Posts by Jay Gronlund

How Millennials Are Driving The Bernie Sanders Brand

Posted by on Feb 16, 2016 in Blog | 0 comments

How Millennials Are Driving The Bernie Sanders Brand

The surge behind this exploding Bernie phenomenon is fascinating for many reasons.  It is certainly an indication of how divergent our society and politics have become, and this could even intensify in the future.  It also shows the political potential of finding and concentrating on the most pronounced issues that frustrate younger people so much.  Interestingly, from a branding perspective, there are some revealing lessons from this unexpected success of the Bernie Sanders brand. In branding, it is critical to first identify the most passionate “sweet spots” of various target segments of...

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The Big Challenge for Big Brands Today: Authenticity

Posted by on Jan 18, 2016 in Blog | 0 comments

The Big Challenge for Big Brands Today:  Authenticity

Before the internet, marketers had a relatively free reign for making questionable competitive claims, creating a brand image of superiority and hence demanding a premium price.  But the internet has changed the ground rules.  Instant access to endless information and objective feedback from friends has enabled consumers to seek and find the truth behind such promises.  This has also led to an atmosphere of extensive mistrust of companies, CEO’s and even many established brands, especially among Millennials.   Today consumers want authenticity. We are living in an age of growing skepticism...

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Why the Trump Brand is in Trouble

Posted by on Dec 16, 2015 in Blog | 1 comment

Why the Trump Brand is in Trouble

Donald Trump’s candidacy seems to be top-of-mind for everyone these days.  His provocative style and proclamations have definitely hit a sweet spot with many Republican voters, while the rest of the world remains bewildered at his high poll ratings.  To understand his success, and his future, it is helpful to view Trump from a branding perspective.   To develop a strong a brand, one has to begin with the marketplace and the potential audience or customer, to identify any particular problems, needs, frustrations or essentially new opportunities.  Obviously all the Republican candidates...

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The “Name Game” Challenge: Creating That Ideal Brand Name And Archetype

Posted by on Nov 16, 2015 in Blog | 0 comments

The “Name Game” Challenge:  Creating That Ideal Brand Name And Archetype

  Branding is more than finding a new name or image.  It is about developing a compelling promise and making the right impression, one that will resonate and stand out. It is strategic, with the long term goal of cultivating a relationship of trust and loyalty. But a clever, meaningful brand name will indeed generate that positive first impression which is so essential for attracting your target customers. Our fascination with fashionable, sometimes outrageous brand names extends from companies to products to even novel names for types of consumers – Baby Boomers, and then Generation X, Y...

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The ISIS Brand: A Case Study For Shrewd Brand Building

Posted by on Oct 20, 2015 in Blog | 0 comments

  Few recognize “ISIS” as a successful brand, but it is.  We just see their despicable beheadings, destruction of ancient ruins in Palmyra, and all the other grotesque forms of brutality and violent extremism.   The ISIS Caliphate is an extreme terrorist group which has overnight conquered a large territory in Syria and Iraq, and continues to recruit new members from around the world.  But “ISIS” is also a strong brand with a distinct impression, personality and message.   And it is a classic example of effective branding, dedicated to gain worldwide recognition (and fear) and expand by...

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