Jack Trout in his blog published on BrandingStrategyInsider.com “Licensing: Trouble for Brands” dated February 25, 2008 makes a compelling argument for why not to consider licensing as a method of brand extension. Furthermore, he backs it up with multiple examples of established brands with flawed licensing programs that serve to prove his hypothesis. After reading about Pratt […]
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Organizations Need a “Competitive” Strategic Plan in Today’s Digital Economy
It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive, but those who can best manage change. – Charles Darwin During my several decades of consulting with clients in a multitude of markets, I almost invariably have found that those organizations who are in greatest need of changing their approach to being competitive, […]
Better Business We Learned from the Creators of ‘South Park’
Great TV shows have creators who spend many hours of many days perfecting every detail of every show before it’s taped. And then there are the co-creators of “South Park,” who do the whole thing in a week. Matt Stone and Trey Parker are the brains and voices behind the wildly popular TV cartoon series […]
How Do You Use Brand Licensing to Extend Your Brand?
Few companies use brand licensing to extend their brands into new categories. Those that do, including Coleman, Newell Rubbermaid, and P&G, have successfully delivered millions of products a year into the marketplace by leveraging the competencies, resources and distribution networks of hundreds of manufacturers throughout the globe. Up until now, licensing has been a nice to have tactic […]
Five Strategies to Improve Your Brand
Before I discuss the five strategies to improve your brand, perhaps I should address what it means to improve a brand and why you would want to. To improve a brand means to increase its value. The value of a brand can be quantified by the market value of a company (total shares of stock outstanding x the […]
Creating an Unforgettable TV Advertising Campaign: 4 Tactics We Like
What goes into making a great TV ad campaign? Today’s viewers are savvy to marketers and their tactics, and advertising execs must become even more creative to draw in consumers. Here are some of the creative ingredients that lead to a great TV commercial: Use a Quirky Spokesperson Humor is, obviously, a good way to […]
A Strategic Framework for Lasting Excellence
In my teens and twenties I was an avid hill-walker (hiker) and occasional mountaineer (ice axe, rope and crampons). Nowadays time, dodgy knees and lack of fitness limit my adventures, but my fascination with mountains and mountaineering history is undiminished. 18 months ago I was lucky enough to make my first trip to Nepal to […]
Introduction to Strategy Development and Strategy Execution
A successful business requires both a well developed strategy and the ability to execute on that strategy. Strategy without execution is merely theory. Many companies develop robust strategies, but fail at operationalizing their strategies into implementable steps. In this article, we will provide overviews for 12 business frameworks related to various aspects of Strategy Development […]
Social Media Etiquette Guide for Businesses [Infographic]
Who knew learning dinner table manners would one day translate digitally? All those eye-rolling, inflamed moments of youth where you are forced to learn the proper “etiquette,” where to put your fork and how to talk to guests…Well, it just so happens, knowing your online etiquette can help you in the long run if you […]
Download Our Free Primer on Strategy Development and Strategy Execution
What is strategy without execution? Merely theory. A successful business requires both a well developed strategy and the ability to execute on that strategy. Many companies develop robust strategies, but fail at operationalizing their strategies into implementable steps. We have just released a free primer on Strategy Development and Strategy Execution. It is a 54-slide deck that […]
The Crisis in Corporate Strategy (Part 2): How to Make a Difference
Note from the Editor: Charles Fiaccabrino is a seasoned executive with 50+ years of sales management experience. Charles began his career at Hoffmann La Roche on April 1st, 1969 as the first diagnostics sales representative in the newly formed Diagnostics Division and helped grow the organization into a multi-billion dollar enterprise. During his career at […]
5 Social Media Mistakes You’re Probably Making Right Now
Savvy dreamers have been creating their own businesses for as long as there’s been a reason to trade with others. Those owners who rose above their peers did so because they better understood their communities and the needs of their customers. Today, learning how to turn your venture into a successful small business is still […]