Do you know that 90% of start-ups fail? It’s a staggering number.

Because we don’t hear much from the great ideas that didn’t make it, the world of start-ups can feel like a dark art. Whether you’re just getting started, or lead a global conglomerate looking to stay ahead, we can learn a lot from hyper-growth companies and their not-so-successful counterparts - something we dive into in our latest blog: 5 Make-or-break Lessons For Every Start-up.

It’s Mental Health Awareness Month in the US, and we’ve been keeping an ear to the ground over the last few weeks; on the lookout for the powerful and thought-provoking content campaigns that are inspiring positive conversation and helping quash the stigmas that, still too often, surround the subject of mental health.

And for us, there was one campaign that really stood out. Gymshark’s ‘Some Weights Are Harder to Spot Than Others’.

You’re probably going to fail.

Harsh but true, at least if you’re in the start-up business. The reality is that whether you’re a one-man-band working from a basement, or Silicon Valley’s most investment-friendly ‘gamechanger’, the numbers don’t tell a pretty picture when it comes to start-ups.

Last week we looked at some of the reasons that 90% of growth businesses collapsed – but we’re not done. Because the bad news is that history shows there’s no end to the variety of hazards that can trip up even the brightest, sparkliest, best-funded unicorns around.

But what can we learn from the start-ups that don’t make it? What about the ones that do? 

No matter how much of your heart and soul you pour into growing your start-up from an idea into a small business, the stats aren’t on your side.

90% of start-ups fail. No, you didn’t read that wrong.

The good news is that 10% do make it - and yes, that’s partly down to luck.

But who says you can’t make your own luck? The most successful start-ups of recent years, like AirBnB, Monzo, and WhatsApp, certainly did.

In the April issue of Insider, we're celebrating the unsung heroes of Procurement and Operations. Because behind every Batman, there's an Alfred who doesn't make the headlines but does make them possible.

Take a look and if you're in an *efficient* kinda mood, be sure to visit our calculator to discover just how much time and money ReMake can save your brand.

Hint: it's A LOT

Every Batman needs an Alfred. The ones standing just beyond the spotlight, the ones that make the awards and heroics a reality. The people enablers, ensuring that the great ideas and moments can actually happen.

We are, of course, talking about the unsung heroes in operations and procurement. The ones feverishly working behind the scenes to find the right growth strategies, the optimizations, the big wins, and the tools to help the business meet its objectives.

In the March issue of Insider, we're sending a shoutout to big thinking, breakthrough businesses with big ambitions.

Why? Because it’s difficult to stand out.

Take a look. And if you find yourself in a game-changing mood, and want to find out how we're helping global brands rip up the content localization rule book - join us on April 14th at 1pm and discover the platform that's x30 faster, 90% cheaper, and 100% genius.

If you’re not familiar with the challenger bank, you’ll have likely seen their hot coral cards in the hands of busy commuters. Such is the strength of the Monzo brand if you Google the word ‘hot coral’ the first result you’ll get for the color is an article on the now infamous payment card. 

Their neon card matters, because it’s a marker of the brand's approach to bringing a human touch to the world of banking.

February has been a big month for sport; The Superbowl, the Winter Olympics, the Six Nations. Like me, you’ve no doubt had your fill of sporting action.

It struck me that elite athletes and successful brands have something in common - their ability to make marginal gains, to adapt, to move at speed. Though speed isn’t always the name of the game. I’m looking at you, curling.

I’m talking about execution.

If there’s one brand that embodies the definition of versioning, it’s Virgin.

What started as a mail-order record store venture back in the 1970s has evolved into a multi-faceted, wildly-successful conglomerate known to everyone and their dog.

Not bad for a long-haired, music-loving teenager straight out of secondary school, right?

It’s not just about vision, which Richard Branson has in spades, it’s about over-indexing on execution where the learning is done and then applied, on repeat.

If, like me, your feeds and inboxes have been overwhelmed by a mountain of ‘New Year. New Me.’ marketing listicles since the start of the year, then you’ll be pleased to know that our team has scoured high and wide for some of the best out there, curating the ultimate list of must-reads. Your guide to winning in 2022, all in one place.

Of course, I might be biased, but an almost certain way to win this year would be to make it easy (and much cheaper) to scale campaigns using ReMake - you’re welcome to try it out on us.

We’re almost one month into the new year, and all the trials, tribulations, wins, and success of 2021 are done. January is about fresh goals, new ventures, the pursuit of new opportunities, and finding the right spark to help you boss the year ahead. 

By this point though, you’re probably sick of all the ‘New Year. New You.’ marketing listicles that have been flooding your inboxes and social feeds. There’s just SO MANY OF THEM.

So we’ve curated the best. Just for you.

Every little helps. It’s good to talk. It does what it says on the tin.

When it comes to taglines - it’s safe to say - Specsavers are up there with some of Britain's all-time greats. 

It’s been twenty years since we were first introduced to the, now iconic, phrase. It still feels fresh but with its status firmly planted in the hall of fame of British popular culture. 

It’s a marker of really great advertising. 

And the kind of slogan you might assume one of history’s most recognized advertising heavyweights might take the credit for. Think Ogilvy, McCann, Wieden+Kennedy. And you’d be forgiven for assuming so - it’s that good. 

The reality is, it’s none of the above.

What’s the best movie trailer you’ve ever seen?

It’s a tough nut to crack for editors. Even if you have the next Godfather, Citizen Kane or the next elevated horror from Jordan Peele on your hands, creating a trailer that really lands is a careful balancing act. You need the hype, but not at the expense of the plot.

And as a viewer, you know when an editor has found the sweet spot. It’s when you get that sensation at the end, as the release date materialises on screen, when all you’re left thinking is I gotta see this.

Now answer this: when was the last time a movie poster made you feel that way?

Thought so.

Each month we crown a BrandIcon here at ReMake. Each has something in common, they are rewriting the rulebook and breaking from tradition.

These are the industry shapers, boundary breakers, and moment makers that got our attention over the last few months. Let us introduce you and tell you why…

We’re in the Great Resignation. A staggering 24 million Americans quit their job between April and September 2021. There's never been a better time for talented content creators to start looking for new jobs, and if you have any experience with developing content, you’ll know that good creatives aren’t easy to replace.

What do the want?

In a word: Freedom.

Over the last few months, we've crowned several 'BrandIcons', celebrating great campaigns, strategies, and ways of working. And whilst the throne for December '21 belongs to snack giant, Frito-Lay, for their 2021 in-housing masterclass (more on that below), there is one notable mention that the holidays would feel incomplete without.

A holiday heavyweight, dressed in red, who rises above them all.

In-housing. It’s a phrase that’s been bandied about extensively in recent times. And for good reason. Amidst turbulent climates, remote working, and scrutinized budgets, in-housing marketing processes are no longer just a CFO’s pipe dream, but a reality borne out of necessity.

Of course, in-housing isn’t always as straightforward as an overnight transition. You’ve got to have the right tools, and in the case of Frito-Lay, the right people in place to pull it off. Who incidentally, has given us an absolute masterclass in how in-housing can be done.

And that is why they’re our BrandIcon for December. Read more.

The pandemic has laid bare the fragile nature of international economies and how close to death many businesses have come. Indeed for many, there is no bouncing back, just starting over. However, for communities living on the cutting edge of climate change, covid isn't the only killer, and it’s contingent on all to consider what action we can take.

But knowing where to begin is difficult.

That's why invited Robert Sabelström, Founder of ClimateHero to join us for a conversation and get to know the ambitious start-up that is on track to help 1 million people go carbon neutral by 2023.

Catch up on the episode here.

When it comes to localizing content, there’s fact and friction. Let’s start with the facts:

• We buy local: brands that localize are twice as likely to increase profits

• We buy moments: 60% of all online purchases are now impulse

• We buy personal: personalization cuts customer acquisition costs by 50%

With such an appealing boost to the bottom line, localization should be a central pillar in any marketing strategy. But it isn't.

Because there's friction.