Posts Tagged ‘competitive marketplace’

Outperform the market.

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

brands_outperform_in_the_marketplace

In today’s marketplace a Brand is one of the very very few sustainable competitive advantages a company can own. Credit Suisse research shows an index of companies spending at least (more…)

Does MTV have a new logo or
did the browser download stop too soon?

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

mtv-logo-compare-new-and-old

Good thing they announced the “change,” otherwise we would’ve missed it. Of course, a new logo won’t turn around the channel’s image without improved programming. That said, a change in visual identity could

(more…)

Insulate your company from the effect of a failure of your product.

Friday, January 29th, 2010

Toyota brand strength

Why is Branding important?

Now we can see the value of a branding investment. If Toyota ever struggled to determine the value of spending money over the years to build a brand in the competitive automotive marketplace, it is suddenly becoming clear. With the revelation that 2.3 million cars must be recalled and tested for a potentially deadly flaw – their sticking accelerator pedal. This in addition to the recent recall of 4.2 million Toyota and Lexus automobiles, the car manufacturer is getting a clear revelation of the precise value of its brand. (more…)

What is more important in the marketplace, the Brand or the Product?

Sunday, January 17th, 2010

Houston made the short list of cities under consideration for the 2012 Olympic Games but ultimately lost out in the final culling. But then, regarding the 2016 Olympics, Houston didn’t even make the short list. This despite having the best collection of physical assets and excellent leadership. In 2006 I wrote an article for the Houston Business Journal about this Olympic site selection review.

event-logo-design

U.S. Olympic Committee Board Chairman Peter Ueberroth said of Mayor Bill White and Harris County Judge Bob Eckels, “They were spectacular. They were in a class by themselves in terms of administration. They were just so far ahead of any other city, it wasn’t close. … (more…)

BCS National Championship and Brand Identity.

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

Which Brand has the best team?

We’ll soon find out. Meanwhile, which school has the best logo? Well, the University of Texas has a much older logo, designed in 1950. That’s 60 years ago! Few logos have survived that long. The University of Alabama’s was designed in 2002.

Evaluating brand appropriateness.

What do these animals represent? Are they suitable to each school?

(more…)

Being recognized for who you are.

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

The risks and rewards of “Profiling.”

Profiling has become a “dirty word” in America. Probably because of its association with the practice of “racial profiling.” Indeed, in a perfect world people would not be judged by appearances. Of course this is no perfect world but with laws against it and public opinion all across the country firmly opposed to it, do we still see it in operation? Does it provide some unique benefit to those employing it? A benefit that we cannot replace?

The terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 forced a debate. And December 2009’s two incidents involving Nigerian Muslims on Delta flights to Detroit have renewed the debate. (more…)

The significance of a logo redesign.

Tuesday, August 4th, 2009

Is The Detroit Lions Logo Change Appropriate?

President Obama said it was time for change. And apparently the beleaguered Detroit Lions got the message. At a news conference April 20, 2009 the Lions announced that they changed their Logo from the one they’ve had since 1961. And it’s a good thing they told us they changed it, because if they hadn’t, it’s doubtful anyone would’ve noticed. Of course, Lions president Tom Lewand also admitted the obvious saying that this won’t turn around the team’s image unless the team improves on the football field. That said, a change in visual identity could serve as a powerful signal for change on the field and can motivate and encourage fan support. It’s an important clue. No other initiative offers more promise in enabling business transformation than effective branding. The key word however, is “effective.” By accurately defining the new company position, expressing it consistently through all marketing materials and forming tight alignment across the organization, it will: (more…)

Bank mergers and competition.

Thursday, 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.

bank_competition_and_differentiation_branding

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? (more…)

Kmart’s Blue Light Special, no longer special.

Friday, February 7th, 2003
Originally published in the Houston Business Journal, February 2003

Kmart-exterior

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.

(more…)

Building a competitive advantage today.

Monday, October 11th, 1993
Originally published in the Houston Business Journal, October 1993
building-a-competitive-advantage

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. (more…)