Brands in the News

The Joy of Inflation

28 Oct 2022  

Happy Friday! Inflation is dominating the news these days. The Federal Reserve is boosting interest rates and reducing liquidity in an effort to slow the increase. Inflation is quickly becoming a dominant theme in the upcoming election, with Democrats being accused of sparking the rise with too much government stimulus. There is no question that […]

Brands in the News

Tyson’s Bad Move

13 Oct 2022  

It is always interesting when a company does something that just doesn’t make sense. Tyson’s announcement that it was closing its Chicago office is one of those decisions. The Announcement Last Wednesday, Tyson put out a press release announcing that it was closing its Chicago office and moving the positions to its global headquarters in […]

Career Advice

Investing in a Tumultous World

30 Sep 2022  

The financial world is falling apart. Stocks are slumping, bonds – the “safe investment” – are doing almost as poorly. Bitcoin is down. Even gold, which should definitely be rising at a time of war and disruption, isn’t doing a lot. I was particularly struck by this chart from Bloomberg. Interest rates in the UK […]

Brands in the News

Branding Lessons from Queen Elizabeth

16 Sep 2022  

The world this week is mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth. People are piling flowers at Buckingham Palace and lining up for miles to view the casket. There is much to be learned from the queen’s long and eventful reign. I will leave it to others to address questions of politics and the monarchy. Instead, […]

Career Advice

Advice for New MBAs: Build Your Personal Brand

1 Sep 2022  

This week I had the opportunity to speak to the incoming class of Kellogg MBAs about personal branding. It was a fun event; there is nothing like seeing 600+ young people embarking on a new life adventure. I highlighted three things in my talk. Your Personal Brand Matters Brands are the associations linked to a […]

Brands in the News

The Hearing Aid Branding Battle

18 Aug 2022  

Hearing aids are in the news this week, as the FDA announced new rules allowing people to buy some of the devices over the counter. Previously you needed a prescription. This simple rule change will transform the industry. Hearing Aid Branding Here is a simple quiz about hearing aid brands. 1. How many brands of […]

Brands in the News

Marketing Lessons from a Market Pig Auction

3 Aug 2022  

Last weekend my daughter Anna and I headed up to the Racine County Fair. We enjoyed seeing all the animals and exhibitions, including the first placed pies and tomatoes. The highlight was the 4-H livestock auction; we watched the end of the steer auction and most of the market pigs. I was once again impressed by […]

Brands in the News

Interlochen’s Debatable Decision

20 Jul 2022  

There are a lot of big issues in the world. There is a war in Ukraine. Global warming is changing our environment in profoundly negative ways. The U.S. is battling inflation and fractured over abortion. It is exhausting. So, this week, I’d like to focus on a very small issue: the tradition of not clapping […]

Brands in the News

Airbnb’s Incentives Problem

13 Jul 2022  

Airbnb’s stock is way down this year. Back in November, the stock was trading over $205. Today it is less than $95. So, should you invest? The price is down much more than the stock market overall, so perhaps this is the moment. While Airbnb is a remarkable brand, it is facing some complex incentive […]

Brands in the News

Rebranding the Abortion Debate

30 Jun 2022  

The big news this month, of course, has been the Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe vs. Wade. This is the first of two articles I’ll be writing about the ruling. This week’s theme: both supporters and opponents need words. We need to rebrand the abortion debate. Brand Choice vs. Brand Life It used to be […]

Brands in the News

Advice for Graduates

13 Jun 2022  

Today is Commencement Day at Kellogg! This is one of the best days of the year on campus. Graduates are taking pictures, visiting the Global Hub with family, and getting ready to walk across the stage. Marking these moments in life is important. This is a particularly happy milestone, full of hopes and anticipation. It […]

Brands in the News

Fixing Peloton

2 Jun 2022  

Things are not going well for Peloton, one of my 2022 Brands to Watch. The stock is trading at about $13 a share, a remarkable fall from its peak of over $160. The company lost a staggering $757 million in the latest quarter. Perhaps more concerning, the company has a vast amount of inventory and […]