Cool Chasers
If you’ve ever been interested in brands and what it is that keeps them cool and relevant in a super saturated marketplace, you might want to peep this new book: Chasing Cool. It was co-authored by “marketing maverick” Noah Kerner, and “creative visionary” for Barney’s, Gene Pressman. It includes insights from more than 70 of today’s most respected popular brand visionaries including Tom Ford, Bob Pittman, Christina Aguilera, Clive Davis, Ed Limato, Ian Schrager, Marc Jacobs, Marc Newson, Talib Kweli, Richard Meier, DJ Premier, Russell Simmons, Sofia Coppola, Tiki Barber, Tommy Hilfiger, Tony Hawk, Vera Wang and Ahmet Ertegun. Surprisingly sometimes being a little mysterious and obscure is the way to keep things fresh, a lesson that some of Hollywood’s starlets might want to start learning:
Ironically, the key to staying in the public eye is knowing how to stay out of it. “If you let everyone know everything about you in your real life,” Ed Limato – president of talent agency ICM and agent to such stars as Denzel Washington and Steve Martin – told us, “then who is going to want to keep paying good money to go see you in the theaters? Great legends are usually people who die young because they didn’t live long enough to spoil their image.”
So there you have it, don’t blow your whole load and party like its 1999!
Chasing Cool, $16.32 (On Amazon)
the big nug May 4, 2007 at 5:46 pm
nice cover
kitten May 4, 2007 at 7:11 pm
Great read.
Offers enlightened insight into the ridiculous and unfortunately increasingly pervasive cultural phenomenon of corporate America chasing their own tails in a lame effort to catch ours.
killing softly May 4, 2007 at 11:17 pm
spurs on nikes…what!!!! who took that photo???
Britney May 20, 2007 at 9:45 pm
“Chasing Cool†is an inspiration for anyone in the marketing business. I absolutely loved hearing the insight of successful people in marketing and design. The interviews that were integrated into the book give it a lot of credibility and just shows that you can’t “Chase Cool.” This book really gives you something to think about. I found myself taking breaks to go and google the people and products in the book to learn more about the inventors. Nobody can be a copycat and be cool in today’s society because by then we have already seen it….it’s not new and exciting. Especially engaging was the hip, witty style of the book.
Andrew T June 10, 2007 at 6:57 pm
This is a great book; I have read it and already applied some of the things I’ve learned from it to my personal and business life. I’d highly recommend anyone and everyone to read it. One of my favorite aspects of the book was the chapter that talks about “growing your pondâ€, it’s an idea I had never really thought about or heard before. It’s very interesting that Grey Goose has such a premium image, and the majority of young people consider it the #1 in vodka. I enjoyed the story of the blind taste test and how Grey Goose was in fact not the #1, but yet it still sold as if it were….It’s amazing at how good marketing can persuade the buyers.
Autumn June 11, 2007 at 1:35 am
I loved this book. Not only did it have many anecdotes and analogies that one could relate to, but it also had some unique pictures with thought-provoking captions. It is definitely a one-of-a-kind book.
Kelly June 11, 2007 at 10:46 am
I loved the book. I think what I loved best was the vast range of
knowledge and advice the book had to offer for future market-ers.
There’s no other book out there that offers stories of singers,
designers, CEOs, etc. And the face that everyone told their own
unique story, but that every different story had a similar
(SUCCESSFUL!) outcome was great. It’s one of those real “think
outside the box” books, but not in a corny way, in a true to life way. It’s an easy read, but with a powerful message.