In this episode of The Marketing Clubhouse, we sit down with Fiona Cortis, Head of Marketing at Blunt Umbrellas, to unpack how one of the most functional product categories has been transformed into a globally aspirational brand.

From leading Blunt’s bold 2023 rebrand to balancing long-term brand equity with performance marketing, Fiona shares practical lessons from building a Kiwi brand on the world stage. The conversation dives into metrics, creativity, AI, and the habits that help marketers build brands that actually last.

We unpack:

• How Blunt redefined umbrellas from a purely practical product into a stylish, emotionally driven brand
• Scaling a global brand across NZ, Australia, the UK and the US - without losing Kiwi authenticity
• Blending long-term brand building with short-term performance marketing (and why you need both)
• Using metrics to track brand health and digital performance in a data-led, realistic way
• When tactical activations like DOOH and weather-triggered ads work - and when they don’t
• The role AI plays in modern marketing teams, from creative experimentation to efficiency gains

This episode is for marketers who want to build brands that stand out in unexpected categories - without losing sight of performance.

If you’re navigating the tension between long-term brand building and short-term results, scaling a brand internationally, or trying to make “boring” products feel desirable, Fiona’s insights are practical, honest, and immediately useful.

You’ll walk away with clear thinking on how to balance creativity with data, experiment without gimmicks, and build resilient brands that last beyond the latest trend.

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