Last Crumb

Alright - I’m back. Last newsletter of the week. And if weekends are when you splurge on cheat meals then this case study ain’t gunna help the cause. You’ll see why in a second…

The Best New Platform To Test Ads…

Want to see the instant impact of the ad campaigns you run?

It’s time to be Brave.

With over 60 million users worldwide, brands like Chipotle and Verizon choose Brave as their preferred advertising platform.

Here’s why it’s time to diversify from Big Tech channels, and get the first-mover advantage on the fastest-growing search engine…

The numbers:

  • 63.6M+ Monthly & 23.3M+ Daily users

  • ~70% of those users say tech is their top interest

  • 7,500+ advertising campaigns launched

The Proof:

  • 40% average ad recall

  • 6% average CTR, more than Google & Facebook combined

  • Chipotle, Verizon, Sophos, and Etoro all run campaigns on Brave

If you’re a first-time Brave advertiser:

You get a 2-for-1 offer where you’ll get double the value on all new Brave Ads campaigns.

Mention “Marketing Examined”” to their sales team, and you’ll get hooked up.

How do you make people pay $140 for a box of 12 cookies? Sounds impossible, right?

LOL... This is a disbelief lol.

But, Last Crumb transformed cookies into a luxury status symbol…

So, here’s what you’re going to learn from the cookie gods:

  1. How positioning affects perception and price

  2. The packaging experience created to be shared on social

  3. How to use copywriting to differentiate yourself from competitors

  4. How to use drops to create hype and build up demand

  5. How to use scarcity to fuel UGC and drive digital word-of-mouth

All in the case study below 👇🏼

And let’s be real - cookies aren't typically associated with luxury, but Last Crumb, a brand based out of LA, put a luxury spin on cookies…

Since their launch in 2021:

It starts here…

Taking Inspo From Luxury Fashion Brands To Enhance The Customer Experience

According to the Last Crumb branding agency, Truffl, they aim to position Last Crumb as “a luxury status symbol”. 

And treated like a luxury fashion item.

Taking inspo from luxury fashion brands, Last Crumb crafted a premium customer experience through its visual elements, copywriting, and product packaging designs.

  • Brand Visual Identity

A chic and minimalist brand visual identity, featuring high-fashion imagery that radiates luxury and sets Last Crumb apart from the ordinary cookie brands.

  • Brand Voices and Copywriting

Last Crumb meticulously selects their language to mimic luxury fashion brands.

When you go on the Last Crumb site, it's not just about ordering cookies online; it's about immersing yourself in the "Last Crumb Experience” which differentiates them from other cookie companies.

See the difference:

  • Product Packaging

Truffl highlighted that the product packaging was created with the goal of “making receipts the envy of neighbors and social media followers alike.” 

The box contains:

Social status signaling is a crucial value that luxury brands offer.

And Last Crumb created a similar customer experience to let customers “show off” their cookies like a designer bag.

Creating Hype through Exclusive Drops

Last Crumb adopts the streetwear model, similar to a Supreme, Represent, or even Jordan drop, with its exclusive limited collections known as "Cookie Drops."

And this is something Co-founder Alana Arnold wanted to execute since the beginning:

Before each release, customers have the opportunity to join a waitlist via email or SMS. During the brand's inaugural drop to its initial 300 subscribers, the entire inventory was sold out within minutes.

The essence of luxury is rooted in exclusivity – the possession of something not easily attainable by everyone. This strategy aligns perfectly with Last Crumb's strategy to establish itself as a "status symbol."

Because of it, Last Crumb garnered a waitlist of over 200,000 individuals, generating hype and fostering organic word-of-mouth marketing.

A ticking countdown marks the availability of cookie boxes, generating excitement until the drop inevitably sells out.

Igniting Word of Mouth by Giving Customers a “Creative Brief”

Last Crumb went viral because of the unboxing videos that took over the internet, which led to selling $1mm+ in the first 3 months with a $0 marketing budget,

The exclusivity and luxurious nature of the brand sets in motion a virtuous cycle where anyone who gets their hands on these cookies is compelled to show them off.

The concepts of scarcity and limited-edition drops play a pivotal role in fueling this organic word-of-mouth phenomenon.

Plus, Last Crumb gave customers something compelling to talk about by creating a unique cookie-tasting ritual that turned into a creative brief.

How To Implement:

Ok. How you can apply the Last Crumb learning to elevate and grow your brands?

  • Draw inspiration from luxury brands in other industries and mirror how they approach brand designs.

  • Pay attention to every detail of the customer experience, down to each word you use, lookbook vs. menu is the difference between luxe and basic.

  • The essence of luxury is deeply rooted in exclusivity. Use scarcity and exclusivity to build anticipation, establish your brand as a "status symbol.", and build word of mouth.

  • Design the customer experience as a “creative brief”. Think about what you can do to motivate customers to showcase your product and build organic word-of-mouth.

I’m Speaking At This Event Next Week All About B2B Newsletters But…

…spots are almost gone for the World’s Largest Virtual Email Marketing Event.

And I’d love to meet you. Answer your questions. And see you at the GURU Conference.

It’s all happening this November 8th - 9th.

And yes, it’s free.

The GURU Conference is designed to share the latest trends, email best practices, and emerging tools you’ll need going into 2024.

Leading experts. All action advice. With tactics you can implement asap.

Register for FREE before they hit capacity.

Rabbit Hole Reads and Resources

Marketing Examined Updates:

If we haven’t met or crossed paths - I’m Alex. The founder of Marketing Examined. And I’m adding this section to the newsletter and will send it every week.

Why?

Because I get to create content and media for a living. That’s because of you. So, I want to pull back these curtains and give you an inside look into what we’re building and what’s coming.

Here’s what’s cooking this week:

  • We launched our podcast ‘Sweat Equity’ and you can find it on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube - all feedback and reviews are appreciated.

  • We’re filming our first YouTube Series this Monday and I’ve been writing scripts all damn week.

  • An interior designer came by the office yesterday and gave us too many good ideas and now I’m checking the budget to figure out how we make it happen - (if you’re reading this John (he controls the budget) I’m kidding.

  • Best part about having an office is moving 2-3x as fast vs being remote and also all the dope people who come through. This week it was the homies Nathan Baugh and Danny Miranda.

Ight. Get some sun. Touch some grass. And enjoy the weekend.

Alex