Comments for Merriam Associates, Inc. Brand Strategies

Comment on Brand Twins: Same Brand Names for Different Products by Rabbi Issamar Ginzberg

Rabbi Issamar Ginzberg — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 13:51:50 +0000

great examples and graphics to illustrate.

never thought about the Domino’s and Domino’s Sugar before!

Thank you!

Comment on Greyhound: When Your Brand Is a Symbol of Awfulness by LDMerriam

LDMerriam — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 19:51:19 +0000

The Baldwin brand seems to have “boorish a**” built into it. I wonder if he has PR people. It would be a horrendous job.

Comment on Greyhound: When Your Brand Is a Symbol of Awfulness by Jerry

Jerry — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 18:54:31 +0000

What’s your take on how the Baldwin brand comes off in this? That’s every bit his brand, just personal rather than corporate since his celebrity rests on his public persona. Whatever one thought of the Baldwin brand last week, what strikes me here is just how weak is his apology. Bad food and a dirty airplane doesn’t mitigate his boorish behavior, since everyone on the same plane experienced the same food and only he revealed himself as an a**. Seriously, this is the best his PR people came up with? (his apology was not at the time of the incident so I assume some thought went into what he should say to stem the bad press) Totally lame I think; it won’t reverse and probably will extend the slide of the Baldwin brand.

Comment on Green Brands: Consumers Like the Concept But Don’t Buy by Bostonshepherd

Bostonshepherd — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:15:38 +0000

I have to disagree somewhat with Jeff and Luis…just because a low volume of Leafs and Volts “flew” off dealer lots doesn’t necessarily suggest high aggregate demand for these vehicles. Where were these dealers? Who were the buyers? Early adopters? Hollywood enviros?

A better metric, and still wildly anecdotal, is whether there was a big dealer premium for those cars.

And it remains to be seen whether lithium ion battery manufacturing can scale up…we know all the other components can. But one suspects that the battery technology and its cost premium are the obstacles for mass adoption of plug ins or next generation hybrids.

I’m not for or against any of this new technology. But the technology will need improve by a couple of orders of magnitude before it’ll beat the Hyundai Sonata I just rented for the weekend: aggregate 36 MPG with 2/3 of the 500 miles driven on highways…and it’s a $20,000 car.

Comment on Nike Endorsement Deal Signals Michael Vick Brand Comeback by jasmine

jasmine — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:02:13 +0000

i love mick kkkkkk

Comment on Overhead Ads: Flying Is More Like Riding a Bus Than Ever by LDMerriam

LDMerriam — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:32:55 +0000

Interesting thought. Not sure that high negative recall is worse than no recall. In public relations, the adage is the opposite is true. Could it be a case of “I don’t care what you call me as long as you call me?”

Comment on Overhead Ads: Flying Is More Like Riding a Bus Than Ever by Mark M

Mark M — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:38:02 +0000

“on-board ads have higher recall than all other media” – not all recall is positive. There’s the chance that they will remember these ads and deliberately NOT purchase their goods or services because of negative ad exposure.

High ad recall with negative associations is worse than no recall at all

Comment on Most Valuable Chinese Brands by milton Kotler

milton Kotler — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 21:40:39 +0000

Lisa,

Consumer Brand management is making headway in the domestic China market and developing countries,even in Europe, with apparel, appliance, computers, white goods, blacks goods, autos, etc. You would be surprised to at the number of Chinese brands in Africa, SE Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe.

The U.S. is the toughest consumer brand market to enter, and they want to get their brand management ducks in oder so they don’t lose the shirts make a premature plunge.

There are strong Chinese brands in the B2B industrial sector. Huawei is now the world’s second largest telecommunications company. Sany heavy duty vehicles is building a plant in Georgia to compete with Catepillar in the Y.S. home market. Yutong bus is making a brand deal with Greyhound. So there is movement.

The key thing is that brand management takes time to learn how to do well. So China vigorously tries it in China and patiently waits for scale entry into the U.S.market, so they don’t lose their shirt with a premature entry. Meantime, let’s not forget that Chinese companies are acquiring well known Western brands, like Volvo and what ever elese in manufacture, desitribution and retail that they can get their hands on.

Best wishes,

Milton Kotler

Comment on Marketing Brands and 9/11 by Mike Ogden

Mike Ogden — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:58:49 +0000

At first, I agreed with you on 9/11 ads. I didn’t see Hooter’s but I did watch Budweiser’s on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011. You’re right. Self-serving is the danger. My issue was the medium itself–:30 or 60s are known for ads. Here’s my post:
“9/11 ads. Not Marketing’s Finest Hour.”

http://blogwithog.typepad.com/dialogue/2011/09/the-marketing-of-911.html

Comment on Google+ Still Threatening the Health of the Google Brand by K

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 01:34:14 +0000

Indeed – also a heavy user of Google products (though not high-profile). Started shifting away from all Google products when I saw how they were handling this whole mess.

Got my suspension notice this morning.