logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2025
31m 16s

Marketing Like a Challenger with Chuck H...

Marketing Architects
About this episode
In Peter Field's article "Challenger Thinking is How Brands Drive Growth," he states that challenger brands aren't born just from unique founders or lucky circumstances. Challenger thinking is actually how brands grow.

This week, Elena and Angela are joined by Marketing Architects founder Chuck Hengel to talk about marketing like a challenger brand. Chuck shares stories from creating and marketing HurryCane (the first walking cane to stand on its own) and Stuffies (a children's toy with hidden pockets), revealing key insights about broad audience targeting, distinctive brand assets, and why every department contributes to marketing success.

Topics covered: 
  • [01:00] What defines a challenger brand
  • [04:45] Why marketing should connect to every business function
  • [09:00] The consumer insight that created the HurryCane
  • [14:00] The importance of brand fame and broad mental availability
  • [16:00] Finding and targeting the right audience for Stuffies
  • [22:00] The power of "smashable branding" and distinctive assets 


 





To learn more, visit marketingarchitects.com/podcast or subscribe to our newsletter at marketingarchitects.com/newsletter
 

Resources:  
The Challenger Project Article: https://thechallengerproject.com/blog/2019/peter-field-on-challenger-brands?utm_source=chatgpt.com
 

Get more research-backed marketing strategies by subscribing to The Marketing Architects on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. 
Up next
Jun 26
Nerd Alert: Why Animals Work in Ads
Welcome to Nerd Alert, a series of special episodes bridging the gap between marketing academia and practitioners. We’re breaking down highly involved, complex research into plain language and takeaways any marketer can use.In this episode, Elena and Rob explore why animal images ... Show More
10m 47s
Jun 24
From the Archive: The Battle for Effectiveness with Mark Ritson
This week, we’re resharing a top episode from the archive. Originally recorded a year ago, this episode features the one and only Mark Ritson and remains one of our most popular episodes to-date. Enjoy, and we’ll be back with new content next week!This episode, Elena, Angela, and ... Show More
39m 27s
Jun 19
Nerd Alert: The Psychology of Brand Breakups
Welcome to Nerd Alert, a series of special episodes bridging the gap between marketing academia and practitioners. We’re breaking down highly involved, complex research into plain language and takeaways any marketer can use.In this episode, Elena and Rob explore how brand betraya ... Show More
9m 29s
Recommended Episodes
May 2024
259 - Why The Little Things Matter in Marketing, with Tom Dowd, CEO of F45 Training
Ever thought about what franchise marketing is like? Well, guess what— franchises need marketing too. So if you’re considering entering the world of franchising, learn how to position your franchise for maximum marketing success.Sit down with one of franchising’s finest minds— To ... Show More
40m 28s
Sep 2024
Influencer product launches
Ed Sheeran launched a new hot sauce in cooperation with Heinz. It makes so much sense. Ed doesn't have to harvest the tomatoes and make anything! Why aren't more bands launching products with influencers? While celebrity endorsements have been around for ages, giving stars a stak ... Show More
30m 7s
Nov 2023
The Marketing Hill Mash: Severing the Old School Marketing Mindset (Omnichannel Marketing 101)
Marketing isn’t a one-size-fits-all operation. In fact, in order to succeed, sometimes you have to sever the old marketing mindset and develop a highly adaptable omnichannel strategy. So what can marketers do to ensure they’re optimizing their marketing channels? In this special ... Show More
24m 15s
Oct 2024
The Role of Storytelling in Brand Building: Insights from Stephanie McCarty, CMO of Taylor Morrison
Welcome to another episode of the Marketing Vanguard podcast. Today, Jenny speaks with Stephanie McCarty, CMO at Taylor Morrison, America’s most trusted homebuilder. This special episode comes to you from the sidelines of Brandweek 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. Discover Stephanie's i ... Show More
28m 33s
Aug 2024
How to Incorporate Influencers into Your Marketing Strategy
Online influencers are an increasingly important way for companies to find new customers and drive sales. But if you’re a marketer hoping to target consumers, it’s important to understand how the social media industry works. In this episode, Emily Hund, a researcher at the Univer ... Show More
32m 38s
May 2023
From Burnout to $30M Success: Lessons in B2B Marketing That Work
I’m so f*cking happy to announce that ​my book, Stand The F*ck Out, is officially available for PURCHASE​! To buy the book—and more!—DIRECTLY from us and support our small business, go to: https://book.stfo.ioFree Shipping Worldwide • Ripped Apart by 70+ Marketers • Money-Back Gu ... Show More
1h 1m
May 2023
Balance Your Brand Marketing and Lead Generation
With the explosion of martech that provides the opportunity to optimize campaigns with near real-time data, many companies have focused too much on what are their results this month or quarter. But optimal, long-term growth is achieved with a balance of brand and leadgen marketin ... Show More
35m 5s
Jul 2024
How curiosity fuels marketing
Jay Acunzo contends in this episode that you don't need to be brilliant to be an effective content creator. You need to up the ante on curiosity. Curiosity is one of the most important "soft skills" of marketing. But can it be learned? Improved? Spread to a team? You'll find out ... Show More
29m 37s
Oct 2024
283 - The Ultimate Brand Strategy Playbook, with Eric Liedtke (SVP of Brand Strategy, Under Armour)
How Eric turned around Adidas and his plans to revive the iconic Under Armour brand, this episode is PACKED with insights from a veteran Marketing leader. ALSO, we touch on the topics of college sports and the impact NIL has on Marketing, and it all culminates in a discussion of ... Show More
43m 23s
Jan 2025
Why Brand Awareness is Overrated
Managing Director, Business Strategy at MONOGRAM, Amy Colbourn, from a boutique branding and brand marketing agency specializing in luxury hospitality and casino marketing, discusses the misconception that brand awareness is overrated. She delves into how brands can shift their f ... Show More
22m 51s