STRONGBRANDS    Professor Tim Calkins, Kellogg School of Management

A month ago I predicted that the world would shut down in a bid to slow the spread of the Corona virus, partly because health leaders did a very poor job explaining why it was important to shelter in place. In the absence of a compelling message, government leaders would have to use force to […]

We are headed for lock-down. The specifics will vary from place to place, but more and more governments will be imposing regulations preventing people from venturing out. Yesterday Illinois joined many other nations and states and closed all restaurants. When you look at this with a marketing lens, the outcome is quite certain. The Virus […]

If you are a Colorado skier, you’ve probably seen videos of Vail’s absolutely incredible lift lines. If you haven’t, well, take a look. The videos are terrifying for a skier; waiting in a lift line is always painful, but an epic lift line is astonishingly bad. Imagine being stuck in a line for an hour […]

I just filmed my 2020 list of Brands to Watch. You can watch the video here or you can click below. A lot of intense competitive battles will play out this year – it will be an interesting time for marketers. Here is a review of my 2019 Brands to Watch.

As the year comes to a close, it seems like a logical time to look back at my 2019 Brands to Watch. You can see my assessment here. I’ll be out with my 2020 Brands to Watch in early January. Happy Holidays!

Recently I had the opportunity to teach a course over in Copenhagen. It was a fun few days with an engaged, remarkably sharp group. While I was there, I had a bit of free time so I signed up for a free walking tour. It was terrific. The Concept Free walking tours have become very […]

A customer is not just a customer. Some customers see the purchase experience as just a transaction. They may buy your product or service, but there is no loyalty, joy or affection. Perhaps you were the cheapest option that day, or the most convenient. Other customers are reluctant, begrudging buyers, who might even wish they […]

One of the keys to building a successful business is capturing value; you want to align your pricing with the value you provide to your customers. If you are giving customers something of great significance, you should price accordingly. Savvy brand managers understand this. Starbucks executives know that some customers love the special, custom drinks and set […]

Last week I wrote about UNC Health Care and the organization’s disappointing efforts to deal with a devastating article in the New York Times. This week, another brand, Fair Oaks Farm, is facing a brand crisis and making the right moves. Fair Oaks Farm As you drive from Chicago to Indianapolis, you pass a remarkable dairy operation: […]

UNC Health Care is a facing a devastating brand crisis today and doing a terrible job of managing the situation. This is a fascinating, tragic story about healthcare, brands and trust. The New York Times Report Yesterday, the New York Times ran a long, detailed article describing issues with cardiac pediatric surgery at UNC Children’s […]

This weekend, terrorist bombers struck churches and hotels in Sri Lanka, causing more than three hundred deaths and hundreds more injuries. The attacks, on Easter morning, shattered the peace in the tropical country. The bombings were devastating. The death toll is shocking, and the attack on religious sites on an important holiday makes it particularly […]

One of the few things that most politicians in this country seem to agree on is that generic drugs are terrific and we should have more of them. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb released a statement this week: “A robust pathway for generic competition is critical to expanding drug access and promoting public health.” Senator Elizabeth […]