Ken the Cat is a brand by Steven Smith — a Central St. Martins College of Art graduate, who was inspired by his feline companion. With the motto "like most cats, he's a bit of an arseh*le," this initative makes a very strong case for animal safety and rescue. The medium through which the message is shared is quite accessible, as well, allowing individuals to consider the immediacy of the issue.
Steven's drawings of Ken the Cat are quite humorous and unapologetic. The graphics are present on greeting cards, tote bags, phone cases, and mugs. With each purchase, consumers will make an impact on animal rescue centers as proceeds go toward supporting cats in need — by estimation, there are nine million in the UK alone.
What's Driving This Trend
- Animal Advocacy
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Creating more cat-inspired brands that promote animal safety and rescue in a lighthearted and accessible way.
- Humorous Graphics
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Incorporating humorous and unapologetic graphics on various products, such as greeting cards, tote bags, phone cases, and mugs, to engage consumers and support charitable causes.
- Supporting Animal Rescue Centers
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Developing business models that donate proceeds from product sales to animal rescue centers, fostering a stronger connection between consumer purchases and social impact.
Who This Affects Most
- Fashion and Accessories
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Collaborating with cat-inspired brands to create fashionable and humorous products like tote bags and phone cases that advocate for animal safety and rescue.
- Stationery and Gifts
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Incorporating humorous graphics on greeting cards, mugs, and other gift items to raise awareness for animal advocacy and provide ongoing support to animal rescue centers.
- Charitable Retail
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Establishing retail models that prioritize charitable contributions and align consumer purchases with social impact, with a particular focus on supporting animal rescue centers.
