by Robin Neifield

It was almost Valentine’s Day when area Food and Beverage marketers gathered once again to share ideas and conversation around common concerns and challenges in the food marketing world.  Netplus hosted the second Philly Supper Club event at Fork restaurant, kicking off the evening with a short keynote by Chris Malone – noted author and marketing executive. Chris shared his research around the importance of warmth and true empathy to brand perception and loyalty then shared a quick story ab... Read More

by Shannon Tang

“Design is the application of intent– the opposite of happenstance” – Robert L. Peters Design is a lot more than just making aesthetically pleasing things – it’s also problem solving and visual communication. Designer Saul Bass summed it up nicely when he said design is “thinking made visual.” The field of design is a gradient of many different disciplines – from traditional graphic design to illustration, web design to user experience, product design to fashion design, an... Read More

by Amy Sachs

This year’s Super Bowl was exciting if 1. You live in New England or 2. You like to see Tom Brady looking smug. Otherwise, there was the Avengers: Endgame trailer, commercials, and plenty of hilarious tweets for the rest of us. While we cry silently over another Tom Brady win, and lament the future of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, let’s also round up the best tweets of the evening. Yikes. This halftime show is worse than when my parents got divorced. — mark hoppus. (@markhoppus) Febru... Read More

by Amy Sachs & Brittany Schoonover

More often than not, Brittany and I can be found sending Instagram posts, ads, memes, and dogs back and forth. Whether it’s one post or falling way too far into a black hole of astrology memes, it’s safe to say we spend a lot of time on Instagram. And since it’s basically our jobs to judge other people’s social content, we decided to round-up some of our favorite, most binge-worthy accounts to date. Animals @thedodo Follow For: Animal content that will make you laugh and then cry. https:... Read More

by Brittany Schoonover

INTRODUCTION  I should probably start this out with a round of applause because you’re considering Facebook as a marketing tactic. This is one of the smartest decisions you can make. Facebook will help you reach a portion of your desired audience and show them what your business is all about. And that deserves a celebration! Why? Because you are one step closer to making them fall in love with you. Before we dive in, if there is anything you take away from this blog post, please know: Faceboo... Read More

by Colleen Reese

Now that we’ve all but settled into the new year, we took a look at the trends and flavors that consumers will crave in 2019. The short version? From an increased interest in Asian flavors (specifically, Central Asia and the Pacific Rim) to even more probiotics and plant-based products, 2019 will be the year of intersection; it has to be convenient and transparent, innovative but authentic to its roots, clean label and hyper indulgent. Here are a few of our favorites: Proving grounds. It see... Read More

by ​​Megan McCarthy

It’s safe to say that social media has opened the door for people to be rather nosy. Where there once was the neighborhood Gladys Kravitz (of Bewitched fame) working tirelessly to get a glimpse inside the walls of someone else’s home, we now find me… sitting in the comfort of my own home, eating Hot Cheetos, donning a face mask, and viewing the contents of someone’s bathroom cabinets. Of course, they’ve willingly shared this content with their YouTube following via a video entitled �... Read More

by Colleen Reese

NOVEMBER 6, 2018 — Netplus invited a party of 20 local food and beverage executives to a networking event called Philly Supper Club where we gathered to talk shop about the hot topics and trends influencing our industry. Attendees were encouraged to participate in a series of roundtable discussions. Speakers included… Jared Cannon, Founder & CEO at Simply Good Jars Tom Carusona, Chief Marketing Officer at Insomnia Cookies Keith Christy, Host of “The Restaurant Life With Keith Chri... Read More

by Sarah Huong

Bubbles and tea? You might be wondering how the two even go together. Bubble tea is another name for Boba Tea. Although it historically started as black tea with milk and tapioca balls, “bubble tea” has changed throughout the year due to the exceptional amount of options and customizations available. Bubble tea originated from Taiwan in the 1980s and has became internationally popular. It comes in tons of different flavors and toppings, but the basic bubble tea, also known as milk te... Read More

by Beth Cohen

At a recent networking event, I was having a lively conversation with a woman who enlightened me in her efforts to engage her clientele. Her secret? She makes it her mission to send a thank you note every day. The results were staggering. Clients were surprised and gracious, prospects became more receptive, even colleagues shifted their attitudes after receiving a card to show that their work was noticed and appreciated. A thank you card embodies what building great relationships is all about. I... Read More

by Shannon Tang

Authenticity, integrity, and intentionality– these are just a few of the things that contribute to brand transparency. More than ever, people are listening to what brands are saying and doing. According to a survey by Sprout Social, 86% of consumers value brand transparency. With the circulation of “fake news,” security breaches from established brands, and general consumer trust crisis, it’s no surprise that there is a growing demand for transparency. “Trust is the single most import... Read More

by Amy Eckert

What Is Chaos? The word “chaos” is derived from the Greek χάος, khaos, meaning “the emptiness,” the void before the creation of the Cosmos, a state of non-being, the time before the separation of Heaven and Earth. Prima materia to the Romans. Om, the abstract and the absolute, everything and nothing, to Hindus. In Chinese, Wújí 無極, literally “without ridgepole,” refers to the infinite primordial universe, before Yin and Yang differentiate. Formlessness, though not n... Read More

by Colleen Reese

“Sorry I’m not home right now / I’m walking in the spider webs / So leave a message and I’ll call you back.” Gwen Stefani’s voice percolates loudly in the background as my husband’s hands stretch seemingly preternatural dough from a deep hotel pan. I giggle and marvel at just how much the living flour and water monster really does resemble spider webs. The sinuous dough is the result of a recipe he had been working on for months, obsessively testing the moisture content and tempera... Read More