The Wild (and Furry) Side of the Office

My dog has become very accustomed to office life.

Do you take your pet with you when you work? Rudi Saldia does—and he’s a bike messenger. His cat, Mary Jane or MJ, a brown tabby, rides on his shoulders as he makes his rounds in Philadelphia.

Saldia is in a GoPro camera commercial that shows MJ nuzzling Saldia from her perch on his back and shoulders. She does seem cowed by the sound of a siren from an emergency vehicle, but otherwise clearly enjoys the ride. The camera even picks up her contented purring.

The commercial, shot with a GoPro HD HERO2 camera and posted last month to YouTube, said “Where do you want to go today, my feline friend?” in the video description. View the GoPro commercial at http://tinyurl.com/messengercat.

 

If you work at a pet-friendly company and enjoy taking your pet to work, I’m sure you’ve taken a few photos of your furry friend at your desk. If so, head over to our Facebook page or Twitter and share your photos with us!

What’s in a Name?

From the CLDA’s website

I’m sure you’ve all heard by now -- the Messenger Courier Association of America (MCAA) changed its name to the Customized Logistics and Delivery Association (CLDA). The association’s new name was announced during the group’s annual meeting in New Orleans in early May:

“The name change is part of a multi-year effort to rebrand the organization to better express what the marketplace demands of its members. The association did original research to get a true picture of what their customers wanted from their members today and tomorrow. The results of that research helped them learn about customers’ perceptions of CLDA members; what customers would like to hear to better understand their importance in the global supply chain and what the association and its member need to communicate to improve customers’ perception and use of its members.” -- CLDA press release from May 9, 2013

This sounds like a great change for the association and we couldn’t be happier for them. After all, rebranding, or reimagining a brand, can help an organization, or business gain fresh perspective, and new fans. And when a brand’s evolution is done correctly (basically, with oodles of research, etc., to back it up), the change can really ramp up business.

Over the last year, a few notable companies underwent a rebranding, too. Perhaps you’ve heard of them:

Microsoft

The Verge reported that Albert Shum, Windows Phone design studio general manager, and Todd Simmons, creative director at Wolff Olins, held a talk about reimagining Microsoft at a recent design day event in Norway.

Last year, Microsoft switched its Windows, Office, and Microsoft brand logos, and now the company is making a few changes for Bing, Skype, Yammer, and Xbox. The following is an excerpt from The Verge article:

“Changing the Windows brand was the key part of Microsoft's ‘reimagination’ says Simmons. ‘We also knew we wouldn't be able to change a single thing if we weren't able to change Windows.’ People, reach, and choice were the ‘three main drivers’ to shift from the past and target consumers in a more meaningful way. The project was, and still is, a huge risk for Microsoft. Changing the look and brand of products that over a billion people use is never easy, but Microsoft has focused on design and user experience to get its message across.” -- The Verge

American Airlines

From American Airlines’ Newsroom

American Airlines recently changed their logo and rebranded the entire company. The company stated that it changed its look to reflect the progress the company has made internally. The rebranding is part of its effort to reflect its current combining with US Airways. According to American Airlines, “the new American is arriving.”

So, have any of you ever thought about rebranding your delivery or courier business? How did it go? Share in the comments, tweet at us, or strike up a conversation on Facebook, or Linkedin.

Are You Ready for the MCAA’s 2013 Meeting and Exposition?

The MCAA's 2012 meeting, courtesy of the MCAA.

If not, you better hurry because the festivities begin tomorrow (May 8) at the Sheraton in New Orleans, La. The event concludes on May 11. And, yes, we'll be there!

Every year, the MCAA builds upon the previous year’s annual meeting, said Rob Johnstone, president of the MCAA and co-founder and partner of Priority Express Courier, Inc. “[We are] trying to bring in some speakers that are outside or tangent to the industry,” Johnstone said.

This year’s event will focus on trends and discuss where the industry is heading. While people in the industry know how to run a traditional courier business, the industry is changing. Margins are getting squeezed and people want to diversify their work, Johnstone said.

In the past year there’s been a lot of buzz concerning companies such as Amazon and eBay that provide same-day delivery, Johnstone said. Prior to this year, most people wouldn’t notice mainstream news organizations covering same-day delivery news. Courier company owners now need to know how their companies can fit in and build on business.

Meeting topics will include industry education and trends and improving company profitability. Attendees will get multiple opportunities to meet other colleagues in the industry at networking events, receptions, dinners and a golf tournament. The meeting’s Exhibit Hall also will showcase the latest in products and services from all major vendors to the courier industry.

Ret. Lt. General Russel Honoré will present the event’s keynote address, “The Price of Leadership.” Honoré is a Louisiana native and is best known for serving as commander of Joint Task Force Katrina, responsible for coordinating military relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina-affected areas across the Gulf Coast. Event panel topics will cover warehousing, business focus groups, airport work, legal issues, retail and same day delivery and marketing.

For more information and to view the meeting’s full agenda, visit MCAA’s 2013 Annual Meeting website. Go to www.mcaa.com, click on the “Events” tab at the top, and select “2013 Annual Meeting,” then “Meeting Home.”