not getting away with ripping suppliers off. We need to be prepared to start paying a fair price to ensure the right quality measures to satisfactorily ensure a poodle doesn't pop out of our pepperoni pizza.
I'm not surprised in the least by this story. I think many others won't be too. If Tesco's stock has gone down as a result of this, it might be a good time to buy (or is that too capitalist?) as they will no doubt bounce back - because right now, we've got to a state where we need Tesco more than it needs us. Not a great state to be in.
Great shout, Colin on the PR handling - agree that it may be too late now.
17 Jan 2013 - 10:51
Seal bars? Crazy.
19 Apr 2013 - 09:38