Brands in the News, Career Advice

Branding Lessons from Jay Z

28 Oct 2013  

This week rapper Jay Z is dealing with some difficult branding challenges. Later this month Barneys will start selling a new line of products designed by Jay Z. The collection includes a watch, raincoat, shirts and other expensive items. Last week, however, two people accused Barneys of racial profiling. The stories hit the front page and received a […]

Brands in the News, Defensive Strategy

A Bad Day for the Boy Scouts

21 Oct 2013  

The rise of digital media is only making it harder to build a great brand. The problem is that a single person can do something inappropriate that damages an enormous brand. This has always been an issue, of course, but digital technology has increased the risk because information can now travel faster and farther than ever before. This week […]

Brands in the News

United’s Good Start

11 Oct 2013  

It is hard to miss United’s new branding campaign. It is everywhere. Last night I watched a United spot on TV, this morning I saw about 15 United ads on the train and this afternoon I found all sorts of United digital advertising as I surfed the web.     You can learn more about the campaign […]

Brands in the News

Frontier Changes Strategy

1 Oct 2013  

Frontier Airlines, the Denver-based regional carrier, is about to become very cheap. This week Bill Franke secured an agreement to acquire the carrier. Franke is a seasoned airline leader. Most recently he revived Spirit Airlines, turning it into an ultralow-cost carrier with exceptionally low fares, relatively poor customer service and lots of fees. The strategy […]

Brands in the News

Hope for J.C. Penney

27 Aug 2013  

Things are looking grim for J.C. Penney. The company’s stock began the year at a price of about $20 per share and recently traded around $13. Earlier this month J.C. Penney reported that it lost $586 million in its fiscal second quarter with sales falling a disconcerting 12%. And hedge fund manager Bill Ackman dumped his […]

Brands in the News

Geico, Airshows and Positioning

18 Aug 2013  

The Chicago Air and Water Show is going on today. The weather is perfect with clear skies and bright sunshine. The U.S. military is absent this year, since the government decided to cut funding for air shows as part of the sequester negotiations. Government leaders promised the world would end if the cuts took place. […]

Brands in the News

Individuals, Decisions and Healthcare

23 Jul 2013  

The more I learn about marketing the more impressed I am with how people make decisions. We don’t just buy the best product, or the cheapest product, or the most convenient product. We weigh multiple factors; we are skeptical of information and use a wide range of cues to figure out the best course. This […]

Brands in the News

Building the Silverado Brand

15 Jul 2013  

On July 4 GM rolled out a new advertising campaign to support the launch of the redesigned Chevy Silverado. The first spot is an emotional commercial that focuses on traditional values. The ad touches on strength, power and reliability. As Tim Mahoney, Chevy’s CMO, explained in a recent interview, “What we’re trying to do is emotionalize […]

Brands in the News

Apple’s New Campaign

1 Jul 2013  

Apple is running a striking new campaign; it is hard to open a newspaper without seeing the two-page spreads.     The ads are dramatic, highlighting Apple’s commitment to design. Here is one:   This is it. This is what matters. The experience of a product. How it makes someone feel. When you start by […]

Brands in the News

McDonalds: Hunting for Growth

14 Jun 2013  

You have to give the team at McDonald’s a lot of credit. Over the past decade, they have found a way to substantially grow sales at existing restaurants. This is a huge accomplishment. The stock has certainly responded. Shares traded at about $30 in 2005 and closed yesterday at over $98. The formula for growth […]

Brands in the News

A Fresh Start at P&G

29 May 2013  

A.G. Lafley is back. Last week P&G’s board appointed Lafley CEO after Bob McDonald stepped down. This isn’t a new assignment for Lafley; he was CEO from 2000 to 2009. A look at P&G’s May, 2013 Brand Saver coupon booklet suggests he has some work to do. A few questions to consider:   -Is investing in […]

Brands in the News

Angelina Jolie’s Smart Decision

16 May 2013  

This week Angelina Jolie announced that she had preventative mastectomy surgery to reduce her risk of breast cancer. People are debating her decision to have the surgery. Most seem be fully supporting the move. She clearly made a smart decision in announcing it as she did; Angelina Jolie dramatically enhanced her personal brand. By proactively […]