Google, IBM, Apple--world's most valuable brands

Google is the world's strongest brand for the fourth straight year, according to a study released Wednesday by research firm Millward Brown Optimor.

Analyzing the world's strongest brands, the fifth annual "BrandZ Top 100 report" examined consumer opinions and market data on brands to assign each one a certain value and then translated that value into dollars to rank the top 100.

Tech companies took the top four spots with No. 1 Google followed by IBM, Apple, and Microsoft.

Google, IBM, and Apple all grew in brand value from 2009, noted Millward Brown, even amid a recession. Overall, the tech sector was one of the few business categories to show growth from 2009, rising 6 percent based on continued spending from both companies and consumers.

The top 10 most valuable brands in the world

(Credit: Millward Brown Optimor)

"In the past, many companies were quick to cut their marketing spend during a down economy," Millward Brown CEO Joanna Seddon said in a statement. "A new trend has emerged in the wake of the recession as more companies realized the importance of maintaining and even increasing budgets to support brand loyalty and engagement."

In deciding loyalty, consumers take into account several factors, the study asserts. Sustainability, social responsibility, and trust were among the key concerns in driving brand loyalty. The ability to personalize a product was another factor--and one that played a role in brand value for tech companies. Examples cited in the study: Google users can create personalized home pages, and Apple iPhone users can customize their phones by downloading apps.

Among other tech brands on the list, Hewlett-Packard came in at No. 12, RIM's BlackBerry was No. 14, Amazon.com was No. 15, and Oracle was No. 19.

Some tech companies dropped in brand dollar value from last year, including Nokia (No. 43), which sunk 58 percent; Intel (No. 48), which declined 38 percent; and eBay (No. 76), which fell 28 percent. But other major tech brands, such as Verizon (No. 20), AT&T (No. 22), SAP (No. 21), and Sony (No. 94) all rose in value. Samsung (No. 68) outshone all companies with the highest gain, showing 80 percent growth in brand value from last year.

Social networking figured into Millward Brown's study. Although it didn't make the top 100 list, Facebook debuted in the tech sector for the first time with a brand dollar value of $5.5 billion. Beyond that, the study found that social media itself was a growing trend among companies looking to build brand awareness.

Millward Brown, which is owned by advertising and communications giant WPP, generates its BrandZ Top 100 report by interviewing more than a million consumers worldwide and analyzing each company's financial and business performance.

Fan of Spatini Speaks Out

This week, we were alerted to the Spatini brand, a dry seasoning mix to help make spaghetti sauce. Apparently, its only sold to restaurants, though there is a website devoted to the brand, which apparently is owned by McCormick.

Writes our BrandlandUSA reader Erica of Blackwood, N.J.

I understand it was only sold in the Northeast. Jarred sauce like Ragu ismuch easier, but Spatini had a unique flavor so I kept looking for the boxes in supermarkets for years.

It seems to have a real cult following.

We couldn’t find out any more history;  we would love it if anyone could help us find out more info on the brand, and how it came to be. Find out more athttp://www.spatini.info/

Canada Dry Wink Fans Please Speak Up

Are there still Wink fans?

Wink was the grapefruit-based soft drink by Canada Dry. It had a grown up taste, and seemed to be only purchased by grandparents when children came to stay for the weekend. You see, in earlier but forgotten eras, children came down at 5 p.m. and sat with the older generation for something called cocktails. Children would drink these soft drinks such as Wink, and then leave and mess about until dinner time.

In this advertisement, Canada Dry is marketing it to the sassy generation.

Does anyone else miss Wink?

Sweet ‘n Low Rebuilds a Classic Brand

The original brand of saccharine sweetener, Sweet ‘n Low, is doing a major push to rebuild its brand in the wake of newer sweeteners such as Equal and Splenda.

Sweet ‘n Low dates from 1957.

The approach is a good one for an older brand. Above, a full page back inside cover from New York magazine. The ad just positions the product, and makes it look cool. The correct approach for an older, well-known icon like Sweet ‘n Low.

It will be a challenge, however, as most have stayed away from the sweetener twice. The first time, people moved to Equal, because many thought it tasted better. And then, folks moved to Splenda because it tasted even better.

The campaign is by Mother New York for the Brooklyn, NY-based Cumberland Packing Company, which also makes that classic, Sugar in the Raw.

IPC Media in talks over further sales

IPC Media is said to be in discussions regarding the sale of some of its niche titles.

The publisher is said to be in talks with 207 Investments and Tri Active Media regarding IPC titles Superbikes, Hi-Fi News and Prediction, reports The Guardian.

Last month it was reported that IPC Media was also talks with Vitality, partners of 207 Investments and Tri Active Media, over the sale of lads magazine Loaded.

A spokesman for IPC Media said: "I can confirm that arising from the strategic review of IPC's specialist titles, we are in consultation with staff on a number of brands.”
“But the consultation is about an intention to sell, not the completion of any sale and we will not be confirming any information about brands or prospective purchasers until and if deals complete."
IPC Media showed a total circulation of 5,738,111 for all its titles at June’s ABCs, a 2.6% year-on-year drop.
In April, the publisher announced it was to embark on a strategic review of the specialist and niche titles in April.
Chief executive officer Evelyn Webster stated that in order to develop “multi-platform offerings” it might sell smaller titles “where they would have a stronger strategic fit and will therefore benefit from greater focus.”
IPC Media’s Look magazine has announced it is to launch a shoe in collaboration with high street retailer Office, to coincide with London Fashion Week.
Vitality currently owns gay magazine Attitude and Women’s Fitness, and has recently acquired Hair Now, Perfect Hair and Hair & Beauty. Since acquisition the publisher has been quick to exploit digitally opportunities for its new titles, launching branded iPhones and iPads apps.

Wilkinson Sword launches ‘biggest ever’ marketing drive

Wilkinson Sword is raising the competition in the male grooming market with the launch of its Hydro range in the UK, backed by a £20m marketing push.

The launch of Hydro follows Procter & Gamble’s launch of its Gillette Fusion ProGlide series in the UK earlier this month.

Wilkinson Sword claims that the launch is a “world first” putting “skin care at the heart of shaving”.

The “revolutionary” shaving range includes five and three blade versions, which the razor maker says offers men “a good alternative  at a value price point”.
The Hydro range also includes Wilkinson Sword’s first entry into the pre and post shave skincare category with four shaving gel products and one after shave balm.
Wilkinson Sword says that the £20m marketing push is its biggest ever support package for a UK launch. It will include television, print and digital activity.

Very to sell X Factor merchandise through ITV site

ITV and FremantleMedia, producer of The X Factor, have struck a deal with online department store Very, which will see branded merchandise sold from the fashion section of the talent show’s website.

Very will host an area of the X Factor site from which visitors will be able to view exclusive weekly fashion content related to the show and buy branded merchandise including clothes and household items such as duvet covers.

The Very section of the site will go live in late September and include a weekly video of the latest fashion trends shown on the programme.
The X Factor finalists will also take part in a fashion shoot in the contestants’ house to model clothes from Very’s autumn/winter collection. They will also work with Very designers to create a series of t-shirts which will be sold through very.co.uk.
Mark Rosenegk, FremantleMedia’s VP of brand partnerships in the UK, said, “This is the first time we’ve had an official fashion partner for The X Factor and we couldn’t have found a better one than Very. This deal allows for all parts of its business to benefit and these benefits will be passed on to its customers.”
The companies will run an integrated marketing campaign including online, social media, print and PR.
This story first appeared on newmediaage.co.uk 

McDonald’s new VP of marketing outlines his vision

Having lead the development of some of McDonald’s highest performing campaigns in the UK as marketing director, Alistair Macrow now takes over the reins from Jill McDonald as vice president of McDonald’s UK marketing.

Here he outlines seven pointers he will follow in his new role to build the McDonald’s business and its brand.

- Continue to put the customer at the centre of everything we do and remember the role we play in their lives. Our approach has to be grounded, realistic and honest, and should always be fun.
- It’s important that we are always in touch with our customers and we must always evolve to recognise how customers are changing but our pace of change must match our customers. Moving too fast will see us lose relevance just as much as moving too slow.
- Listening to our customers is critical, we need to understand the risks that could undermine enjoyment of our brand and address them.
- I’m passionate about ensuring every communication adds value to the brand.  We must always ask ourselves not just how will this contact with customers drive our business, but also how will it drive our brand.
- Never underestimate the importance of execution. More strategies are likely fail due to a lack of focus on execution than strategic weakness. In a business with 1,200 restaurants, over 80,000 people and serving 2.5m customers a day, executional detail is quickly amplified and can cause the best plan to fail.
- The experience which matters to our customers is the one that happens at our restaurants.  Opinions of the brand will be formed most strongly when our customers step through the door or drive through the drive thru lane – the decor, the cleanliness, the length of the queue, the friendliness of the greeting and the quality of the food.  All marketing activity needs to remember and support this.
- As a marketing leader, I believe my most important job is to secure the future of our business by developing the talent in our people.  It’s important to empower them to employ their talents, support them to realise their potential, encourage them to take managed risk and trust them to deliver.

Aviva joins forces with The Big Issue to drive CSR

Aviva is partnering with The Big Issue to launch its first ever cause related marketing activity.

The insurer is launching a one-off edition of the weekly charity publication under the title The Little Issue.

The initiative aims to raise awareness of Aviva’s Street to School scheme, in partnership with chid homelessness charity The Railway Children.

Street to School is part of Aviva’s five-year global commitment to “make a positive difference to 500,000 children”.
Aviva will distribute 100,000 copies of The Little Issue from 27 September. Half will appear as a 16-page A5 size supplement within issues of The Big Issue while the other half will be distributed to Aviva staff, customers, and business partners.
The insurer says the programme will be integrated into its “key communication channels” including advertising digital and direct mail activity and its athletics and rugby sponsorship programmes.
Gary Price, Aviva marketing director says it is joining forces with The Big Issue to get its corporate responsibility message across in a “more engaging and creative way”.

STA Travel targets older travellers

STA Travel, the youth focussed travel agency, is launching a  sub-brand aimed at older travellers.

Bridge the World will target the growing market of travellers over 50 taking advantage of free time that comes with retirement.

STA Travel says its new proposition aims to provide travel that “offers the opportunity of new experiences not just the traditional desire to escape purely to relax”. As well as a high street travel agency presence offering advisors and guidance, Bridge the World says it will have a “strong” online business to facilitate travellers researching their plans.

James Herbert, Bridge the World commercial director, says: “The new 50+ traveller has much more in common with STA’s core younger travellers than you might expect. They value independence and new experiences but they want different service and environments.”

The Bridge the World brand proposition, identity and website have been created by digital creative agency Albion.

BlackBerry maker to take on Apple's iPad

BlackBerry manufacturer RIM will unveil a tablet device at the company’s developer conference next week, according to reports.

The device, dubbed the BlackPad, is expected to be similar to the iPad with a touchscreen display, two cameras and WiFi connectivity.

BlackBerry users will be able to connect to the internet via 3G with their mobile phone connection, unlike the iPad, which requires a separate data subscription.

The device is also expected to use a new operating system built by RIM-owned QNX Software, instead of the recently launched BlackBerry OS6 that powers most of its latest handsets, such as the Blackberry Bold 9800.
Reports claim the device is scheduled to launch in the fourth quarter and will be officially unveiled next week at the BlackBerry Developer Conference.
Speculation over RIM’s intention to launch a tablet device kicked-off when it emerged that the company had bought the internet domain name blackpad.com in July.
The tablet market is set to heat-up in the run-up to Christmas with manufacturers such as Samsung poised to launch devices using the Android operating system.
Apple debuted its iPad earlier this year. It had to delay its international launch due to high levels of demand in the US and eventually claimed that it sold 3m of the devices inside 80 days.
This story first appeared on newmediaage.co.uk

Morrisons and BK sign up to Lowe’s new retail offering

Morrisons and Burger King have signed up as UK clients of the newly launched retail activation network Open.
Open is a multi-country network launching this week from Lowe & Partners. The UK arm is headed up by managing director Niki Cook and newly appointed executive creative director Kevin Frost.
Open is set up to deliver “big retail ideas, fuelled by a better understanding of how today’s shoppers choose between brands”. The network will help clients position their brands within in-store environments and handle projects from promotion mechanics to signage and point of sale.

Angus Maciver, group marketing and communications director at Morrisons, says: "We are always looking for ways to link up above the line and below the line communications to ensure we have maximum impact with our customer messages. We are excited by the opportunity of having DLKW Lowe expand into in-store marketing thus opening up the possibility of us doing this even better in the future"

Morrisons is to trial smaller store sizes and online shopping next year.

The UK arm of Lowe recently merged with DLKW to become DLKW Lowe and Cook has already worked with Burger King in her role of head of promotional marketing for DLKW’s direct marketing arm, Dialogue DLKW.

Frost has joined Open from Arc and has 20 years of retail experience at agencies including Tequila and Triangle working on brands including Procter & Gamble, Morrisons and Diageo. Cook’s experience includes retail and promotional roles at PurchasePoint, Interfocus and The Communications Agency.

Morrisons and Burger King are currently clients of DLKW Lowe.

Open has launched in London, Shanghai, Prague, Bangkok, Jakarta and Sao Paolo this week.

PricewaterhouseCoopersWasALongName

The clearest picture I have of what PricewaterhouseCoopers does is of two dudes in tuxedos holding a briefcase with the envelopes that announce the winners at the Oscars. But, clearly, with 163,000 employees in 151 countries they do more than that. They are one of the “Big Four” professional services firms — the three others are Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Ernst & Young, and KPMG — and boast gross revenues of 26.2 billion USD (fiscal year 2009). Officially, they “provide industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services to enhance value for their clients.” Yesterday was the official announcement that PricewaterhouseCoopers would be changing its name to PwC, keeping the mouthful of a name as the full name of the global organization for legal purposes. PwC also introduced a new identity created by the London office of Wolff Olins.

Textile Exposé

Established in 1973, Hemtex is the leading store of home textile products in the Nordic region with 189 stores in Sweden (where it has the most at 143), Finland, Denmark, Norway and Estonia. Hemtex produces, designs, and/or commissions most of its products, while others are carefully selected from existing inventory. Its range spans everything from towels, to pillows, to curtains in playfully minimalist patterns and simple color palettes. Hemtex recently introduced a new identity designed by Stockholm Design Lab.

The Best Steakhouses in the U.S.

Cut
Wolfgang Puck is credited with redefining fine dining in America. Indeed, the award-winning Austrian-born chef and celebrated restaurateur has built a vast restaurant empire with locations around the world, beginning with his flagship Spago, which opened in 1982 (famous for its haute cuisine pizzas), and later Chinois and Postrio Bar & Grill, among many others. His trademark dishes have revolutionized the culinary industry.

In 2006, Puck opened Cut, a sleek, innovative and contemporary steakhouse complete with a lounge called "sidecar", located in the Richard Meier-designed Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons' Hotel in the heart of Beverly Hills. After only one year in operation, the restaurant earned a coveted one star ranking from the Michelin Guide--no small accomplishment. 

Peter Luger Steak House
Peter Luger Steak House is a bonafied New York institution, has served the finest of steaks. For 26 consecutive years, Peter Luger has been the number one steak house in New York, according to Zagat's, and its customers have included a host of celebrities, from Alfred Hitchcock to James Cagney and Robert De Niro.

Peter Luger Steak House offers only the finest USDA Prime meat available. The selection process is crucial and is done only by members of the family who visit the wholesale markets on a daily basis. Just as famous as its steaks are Peter Luger's side dishes. Be sure to order the sliced tomato topped with Luger's own sauce, creamed spinach, onion rings and the special German fried potatoes. ThePeter Luger Steak House Old Fashioned Sauce is delicious and available for purchase. Keep in mind that most of Peter Luger's dishes are large enough to serve several people.



Smith & Wollensky
Since its founding more than 30 years ago, The landmark Smith & Wollensky steakhouse in New York City has beef as its cornerstone, concept and reputation. Smith & Wollensky dry-ages and butchers its USDA Prime grade beef in-house to ensure unparalleled quality, tender texture, and outstanding flavor. On average, Smith & Wollensky is aging 7-12 tons of beef at any given time.

Smith & Wollensky is best known for its USDA Prime, dry aged steaks, but the prime rib is mouthwatering as well. The menu offers many options beyond the signature exemplary steaks. Guests can select from a variety of market-fresh seafood, poultry, and lamb. also, such as the shellfish bouquet. Meu standouts include the shellfish bouquet, creamed spinach, hashed browns and the coconut cake. The restaurant's Great American Wine List offers over 550 selections from all across the country with a special section devoted to Undiscovered Gems, which are lesser-known wines of outstanding quality.


The Prime Rib
The Prime Rib was founded in 1965 in Baltimore, Md. by famed restaurateur Buzz Beler and his brother, Nick. The restaurant was designed to evoke the elegant supper clubs of 1940's Manhattan. The restaurant is a throw-back to the good old days with its tuxedoed waitstaff, live music nightly, and convivial and romantic atmosphere. The restaurant, which is beautifully decorated with fine art and fresh flowers, is famous for its thick chops, fresh seafood and the plethora of delicious side dishes from which to choose. Its wine list is equally as extensive.

The Prime Rib opened its second location in 1976 in Washington, D.C. The restaurant has become a power meeting spot for the who's who of Washington elite. The restaurant's third location was opened in Philadelphia in the city's historic Warwick Hotel in 1997. 


Strip House
Executive Chef, John Schenk, is renowned for his culinary skills and is often seen on The Today Showamong other national news programs. Schenk keeps the menu fresh at the eclectic restaurant offers an innovative menu featuring select cuts of beef that are charred to perfection accompanied by decadent sides, an extensive wine list and delectable desserts. Be sure to try its signature New York Strip Steak accompanied by the restaurant's delicious creamed spinach with black truffles followed up by its famous 24-layer chocolate cake.

The restaurant's name is a double entendre that relates to both the delectable strip steaks as well as its seductive, yet sophisticated decor. The interior was designed by David Rockwell and offers a clubby yet striking atmosphere with deep red leather booths. The walls are adorned with black and white images of women that pays hommage to the female form. The collection was photographed by Studio Manasse in Vienna in the early 1900's.

Pink Woman

Daca tot am vazut ca in vara aceasta se poarta roz, am zis sa gasim ceva pe roz. Si am gasit...

1. Black Label Silk Rose Dress, Robert Rodriguez, 429$

2. Embroidered Cotton Dress, Catherine Malandrino, 495$

3. Slingback Sandal, Prada, 620$

4. Hula Ida Handheld Tote, Kate Spade, 295$

5. Fancy Deep Pink Diamond Ring, Tiffany's, 770.000$

6. Crystal Tedior Necklace, Dior, 250$

7. Grosgrain Platform Sandals, Oscar de la Renta, 645$

8. Turn-lock Thong Flats, Marc by Marc Jacobs, 270$

* Denumirile sunt trecute in engleza pentru a facilita shoopingul online

Man’s Guide

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2. Azzaro After Shave de la Azzaro For Men
3. Shaving Cream Cedarwood&Clarysage
4. Escada Casual Friday de la Escada For Men
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6. Set pentru barbierit Lee’s Safety Razors