andy wheatley
independent brand strategist
Blog
I write the occasional blog post covering a mix of branding and political issues but also life in general. Amongst the latter are a few that deal with the challenge of coming to terms with the death of one of our children*. This might sound a bit depressing but I hope they get across the underlying positive message that it is possible to pick yourself up and keep going even when something awful happens and everything feels pointless.
(*If you’re a bereaved parent who’s been referred to me and are looking for Edward’s Diary you can find it here: http://hlhsdiary.com/wp/)
Ad Agencies v Management Consultants
Hot on the heels of Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg announcing that they’re going to get their little willies out for a cage fight, I bring you news of a less interesting but more consequential battle…Well, if you’re into brand strategy, anyway.
WHSmith: Is it too much to ask to look nice?
Did you see the pictures of the 're-designed' WHSmith logo that appeared on a few stores last month? Oof. Fugly. The company has since issued a statement saying that it's part of a trial looking at localisation and Mark Ritson has told us all to calm down but even if...
Instinct and emotion are more important than data
I’ve been a brand strategist for 25 years. In that time I've developed an eclectic way of thinking that’s a blend of the many things I've read, learnt, experienced and observed along the way. For me, the last two of these - experience and observation - are the most...
Sleep paralysis… any ideas?
I’m running the risk of making myself look silly, but I am looking for some help with information about a sleep disorder that I have. I'd love to know if anybody else out there experiences the same and can shed any light on it. Here goes. I have suffered from sleep...
It’s Not Your Fault
This is a post for other bereaved dads, so is unlikely to be of interest to anybody else. As always, it’s unapologetically cathartic and I hope it helps anybody else on this journey. It comes from a good positive place with the best of intentions.
War Stories
A VE Day inspired post about my mother’s and my uncle’s experiences during the Japanese occupation of Singapore and life as a prisoner of war working on the notorious ‘death railway’ in Burma.
The dishonesty of Boris Johnson will damage us for years.
This government of liars and grifters is a desperately low point for British politics.
Oops, therapy.
I never thought that I was the kind of man who needed therapy, even after our son died. It turns out I was wrong. Don’t be too proud – it could save your life.
The ad industry deludes itself about brand engagement and purpose
The ad industry likes to tell us that people want to be ‘engaged’ by brands. No they don’t.
The ad industry’s obsession with data is killing creativity.
It’s an opinion that puts me out of step with my industry but I can’t help but feel that our obsession with data is damaging our creativity.
Sorry. I was a bit angry.
Child loss comes with many challenges, and anger has been one of the most debilitating and longest lasting for me.
Tax needs to be re-branded as a good thing
Our attitude to tax – both HMRC and the tax payer – needs to change.
Let the fire burn
I’m sorry if I appear angry about my son’s death. I hope this helps to explain why.
From Consumer to Citizen: How Brands and Ad Agencies Can Help to Change the World
If we can turn consumers into citizens we could make a hugely positive contribution to the world.
Gross National Happiness?
As a measure of national worth, GDP ignores so much. Gross National Happiness (GNH) might not yet be credible, but it’s time we started looking at alternatives to measuring meaningful human output.
I Beg Your F***ing Pardon?
Don’t say these things to a bereaved parent.
Easy online access to pornography is a generational time bomb
The ease with which kids can access online pornography is a ticking time bomb.