February 12th, 2007
Originally published in the Houston Business Journal, February 12, 2007
Choosing a Name is deceptively difficult.
Many think coming up with a name for a company or product or service should be simple. Some may even think it’s not even very important, convinced there are “bigger’ issues than “naming” to wrestle with when launching a company or product or service.
The issues surrounding the naming of Houston’s new major league soccer team, however, highlight a fact that is all too frequently overlooked. Choosing a new product, service or company name can be extremely important. The process is a surprisingly delicate balance of art and science. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Branding, communications strategy, company symbol, Dynamo, Houston, influencing purchase decisions, Logo Design, Naming, sports branding
Posted in Branding, Naming | 6 Comments »
June 29th, 2006
Originally published by the American Bankers Association, June 2004, also published by the Brandchannel and the Houston Business Journal. It was also published by several Asian websites and the Belgian Management and Marketing Association.
Wachovia Corp. has agreed to purchase competitor SouthTrust Corp. Hibernia Corporation acquired Coastal Bancorp, Inc. J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. is cleared to absorb Bank One Corp.
Whew! Banking is no longer boring.
The Chase merger will form the second-largest bank in the United States, with $1.12 trillion in assets. For Chase, this requires a significant investment in new signage, business cards, letterhead, envelopes, displays, imprints on about 51 million credit cards, etc. There will be employee issues and expenses as well.
And consider the thousands of other banks providing the same service: How will they compete? How can they compete? Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: bank marketing strategy, banking, Branding, business strategy, communications strategy, competitive advantage, competitive marketplace, local bank, Marketing, marketing strategy
Posted in Branding, Marketing | 10 Comments »
November 5th, 2005
The Logo design for Star Semen, a division of a Texas ranch which provides semen from Grand National Champion Black Angus bulls for artificial insemination to produce superior beef herds was judged one of the three best graphic designs of the last 50 years in Houston. Creative director, art director, designer: Steven Sessions.
50th Annual Houston Show
The Art Directors Club of Houston
, and still .
Tags: brand, company symbol, Logo Design
Posted in Branding, Logo Design | 4 Comments »
September 20th, 2005
Originally published in the Houston Business Journal, December 2004
It’s about connecting with fans. It’s about communicating. It’s about building a brand.
Fans want a team to rally around, a team we can be proud of, and believe in, and support, a team that is relevant to who we are as a group. Fans want to be loyal.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Branding, color, communications strategy, Houston, influencing purchase decisions, influencing with color, Marketing, rebranding, sports branding
Posted in Branding, Marketing | 31 Comments »
February 7th, 2003
Originally published in the Houston Business Journal, February 2003
The penalty that businesses pay when they ignore the power and value of strategic branding is usually fatal, especially when facing savvy competitors. This is true even if they are the category leader.
Attention Kmart Shoppers! The bankrupt discounter is ending its 40-year presence in Houston, closing all 17 area stores and eliminating hundreds of jobs as the nationwide chain sheds low-performing stores. The giant retailer, formerly one of the best known in the U.S., announced this past week it would shutter another 326 stores and lay off 37,000 workers nationwide. It is a classic example of a company failing to comprehend the critical need for competitive positioning in a highly competitive economic environment.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Branding, business strategy, communications strategy, competitive advantage, competitive marketplace, influencing purchase decisions, managing identity, Marketing
Posted in Branding | 3 Comments »
September 11th, 1998
Originally published in the Houston Business Journal, September 11, 1998
Companies striving to thrive—not just survive—in the new millenium are beginning to recognize a neglected asset that, left undeveloped and unmanaged, is a liability to acheiving their goals. And the more competitive their market, the more of a liability this neglected asset is. Companies are discovering the bottom-line value of Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: asset, Branding, business strategy, communications strategy, competitive advantage, customer focus
Posted in Branding | No Comments »
September 15th, 1995
Originally published in the Houston Business Journal, September 1995
On a cold, dark day in the middle of the Depression, surprisingly, Americans plopped down what little money they had to watch a feature-length animated film called “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” The rest is history.
From his first big success, a graphic designer with good business sense named Walt Disney Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Branding, business strategy, company symbol, competitive advantage, managing identity, Mickey Mouse
Posted in Branding, Graphic Design | 1 Comment »
October 11th, 1993
Originally published in the Houston Business Journal, October 1993
Design: One of the few remaining Competitive Advantages a company can have.
Every company, large or small, has made use of graphic design at some point in their operations. Steven Sessions, president of the SessionsGroup, says businesses ought to rethink their use of design. Sessions says companies should think of design as a means to an end – increasing the Bottom Line. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Branding, communications strategy, competitive advantage, competitive marketplace, Logo Design, trademark design
Posted in Branding | No Comments »
