Brands in the News

The Switzerland Puzzle

8 Apr 2013  

In late March I spent several days over in Zurich leading a program for a global pharmaceutical company. I found Switzerland to be a surprising place. The first surprise was that the prices are remarkably high in Switzerland. I had perhaps the most expensive cup of coffee of my life at Starbucks across from the central train station in […]

Brands in the News

Branding Kevin Ware

1 Apr 2013  

I suppose this isn’t the moment to be thinking about Kevin Ware’s personal brand. After his spectacular and horrifying injury at yesterday’s NCAA game, the Louisville basketball player should focus on his recovery. I’ve had a little experience with orthopedic injuries myself and can only imagine the road ahead. Physical therapy, it turns out, is […]

Defensive Strategy

The Advertising Challenge

20 Mar 2013  

On Monday I flew back to the U.S. from Germany. On the Lufthansa flight I watched a short video called “World’s Best Commercials, 2012.” It featured winners of the New York Festivals International Advertising Awards. Apparently 430 senior advertising executives cast 430,000 votes and selected the finest advertising spots in the world. My observation: heaven […]

Defensive Strategy

Uber, New Product Strategy and the Critical Moment

11 Mar 2013  

Launching a new product isn’t easy. You have to come up with an idea, validate the concept, assemble a business model, develop a supply chain, create or break into a channel of distribution, begin production and get customers to notice you. The most important thing, however, is creating a positive trial experience. Trial is the […]

Brands in the News

Betting on the New York Times

4 Mar 2013  

Struggling companies often do better when they focus on their core brand. There are good reasons to have many different brands. A broad portfolio lets you target different customers with unique brands. It also reduces risk; if one brand gets into trouble the other brands can help offset the declines. The problem is that managing a big brand […]

Defensive Strategy

Four Remarkable Quotes

25 Feb 2013  

There is a terrific article in The Wall Street Journal today about J.C. Penney. It is worth reading. Here are four noteworthy quotes from the story.   “We didn’t test at Apple.” Apparently this was CEO Ron Johnson’s response when asked if he would consider testing a radical pricing change at J.C. Penney before rolling […]

Defensive Strategy

Solving the OfficeMax / Office Depot Branding Problem

18 Feb 2013  

News outlets are reporting today that OfficeMax and Office Depot are apparently considering a merger. The move makes sense for many reasons. The combination will result in significant cost reductions. The new entity will have a stronger negotiating position with suppliers. And competition in the brutal office-products industry will decrease at least a bit. The […]

Super Bowl

Kellogg Super Bowl Advertising Review: 2013 Results

4 Feb 2013  

It is clear that advertisers know everyone is watching the Super Bowl. Super Bowl XLVII featured ads that were broadly appealing, safe, and focused on delivering a brand message. The tradeoff, of course, is that it is hard to be distinctive and safe at the same time. This year we saw a lot of ads […]

Super Bowl

Six Brands to Watch on the Super Bowl

1 Feb 2013  

There is a lot to see on Sunday’s Super Bowl: more than 50 commercials, each one costing well over $3 million and a big half time show featuring Beyonce. Oh yes, and there will be a football game. With all this advertising excitement it is easy to forget that part. Every commercial provides an interesting […]

Defensive Strategy

Coke’s Difficult Choice

31 Jan 2013  

Coca-Cola has a Super Bowl problem. The iconic brand’s Super Bowl campaign is coming under fire from people who claim it reflects negative stereotypes of Arabs. The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, for example, is calling on Coke to change course. Coke has to be concerned; you never want your brand to be accused of discrimination. Back […]

Defensive Strategy

Two Brands Needing a Super Bowl Save

29 Jan 2013  

The Super Bowl is always important for marketers; people scrutinize every spot. If all goes well, senior executives will shower the brand manager with praise, hand out a big bonus and offer up a promotion. If things go poorly, however, he will be criticized and, in some cases, fired. For two brands this year, however, the Super Bowl […]

Defensive Strategy

Audi Engages

25 Jan 2013  

Super Bowl advertisers want to engage consumers; getting people to watch a sixty-second commercial during the Super Bowl is good, but getting them to visit a site and interact with a brand is better. The challenge is doing so in an effective manner. Turning over total creative control isn’t a good idea; this is why […]