brand-as-business bit:  Nielsen recently released its “2012 Breakthrough Innovation Awards” in which it recognized new CPG product introductions that met its criteria for innovative-ness. The winners are an interesting mix (Glaceau vitaminwater zero, Chobani, and Zyrtec top the list) and the report is an informative read about the CPG industry and instructive about innovation in […]

brand-as-business bit:  “Do well by doing good” has become the ultimate rallying cry for corporate social responsibility (CSR) – and case studies from Walmart to Nike to Timberland prove it is possible to benefit society and the bottomline. What’s more, CSR programs can make companies more innovative: According to research featured in April’s Harvard Business […]

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What happens when a 125 year old $35BB company wants to get entrepreneurial?  When the company is Coca-Cola, it starts a new business unit, Venturing and Emerging Brands whose mission is to discover “the next big thing.”  It’s the force behind the company’s recent acquisitions of Honest Tea and a new product at Whole Foods, […]

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Justin McCarthy is the spokesperson for Garmin‘s fitness and outdoor segments throughout North America.   In his role, he applies a wealth of technical knowledge as well as truly understanding the mindset of an athlete and what they want, in order to help the company market its fitness products.  Because of this unique perspective, I […]

brand-as-business bit:   Here’s a quick add to my previous critique of this year’s Super Bowl commercials. Making a Super Bowl ad involves a level of innovation, strategy, and skill that rivals what goes into making the advertised product itself.  So it’s helpful to see what can be learned from those in a similar business of […]

brand-as-business bit:  SmartBlog on Restaurants just published a piece of mine, “So You Want to Try a New Concept?”  In it, I layout the considerations in designing a test that will ensure you get the most learning and value out of it – including: carefully evaluating your options before jumping to the most obvious selecting […]

brand-as-business bit:  Phil Rosenthal‘s analysis of Eastman Kodak’s failure in yesterday’s Chicago Tribune is quite insightful — particularly in its juxtaposition of Kodak and R. R. Donnelley & Sons Co., the commercial printing company that’s been shedding its legacy and reinventing itself.  Most telling is the quote from Donnelley’s CEO and President Thomas J. Quinlan: […]

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brand-as-business bit:  At CES last week, I couldn’t help but feel a little like I was in Apple’s 1984 commercial. I could only take comfort in knowing that adoption of wearing glasses to watch TV will never cross the chasm into the mainstream — they’re impractical, they’re too invasive, and they detract from the shared […]

I just read Andy Stefanovich‘s book, Look at More Stuff:  A Proven Approach to Innovation, Growth, and Change, and had to share some of the best bits with you: DLYohn Look at More Stuff   View more presentations from Denise Lee Yohn, Inc. […]