Brands in the News

The Transformation of Brand Russia

16 Mar 2022  

Brands are the associations linked to a name or symbol, and these connections are usually created over time. At first the Nike swoosh was just a swoosh, but today it has enormous meaning. Once created, brands are difficult to change. Brand repositioning, shifting the meaning of a name, is one of the great marketing challenges. All […]

Brands in the News

2022 Brands to Watch

12 Jan 2022  

Welcome to 2022! Every year I highlight a few brands to watch, brands that are heading into a particularly interesting year. This year I have five selections. The Olympics Rarely has there been a more interesting time for the Olympics. The big question: can the Olympics separate the event from the host country? The Olympic […]

Brands in the News

Looking Back at my 2021 Brands to Watch

30 Dec 2021  

Each year I identify a set of brands to watch – brands facing interesting challenges and opportunities in the coming year. With just a few days left in the year, let’s look back at my 2021 selections and see what happened. COVID As I projected, one brand dominated all others in 2021: COVID. I feared […]

Brands in the News

CEO vs Economist: Who’s Right?

15 Dec 2021  

One of the best things about teaching at Kellogg is that I get to hear and learn from remarkable business leaders. This week I had a particularly interesting morning. I first heard from a noted and gifted economist, who was commenting on trends in the global economy. Then I heard from the CEO of a […]

Brands in the News

Grand Seiko’s Branding Challenge

1 Dec 2021  

The world of watches is a fascinating space for branding, and one of the most puzzling brands is the Grand Seiko. Watches and Branding When it comes to marketing something, there are two things to consider. First, there is the actual product or service. Second, there is the brand. When people see an offering, they […]

Brands in the News

Aldi, McDonalds and Honest Discussions

18 Nov 2021  

An Aldi closed recently in Chicago. What happened next illustrates a basic problem in our country. The Closing The Aldi in question was located in the West Garfield Park neighborhood, on the west side of Chicago. It is a troubled area. For example, life expectancy for people living in the neighborhood is 16 years less […]

Brands in the News

A New World for Business Leaders

20 Oct 2021  

Every few classes, I look at one of my presentation slides and notice that something is off. I think, “Wait. That doesn’t look right. I need to fix it.” Sometimes it is a spelling or grammar mistake. Other times I notice that a particular example no longer works. And then there are the moments when […]

Brands in the News

Inflation’s Slow Build

29 Sep 2021  

Inflation is getting a lot of attention. Prices are rising across categories, and the U.S. is hitting the highest inflation rates that it has seen in a very long time. Over the past 12 months, inflation was a remarkable 5.3%. The Transitory Inflation Theory Many economists have projected that this increase in inflation will be […]

Brands in the News

Rebranding the Taliban

3 Sep 2021  

The U.S. and its allies are now out of Afghanistan, leaving the Taliban in control. It is a remarkable victory for the Taliban; there were fireworks and celebrations as the last U.S. plane left the Kabul airport. Once the celebrations are over, of course, reality will set in. Afghanistan has vast troubles, and people are […]

Brands in the News

Ulta’s Target Growth Opportunity

25 Aug 2021  

This is a big month for Ulta, as the giant beauty retailer opens its first mini-shop in Target. This is just the first in what will be hundreds of locations. In the Marketing Strategy course that I teach at Kellogg, I highlight that strategy is all about choices. Analysis is good, but ultimately it comes […]

Brands in the News

It All Makes Sense: Buy Now, Pay Later and Vaccine Hesitancy

10 Aug 2021  

I’ve been catching up on reading this week and was struck by two stories. Two Stories First, vaccine hesitancy continues to be a major issue and uptake is falling short of expectations. Joe Biden’s July 4 prediction that we would be past the virus by Independence Day was far too optimistic. We missed out on […]

Brands in the News

Finally, Some Great Vaccine Marketing

13 Apr 2021  

The COVID-19 pandemic has been marked by loss, lockdowns and a conspicuous, almost embarrassing lack of great marketing. In recent days, however, things are changing – some leading marketing companies are stepping up. It is not a minute too soon. The Need for Marketing Marketing shapes behavior. By identifying and tapping into needs and wants, […]