Post by: Tim Calkins
AB InBev Fights Back
Great companies defend their turf. When a new entrant shows up, they respond to the threat. They innovate and invest to hold their market share. This is what firms should do. You can’t relax and watch as your market share falls year after year. With each customer loss, the business weakens. Profits may hold up […]
A Branding Problem for ISIS Pharmaceuticals
Yesterday, ISIS Pharmaceuticals announced that it was considering changing its name in light of the attack on Paris. Wade Walke, vice-president for corporate communications, told CNNMoney, “Even though people know we’re not associated with the terrorist group, the name itself has so many negative connotations. It’s obviously not getting better over time.” My reaction: what […]
Tesla’s Branding Challenge
It has been a rough couple months for Tesla. Elon Musk’s acclaimed firm reduced its 2015 sales forecast in August, announcing that it wouldn’t hit its production target of 55,000 cars, and earlier this week Consumer Reports pulled its recommendation of the Tesla Model S. The company’s stock now trades at about $210 per share, […]
Emirates and the Power of Great Marketing
Every once in a while a marketing team creates a piece of advertising that really stands out. They get it right. There is a benefit, the branding is strong and the piece breaks through the clutter. This week Emirates released a new spot that delivers. Take a look: What works here? In my view, pretty […]
Nike’s Remarkable Consistency
Nike this week reported some tremendous financial results. The stock is up almost 9% today. The company’s market capitalization is close to $100 billion. The remarkable thing about Nike is that the company continues to do well by remaining consistent with its core brand promise. Nike isn’t inventing new categories. It isn’t launching a ton […]
UBS, Customer Insight and Being a Good Father
Yesterday while reading the Wall Street Journal online, I was asked a rather significant question: Am I a good father? That got me thinking. I aspire to be a good father to my three children. I try to be a good example. I help with homework, praise and encourage each kid, and help put food […]
Burger King’s Marketing Coup
It has been a long time since I put the phrases “Burger King” and “marketing excellence” together in the same sentence. For many years, Burger King has been struggling to come up with something notable to say. The brand’s marketing campaigns in recent years included an odd subservient chicken and a creepy King character. The […]
Making Sense of Airbnb’s New Campaign
I am just back from a trip to France with my family. It was a lovely expedition. One highlight was trying Airbnb for the first time; I used the website to book two different stays. So how did it go? Perfect. The first property was an old farm-house in the French countryside. Our hosts were a charming […]
How Porsche Builds Its Brand
Several weeks ago, I received an invitation in my mailbox. It arrived in a black, sleek envelope with the Porsche logo on it. I was intrigued. Inside was an invitation to spend a few hours driving various Porsche models and learning about the brand, and I jumped at the opportunity. The Porsche World Roadshow took […]
A Marketer Looks at Capitalism
Phil Kotler is well-known as one of the world’s top marketing thinkers. He did more than anyone to establish Kellogg’s reputation as a great marketing school. He is a prolific author on marketing topics. I suspect most people don’t know that Kotler trained as an economist, studying at the University of Chicago and MIT. In his […]
Why Greece Said No
Yesterday, Greek citizens voted to reject the proposed EU bailout. Many people are feeling astonished by the decision. How could they do such a thing? This is simply inconceivable! From a marketing perspective, however, the outcome isn’t a surprise. Greek voters had a choice: they could vote to accept the offer on the table or […]
Financial Advice for Graduates
This week, almost one thousand people will graduate from Kellogg with their MBA degrees. They will then embark on careers that will span decades. Last year I posted some financial advice for the graduates, and some people found that useful, so this year I’m sticking with the theme. Those who read last year’s post will […]