Which companies have "Cult Brand" status? There are many weak brands and Average Joe brands out there. There are even numerous iconic brands in the world, which most other companies aspire to. But few brands ever develop a deep, penetrating relationship with their customers. Few brands truly win the hearts of...
Perfection isn't all it's cracked up to be. Just ask the folks at Domino's Pizza. In 2009, the company's pizza came in last in a national taste test—tying with Chuck E. Cheese, an eatery known more for the presence of video games and children's amusements than...
Work hard on the job today or work hard to find a job tomorrow. That isn't the message most of Apple's Brand Lovers would expect to find hanging on the wall of their favorite tech company's manufacturing facility. It seems a little too Dickensian in sentiment,...
The Rolls Royce Special Edition Year of the Dragon Phantom comes in a distinct maroon color. There are ornate golden dragon details. You can, if you can foot the bill, have your Phantom fully customized, with special embroidery on the upholstery, drinks cabinet, and on...
During the Florida Republican Primary Debate, moderator Brian Williams asked the audience to refrain from applauding or booing anything they hear the candidates say. While this is the norm for presidential debates, the request drew mixed reaction in this instance. There are those who praised the...
Arthur Brisbane has been having a rough week. On January 12th, the NY Times' public editor (a position created, you may remember, in the wake of the Jayson Blair scandal) used his high-profile soap box to ask the most amazing question: Should the Times be...
How Misperception Can Hurt Your Business Whether you’re a health nut or hate the thought of eating anything green, you’ve no doubt noticed a growing awareness of organic foods. What was once reserved only for the specialty health food stores catering to the granola community are...
There's never a bad time to be a winemaker—or so we have been assured by vineyard owners—but some years are better than others. Champagne, in particular, has been enjoying a great year, with sales up a reported 5.2% over the first half of 2011. That's an...
All of a sudden, everyone is talking about the Burger Wars again. Nothing's actually changed yet—McDonald's is still the undisputed leader of the pack, with Burger King in the number two spot. But things are about to change. The Wall Street Journal revealed that Wendy's is...
If there's trouble, look to the top. Brand Modeling teaches us that the force most responsible for a dominant organization's success is the enthusiastic support of its best customers. So what force is most responsible for an organization's failure? A not-insignificant portion of the time, the...