191: How Story Opens Retail’s Great Adventure

Storytelling has arguably become an overused buzzword in marketing. But the principles of story are still fantastic for aligning and motivating teams and change initiatives. To help us understand more, Oliver Banks catches up with master storyteller, and Marvel comic writer, B.Earl. Listen and discover how you can uncover elements of a story to make your mission bigger and more relevant for customers and colleagues.

Listen now to discover:

• What retail can learn from a Spiderman writer – and cavemen!.
• Why your story must focus on what’s at stake.
• How the metaverse can help bring your brand story to life.
• And what would retail look like if it was a comic book?

 

Introducing B. Earl

B.Earl is a Marvel comic writer and early adopter of the metaverse and NFTs.

Along with his creative partner, Taboo from the Black Eyed Peas, they started their company, SkyView Way Studios, in 2019. They have projects with Cartoon Network and Gaumont. Prior to this, B.Earl worked on the AR/VR/Graphic Novel, MASTERS OF THE SUN, with will.i.am and the Black Eyed Peas.

B.Earl has been heavily involved with community building in Hollywood, having founded the largest and longest-lasting networking group for professionals in comic books/film/animation called Comic Book Sunday. He also founded JamNation, an LA music collective, that gathers for a monthly open jam at the legendary Rainbow Bar & Grill.

After learning about blockchain in late 2017, B.Earl worked with Millennium Media on developing an NFT-driven gaming project based on the UNDISPUTED film series. The project was a few years ahead of its time since most of the blockchain community was still very focused on cryptocurrency. However, B.Earl never gave up the ideas he learned in developing that project as well as the relationships he gained, and he now is a founder of the NFT series, Chiwawows. In addition, he now has two other NFT series in development.

And with an eye on the future of how storytelling and community will affect web3 growth, B.Earl is focused on bringing his experiences and abilities to those that are new to the space. Currently, he is consulting with the high-end collectable brand Sideshow, developing and implementing their digital strategy.

Discover more about B.Earl

Connect with B.Earl on LinkedIn.

Follow on Twitter: @b_earlwriter

Follow on Instagram: b.earlwriter

More episodes of the Retail Transformation Show podcast to listen to

If you enjoyed this episode, also listen to episode 103: Creating Courageous Change Champions as you’re thinking about the adventure and story that you’ll need to go on to deliver your transformation.

And check out episode 172: Exploring What The Metaverse Means to discover more about communities and why the metaverse is more than just a virtual reality world or computer game.

And finally, take a listen to episode 157: The Collision Of Gaming And Retail. In this one, Hilmar Pétursson, CEO of CCP Games joined to talk to Oliver Banks. CCP Games is most recognised for their online game: EVE Online. It’s a space-based game that is far more than “just a game” with a huge depth of detail. In particular, during this episode, Hilmar discusses communities and how his digital universe helps bring people together.