The marketing world has been turned on its head since the COVID-19 crisis exploded. Consumers are behaving differently, budgets are being cut, supply chains are broken and many products are seemingly non-essential in our new reality.

If you follow any of our social channels, you probably know that I moderated a panel about the Boston restaurant industry earlier this month.

A couple of weeks ago I shared some insight into some essential business travel I’ve been doing over the past two months. I just returned from another trip to San Antonio. I was curious myself to see what the changes might look like, given that some states – like Texas --have now

Restaurants are the lifeblood of our community. And right now, they are facing catastrophic challenges that threaten their very existence.

When people hear that I’m traveling, there is shock. There is concern for my safety. And there is more shock. “Essential travel” means many things to many people; in my opinion, traveling for a client that provides my team with work amid the pandemic certainly qualifies as “essential.”

On March 19, 2020 I saw that quote in the subject line of an email in my inbox. It felt slightly ominous; by that point in mid-March I don’t think any of us had the slightest idea of what would follow in the weeks ahead.

When I started this company 16 years ago today, if you had told me that nearly a decade and a half later the words “pandemic,” “social distancing,” and “quarantine” would play such a big role in our 16th year of business…I wouldn’t have believed you.

More often than one might expect, I get asked if I can “just write a press release” as if this were the silver bullet solution to generating widespread fame and fortune for the topic/product/brand/service at hand.  Often this ask comes as a favor from non-profits seeking some quick marketing help,