July 2006
Brand Strategy's Trends and News for July
Welcome to the sixth of our monthly newsletters.
Ruth Mortimer, editor (ruth.mortimer@centaur.co.uk) recommends…..
THE SPY WHO (DIDN’T) LOVE ME
Corporate spies are everywhere. No, that’s not paranoia. It’s in the news - this month Coca-Cola discovered that a disgruntled employee was trying to sell its secrets to arch-rival Pepsi. Does your brand have a security strategy in place? Look at PricewaterhouseCoopers’ 2005 security report to stay safe or see Apple’s struggles:
More...More...More...$file/SEPT15INFO_SURVEY_FINAL.pdf
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CARREFOUR’S CHINESE CORE
How is supermarket giant Carrefour faring in the notoriously difficult Chinese market? Jean-Luc Chéreau, the head of Carrefour China, discusses the spread of the company - offering valuable insights for other companies considering the region:
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WOMEN HOLD THE PURSESTRINGS
It will come as no surprise to anyone that women - the people who control the money in many families - are getting their own banks. An Austrian bank, more focused on talking and relationships, has opened for female customers only. It’s not the only one - this is a trend ranging from Canada to Pakistan:
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Morag Cuddeford Jones, contributing editor, (morag.cuddeford@centaur.co.uk) recommends….
WILL THIS CHINESE TAKEAWAY BE UP TO SCRATCH?
With other home-grown models not meeting US safety standards, will the new
Chinese owners of the British MG brand fulfil enough of the dormant brand's
promises to maintain its standing in car owners' minds?
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NO DAYLIGHT ROBBERY AT WAL-MART
Everything under $25 at Wal-Mart is now free. If you're under 18 or over 80,
it's all free. Come on in, help yourselves! (Er, not really.) With the retailer’s new focus on organic produce, perhaps you could nick a tasty banana or two:
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SAFETY IN NUMBERS
News Corp is investing a large, unspecified amount in publicity for its
online child safety campaign. Fronted by Keifer Sutherland, star of hit
crime serial, 24, it highlights the dangers faced by kids on communities
such as News Corp's MySpace site. Currently 20% of MySpace's 92m registered
users are under 21.
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Report detailing parental concerns over children's security online:
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INDIA’S NEW TOP TIPPLE
The sophisticated Indian palate means that national businesses are buying up foreign wine producers to meet demand back home. While beer and spirits have dominated the market for many years, is this is the chance for wine to gain a major foothold in India?
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Kate Walsh, feature writer, (kate.walsh@centaur.co.uk) recommends...
HIS SPACE
What will Rupert Murdoch do with My Space? One year and $580m later, the
question has finally been answered. He will do what all of the groovy kids
are doing: set up his own My Space! Well, not exactly - but some inventive
individual has taken the time to do it for him. Take a look before it’s
removed:
More...On a more serious note you can learn Rupert’s true intentions for his space
on
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MISS JULY?
Sophia Loren has posed for the famous Pirelli calender. Speculation is
mounting as to whether the 71-year-old actress will appear naked or just
scantily clad. Will this boost the Pirelli brand or is past its sell-by-date?
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Claudine Baker, feature writer, (claudine.baker@centaur.co.uk) recommends…
REINING IN THE BIG HITTERS
The European Court of the First Instance has requested regulators to examine
the merger between Sony and BMG record companies, amid concerns that the
resulting media behemoth might prove anti-competitive. The merger has been in
place since 2004 and just four firms now control 80% of the music market:
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THE CAR POOL
Could we see a tie-up between General Motors, Nissan and Renault? The three-way deal is an interesting idea in a market where car brands are being squeezed from every direction - particularly those hailing from the US and Europe. Could this be the solution?
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Also from Brand Strategy magazine this month…
Mike Ashton, senior VP of marketing at Hilton hotels, explains why he is driven by emotion:
More...Why Winnie the Pooh is more cash cow than conventional bear:
More...Matti Kuoreharvi, marketing director at Nokia, calls for convergence:
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