It's evolution baby!

So… one week on, how was your platty joob?

If it was anything like mine you scoffed too much cake, almost drowned in bunting and realised that Rod Stewart should never have been asked to perform Sweet Caroline.

But, being Rod, he gave it his best shot and the crowd sang along heartily.

After the festivities were over, my family and I headed to the movies to experience Tom Cruise's latest spectacular: Top Gun Maverick.

Have you seen it? If you haven't, it's time to kick the tyres and light the fires ??

While we were waiting for Tom to fire up the F-18, my wife & I were chatting between mouthfuls of overpriced popcorn about how a visit to the cinema hasn't evolved in 30+ years.

That makes me worry, because I really don't want a trip to the movies to go the same way as a trip to Woolworths, Blockbuster or Debenhams.

All these businesses have failed to adapt to changing consumer behaviour, and they've paid the ultimate price for it.

Simply put, in today's world brands evolve… or they die.

Only this week I was talking to the head honcho at one of the UK's top shopping centres and they're thriving by doing just what the cinema chains need to do:

Give customers an experience.

In today's multi channel world, we can buy, watch and order anything we want online.

But you can't replicate the feeling that an experience brings, whether that's a luxurious in-store beauty treatment or a twist on the classic cinema trip that the likes of Everyman offers.

So as we head into this bunting-free weekend, ask yourself this:

How are you evolving your brand?