Alan M. Siegel's Blog, page 124

Positioning “better” rather than “first”

The single serve coffee makers market is a classic example of a space that was innovative and is now crowded. The Keurig, Tassimo, Nespresso, Verismo, Senseo etc. now account for more than a quarter of all money spent on coffee to drink at home in the US. However, you will not see a single of these brands claiming to be the first. First is great, but getting in and communicating why you are better is more important.

To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, here are top five Irish brands

Some people say you have to leave a place to truly appreciate what you have left behind. In essence this sums up my brand loyalty to Irish products. Although many of these brands are not exclusively produced in Ireland, the Emerald Isle remains a fundamental part of their DNA. The brand heritage motivates an emotional connection that I never appreciated when I lived in Ireland.

Brands that capture the imagination: Why being personal still counts

I do love my Starbucks in the morning. Recently, I have started to chat with my local barista – he knows my name (its on the cup—usually misspelt as Pier) and I know his. The 'name on the cup' initiative was hugely debated and annoying to start with, but it also brings back something nice – a sense of community. That’s something that can get lost in today's fleeting world of tweeting.

My community experience at Starbucks called to my attention another brand that focuses on bringing back something old fashioned and personal—John Lewis.

The secret to WREN’s viral First Kiss video: simplicity and authenticity

So by now, you’ve probably watched Tatia Pilieva’s First Kiss video that has been going seriously viral. It’s clear that the video was actually a marketing move from fashion brand WREN. What’s striking to me is that the style of the video is simplicity---it was a very simple and smart way to capture the imagination of an audience.

Happy 30th Birthday, Dell!

30 years ago, Michael Dell took a chance and founded PC’s Limited, the company that would soon become Dell Computer Corporation. In the nascent personal computer market, Dell was an innovator, selling customized, made-to-order PCs directly to consumers.

Jane Hyun at Siegel+Gale for International Women’s Day 2014

At Siegel+Gale, we value diversity. In this light, we recently held our first ever International Women’s Day Breakfast in our Beijing, London, Los Angeles, New York and Shanghai offices.

As part of the event, Jane Hyun came to speak with the women of the New York office about her newest book Flex: The New Playbook for Managing Across Differences(co-written with Audrey S. Lee), which will hit stores on March 25 and is already being regarded by Fast Company as a Top 10 Business Read for 2014.

Iconic brands that stay true to who they are survive the test of time

On my recent trip to NY, some brands captured my imagination. It was so clear to me that brands that are deeply rooted in their history and heritage evolve and thrive. Brands need to focus on staying true to their heritage and keeping their story consistently compelling to create a success over time.

Here are some iconic brand considerations from New York...

Cycle for Survival: A charity event with a difference

In all the years I spent cycling to school in rain, hail or shine, I don’t think I ever cycled at the speed I did last weekend. At 8AM on a recent Sunday morning, I joined 13 of my Siegel+Gale co-workers (and one client) at Equinox for Cycle for Survival, a two-day national indoor cycling event, which raises money for research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering (MSK) Cancer Center. From the outset, the charity had my attention with their smart, simple call to action to literally cycle for survival. Through our combined efforts, we raised more than $5,500 for the cause.

International Women’s Day: Siegel+Gale women weigh in on brands that connect with them

For International Women’s Day 2014, we asked the women of Siegel+Gale—located in Beijing, London, Los Angeles, New York and Shanghai—a simple question: "Which brands are doing a great job connecting with women?"

The responses are as diverse as our dynamic women themselves—we  are proud to share them with you. Enjoy our perspectives.

EY features Siegel+Gale findings in consumer banking survey

We're thrilled to see that EY referenced our Global Brand Simplicity Index research in its recently published Global Consumer Banking Survey—a report that includes responses from 32,000+ retail banking customers across 43 countries.