College of Business, ASBTDC Team Up to Bring Entrepreneur and Brand Hysteria Expert to Little Rock
An entrepreneur known for his marketing savvy and cupcake-and-crossbones logo is coming to Little Rock to share his story.聽Johnny Earle, the founder of apparel and stores, started 16 businesses before he turned 16. From selling T-shirts out of the trunk of his car, he has grown Johnny Cupcakes into a retail empire with devoted fans who have his company logo tattooed on themselves and camp out for new products and store openings.The University of Arkansas at Little Rock College of Business and the will host two 鈥淛ohnny Cupcakes: A Blueprint for Brand Loyalty & Global Domination鈥� events featuring Earle on Thursday, Feb. 28. A midday on-campus session geared toward students will be followed by an evening presentation聽open to the public that is downtown at the Ron Robinson Theatre.聽The first event is at 12:30 p.m. in the Reynolds Business Center atrium, while the evening talk begins at 6 p.m.Both events are free of charge, though pre-registration is required for the night event. To register, visit .Since being named the country鈥檚 #1 Young Entrepreneur by Bloomberg Businessweek and a Top Innovator in Retail by The Boston Globe, Earle has become an in-demand speaker on brand loyalty, marketing, entrepreneurship and innovation, appearing at leading companies and universities including Apple and Harvard.He embraces experiential branding and encourages other entrepreneurs to focus on creating memorable, fun experiences for customers. When he launched Johnny Cupcakes, he decided the best way to stand out in a crowded product category was to offer such a unique brand experience that his customers would loyally line up around the block, time and time again, just to be able to sport his logo on their clothing. From the display cases to the frosting-scented air to the packaging, his T-shirt 鈥渂akery鈥� fools customers looking for real cupcakes and delights devoted fans.Dr. Jane Wayland, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Stephen Harrow Smith Dean of Business and a former marketing professor, thinks Earle鈥檚 creative approach to brand building will resonate with students, budding entrepreneurs, and seasoned company leaders alike. 鈥淗e realizes he is in a very competitive environment and creates his brand through the customer experience and excitement with very little traditional marketing,鈥� she said.聽鈥淗is logo is opposite of what you would expect. Cupcakes and crossbones! It gets your attention.鈥�During his talks, Earle will share his ingredients for success, including the power of details, the value of collaboration, the art of surprise and delight and the importance of rolling with the punches while learning to adapt.鈥淗is story is powerful and relatable as he talks about building his brand through trial and error,鈥� said Wayland. 鈥淎nd he鈥檚 fun, inspiring, and engaging. We are excited to partner with ASBTDC to provide this opportunity for our campus and our community.鈥�Before and after both events, Johnny Cupcakes merchandise will be available for purchase at an on-site pop-up shop. Full concessions will be on sale in the evening.For more information, contact the dean鈥檚 office at 501-569-3356 or [email protected].The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration through a partnership with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock College of Business and other institutions of higher education. All programs are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for limited English proficient individuals. Reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Pamela Reed at (501) 683-7700.
