In those first unsettling weeks of the pandemic lockdown, feel-good commercials from brands like Ford, Johnson & Johnson, and Charmin may have brought tears to your eyes. All the hashtags, “in it together-ness,” and sensitivity had us feeling some kind of way.  

Now—although the crisis is far from over—we’re sort of jaded, and we realize Ford is still trying to sell us cars, albeit a bit more gently than usual. Ad-industry friends joke about the overuse of words like “unprecedented situation” and “challenging times.” But deep down, we’re still taking comfort in hearing from the brands that define American life. 

NOTE: Like many of you, we’re staying home and preparing for a gradual return to the office environment. We’re offering our regularly scheduled blogging (plus a few special entries) to help you refine and re-evaluate your marketing efforts for whatever comes next.  

Doesn’t it feel like a lifetime ago when things were somewhat normal? In the two months that have passed since the pandemic forced us to lock down, businesses around the world have fallen on difficult times and had to make even more difficult decisions. 

As orders of social distancing remain in place, businesses have found themselves figuring out how to stay engaged with customers from at least a six-foot distance (and a lot farther, in many cases). 

It’s no different for the exhibitors at one of our favorite events, the Spring High Point Market in North Carolina, which was scheduled to take place April 25–29, but inevitably had to be canceled. While obviously not ideal, canceling the Market gives brands the opportunity to try out new ways of connecting with clients and customers.