Tiger: Getting (and Giving) the Benefit of the Doubt

By Robert Passikoff
In “When a Human Brands Bogies” last Tuesday we noted, “[sic Tiger] Woods as super-athlete cum Human Brand, resonates with values that sports fans and non-sports fan adore: skill, planning prowess, the ability to get of out of sand traps with a single stroke. PR traps, too. These values -beyond his ability to [...]

Starbucks’ Via, Strikes a Cord with Marketers

By Kate Newlin
Here’s my take:
1. There’s a PowerPoint someplace in Starbucks headquarters which outlines what percentage of the US population relies on instant coffee. Some sub-section of that instant-using universe does it for convenience and portability, but isn’t happy with it.
2. Someone noticed that very few of the instant coffee drinking folk come into Starbucks [...]

Good Marketing that Really Sucks

By Robert Passikoff
Everywhere you look the overbite is back in fashion. This time coming with more than just incisors in an extra-long and a strong distaste for garlic.
Today’s vampire culture has evolved into a buff crowd of populars, seemingly as interested in cool couture as they are in blood donations. True Blood, the smash-hit [...]

Branding Breaks Through Middle Management Bottleneck - @ Issue

Middle managers are like waiters shuttling between the kitchen and dining room as the intermediary delivering the restaurant’s “brand.” In a corporation, middle managers deliver the company’s brand while managing a workforce charged with its tactical execution.

Eddie Bauer - Climbing to Higher (Brand) Peaks

By Robert Passikoff
Eddie Bauer, the iconic outdoor-clothing chain that sold goose-down coats to Mount Everest mountaineers and modern outdoor clothing to ski- schussing college students, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection yesterday.
Eddie Bauer has been struggling to repay its debt. And the fact that consumers slowed down spending on anything but necessities can’t have helped. [...]

“Dead Brands Walking …”

By James R. Gregory, CEO CoreBrand
Many corporate brands are being damaged or destroyed by the current economic crisis, but it is through no fault of the brands themselves. Even strong brands that help support the reputations of corporations in difficult times can be overwhelmed by mismanagement or financial conditions beyond the ability of the brand [...]

Open a New (Wireless) Window

By Robert Passikoff
News from the GSMA Mobile World Congress, Spain, the largest wireless industry event so far this year.
Microsoft made quite a push to make its Windows mobile software as ubiquitous as its PC operating system. LG announced that they were going to significantly increase the number of handsets that will carry the new Microsoft [...]

Brands Now Responsible for Providing Value, Meaningful Differentiation

By Robert Passikoff
Brand Keys’ annual Customer Loyalty Engagement Index presents some interesting findings for the new economy, in particular that shopper-consciousness has shifted from one of personal responsibility to ferret out value, to a brand’s responsibility to provide it.
For the 441 brands surveyed in 62 categories in the 2009 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index [...]

Wally Olins - Old School Thinking about Brand Valuation?

by James Gregory, CEO Corebrand

I was stunned to read Wally Olins’ recent article, denying that brand measurement and valuation isn’t an important part of brand building.
I thought the days of brand value ignorance were twenty years in the past. Yet, in this article he said, “The brand valuation process ignores tempest, turbulence and volatility.” Sorry, [...]

Academy Awards: “The Super Bowl for Women”

by Robert Passikoff
The Academy Awards are called “The Super Bowl for Women,” but female ratings have been on the decline. And while it’s the second-most viewed TV event after the Super Bowl, these days if you’re looking for winners, it’s better to bet on engagement than it is on eyeballs.
Viewership this year is likely to [...]