Blackbeard Had a Branding Department ~ Ornament

The First Personal Brand Had Smoke Effects

Long before anyone said content strategy with a straight face, one man understood that reputation travels faster than any ship. For the marketer who has pitched a rebrand to a skeptical room and the shop owner who designed her own logo at midnight.

• Legend, Clearly Labelled: The tale of Blackbeard with lit slow-burning matches under his hat comes from Johnson's A General History of the Pyrates (1724), written years after his death, and may be embellished.
• Agency Gift, Sorted: Secret Santa for the creative director, or launch day for the founder who finally picked a name.
• Campaign-Ready: Belongs in the brainstorm, at the client dinner, and in the quiet week after the pitch.

For the friend who decorates the tree like a treasure map. Pick ceramic (3 inches) or aluminum (3.6 inches); the hanging string comes along, and a quick wipe with a damp cloth keeps it ready for next year's voyage.