Fast-casual restaurant chain Firehouse Subs is…on fire! Founded by firemen, the 450+ unit chain had a record-breaking 2011 with increases in same-store sales, AUVs, restaurants opened, and donations made through its Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. In today’s interview, CEO Don Fox joins me to share some of the secrets behind the brand’s success. It […]
What makes a store more than a store? What makes a breakthrough brand experience at retail? These are questions that companies with brick and mortar assets wrestle with as they continue to lose share to online competitors or to those with mobile capabilities (smart phone-enabled mobile commerce as well as IRL roving mobile units and […]
brand-as-business bit: I got a response to my last “brand-as-business brief“, Value and Values, that I just have to share with you. It’s from Kevin Knight, who along with his wife Heather, run Anjou Bakery, a “a thriving incubator of good taste in food” in Cashmere, WA (about 2 hours East of Seattle.) Kevin writes: […]
(Here’s my newest Brand Experience Brief — insights and analysis from my audits of new and interesting retail or restaurant concepts.) It’s always interesting to see how product companies create retail experiences for their brands. That’s why I’m eager to share my download on the LEGO store. It’s a solid experience for the LEGO brand, but they […]
brand-as-business bit: While perusing the aisles at Target awhile back, I stumbled across these really great packages of healthcare products and fell in love: I was so pleased to read the story behind such an ingenious brand in Businessweek. (Be sure to check out the sidebar on the playbook of gimmicks used in most […]
(Here’s the latest Brand Experience Brief — insights and analysis from my audits of a new or interesting retail or restaurant concept.) Pie-o-logy, a new pizzeria concept inspired by Chipotle, delivers a remarkable brand experience — check it out: other brand experience briefs: The Habit Burger Grill uniqlo ihop express […]
(Check out my latest “Brand Experience Brief” — a report with insights and analysis of new and interesting restaurant and retail concepts.) Fast fashion retailer Uniqlo is on a roll. I visited the company’s Herald Square location, one of three stores it has in New York City. Here’s what I thought of the brand experience there: more brand […]
(Here’s the latest in a series of “Brand Experience Briefs” — reports with insights and analysis of new and interesting restaurant and retail concepts.) The Habit is one of the many “better burger” chains generating a lot of buzz these days. Although its charburgers do taste good, the company needs to work harder to differentiate the brand […]
On the eve of a special Apple event, it seems the allure of the Apple brand is as strong as ever. “We have something you really have to see. And touch,” declares the invitation to the March 7th media event. Quite a buzz has been building up! I don’t know if tomorrow’s announcement will impress […]
(Welcome to a “Brand Experience Brief” — insights and analysis of new and interesting restaurant and retail concepts.) REI’s first store in New York City is the quintessential flagship store – it’s big, it’s in a prominent location, and it showcases the brand like no other retail store. Check out my video recap on this […]