Cool Quote - 10.21.04

"Consumers build an image [of a brand] as birds build nests. From the scraps and straws they chance upon." - Jeremy Bullmore

The Next Generation of Global Branding?

Coca-Cola is not an American brand, L'Oreal is not a French brand, and Samsung is not a Korean brand. Rather, they are global brands.

They are symbols of a global culture created by the Internet, travel, music and other influences that easily seep across borders. So what are the implications for brand strategists?

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Nick Wreden, MarketingProfs.com, October 19, 2004

Can anyone say, "Matrix Boots" ?

Online Experience Shapes Shoppers' Perception of Brand

By Rama Ramaswami

At last--one place where Wal-Mart isn't at the top. The retail behemoth placed fourteenth in a study of the customer experience offered by 20 leading online retailers. The survey of 2,000 customers, conducted by market research firm Vividence Corp., evaluated each retailer's site on more than 250 measures of the customer experience. Not surprisingly, Amazon.com topped the list, followed by Barnes & Noble, Circuit City, and eBay. Wholesaler Costco hit rock-bottom, coming in at No. 20. So why should you care?

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Where Do the Great Brands Come From?

...For 80 years they (brands) floated on the periphery of marketing, an interesting by-product of our process, convenient for organizational purposes, but nothing special. Then we took a closer look, and were we ever astounded by what we found...

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BRANDWEEK, October 11, 2004, Sam Hill

Mantra of the Day - 10.15.04

"Aim for success, not perfection. Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose the ability to learn new things and move forward with your life. Remember that fear always lurks behind perfectionism. Confronting your fears and allowing yourself the right to be human can, paradoxically, make yourself a happier and more productive person." - Dr. David M. Burns

From Morning Mantra

More Networks Are Pulling the Plugs

The Ad World is Changing...

Commercial-Free TV Shows Gain Traction as Marketers See Benefits of Such Deals

By BRIAN STEINBERG; THE WALL STREET JOURNAL; October 15, 2004

BRANDWEEK's 2004 Marketers of the Year

BRANDWEEK's 2004 Marketers of the Year

• Grand Marketers of the Year: Las Vegas
• Chrysler
• McDonald's
• IZOD
• Indie Filmakers
• Apple
• Detroit Pistons
• Hershey
• AstraZeneca
• Procter & Gamble
• Trump

The Power of the Industry Blog

Word of mouth may be one of the more informal elements of the marketing mix, but it's by no means less effective.

In fact, if your company is releasing a new product or service, no formal marketing method meant to increase its exposure can match the power of people talking to each other about it.

When it comes to Internet marketing, one of the ways to kick-start this process is to get your piece of news mentioned on possibly the most effective online mouthpiece around: the industry blog.

Get the full story

Catherine Parker, MarketingProfs.com, October 12, 2004

Airwalk & Burton Making Snowboards Together?

Am I reading this right? Does it say Airwalk/Burton snowboards, meaning they are the same company, or are they just being grouped together?

Edgy, hand-painted (snowboard) graphics get mainstream ride

"If you want to get freak-nasty and pipe at high speed, you need the right snowboard. And to do it with style, your board needs the right look. Art that expresses individuality, provokes thought or gives offense. Graphics that convey your wicked sense of humor or intense energy."


Denver Post; Mon, 11 Oct 2004 0:37 AM PDT

Cool Quote - 10.04.04

"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost. That is where they should be. Now put the foundation under them." - Henry David Thoreau