We have all heard it before.  Branding is more than just words and images – it’s about an experience.   Every interaction that a customer has with the brand factors in to their overall opinion of the brand.  Therefore, branding is not just about what you say – it’s about what you do.  More importantly, the most successful brands have figured out that linking what you say with you what you do is key to driving brand value.  Just think about the experience of walking into an Apple store and you know exactly what I mean.

Therefore it’s not surprising that a … read more

A shock was sent rippling through the sports world a few weeks ago; LeBron James, the self-proclaimed “King,” left his hometown team of the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat via free agency. There are many opinions on James’ monumental and unprecedented decision to sign on as the last member of the superstar signing class in Miami joining Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. Many (including Cleveland’s owner) believe that the 6-time all-star performer abandoned his team and hometown in a narcissistic and unacceptable fashion. This … read more

I recently decided that I wanted new cookware for my kitchen so I started the search for the best cookware.  My search started when I saw Julia Child’s kitchen in the new movie “Julie and Julia”.  I needed that kitchen! The staple cookware set in the movie was a brand called Le Creuset which I have seen many times at Williams-Sonoma for the astronomical price of $1,990.  I decided then and there to start saving for my dream cookware – the 12 piece set in … read more

My 7-year-old son is in a Spanish immersion program — his Science and Math classes are conducted in Spanish, while his English and Reading classes are in, well, English.  Having had years of Spanish in high school, and having grown up in Los Angeles, my Spanish is usually adequate to get the gist of the his math homework instructions.  The exception to this is when they include more specific math terms, which “Hi Roberto, how are you today” just didn’t cover.  Yesterday, his … read more

Does your corporate culture represent your brand? Corporate culture is a very broad term and can be interpreted in several ways. The corporate culture of an organization includes the values, beliefs, principles, business operations and business strategies that make a business unique, and establish its character.

This corporate culture is not only a way of business internally, but also a foundation for how a company operates with its clients and prospects. Just as children often adopt the habits – good and bad – of their parents, a corporation’s employees will adopt the work habits, ethics … read more