Brand Strategy And Place Of Origin

Brad VanAuken The Blake ProjectDecember 13, 20132 min

Place of origin often has an impact on the viability of brands that are known to originate from that place. That is because the place of origin itself has its own associations and those associations may either enhance or detract from the brand associations.

For instance, any of the following might be associated with these places:

  • Countries:
    • Australia: Kangaroos, Sydney Opera House, Great Barrier Reef, the Outback, aborigines
    • Brazil: Carnival, Rio de Janeiro, beaches, samba music
    • Canada: Hockey, maple leaf, cold
    • China: Manufacturing, new cities, economic development, Chinese food and culture
    • England: London, Big Ben, royalty, grey skies, fog
    • France: Paris, Eifel Tower, Riviera, wine, food, culture, fashion
    • Germany: Automobiles, Berlin, castles, Oktoberfest, Hitler
    • India: Contrasts, exotic (Hindu) religion, bright colors
    • Mexico: Mexican food, sombreros, siestas, beaches, gang violence
    • Spain: Bull fighting, sunny, tapas, weak economy
    • Switzerland: Banks, watches, the Alps, orderliness
    • United States of America: New York City, world power, current US president, cowboys
    • States:
      • California: Diverse, Hollywood, Movie Stars, San Francisco, LA, surfing, Route 1, Napa Valley, liberal, march to their own drummer
      • Florida: Retirement, alligators, swamps, Orlando, Miami, beaches, fishing
      • Maine: Lobster, Maine coast, sailing, seaports, L.L.Bean
      • Texas: Oil, Dallas, Houston, everything is bigger in…, George W. Bush, conservative
      • Cities:
        • Bangalore: IT jobs, outsourcing, business hub
        • Branson: Family entertainment, country music, conservative, tacky
        • Dubai: Skyscrapers, desert, wealth, Arabs, economic growth, oil money
        • Las Vegas: Gambling, prostitution, bright lights, shows, adult fun
        • New York: Wall Street, Broadway, shopping, high energy, night life
        • Orlando: Disney, theme parks, family vacations
        • Paris: The Louvre, Eifel Tower, cafes, great food
        • Singapore: Modern, clean, strict laws, thriving city state
        • Vienna: Vienna State Opera, waltzes, Mozart, coffeehouses

        Consider which of the preceding places are the most likely to enhance brands in these categories and which are the most likely to make them less credible:

        • A new spiritual practice
        • Automobiles
        • Classical music
        • Coffee
        • Consumer electronics
        • Fashion
        • Gourmet food
        • Watches
        • Wine
        • Yachts

This is another way to think about this is. What comes to your mind when one says ‘Made in China,’ ‘Made in Japan,’ ‘Made in Mexico,’ ‘Made in Taiwan,’ ‘Made in USA,’ ‘Exported from France,’ ‘Exported from Germany’ ‘Exported from New Zealand,’ or ‘Exported from Patagonia’?

The Blake Project Can Help: Accelerate Brand Growth Through Powerful Emotional Connections

Branding Strategy Insider is a service of The Blake Project: A strategic brand consultancy specializing in Brand Research, Brand Strategy, Brand Licensing and Brand Education

FREE Publications And Resources For Marketers

Brad VanAuken The Blake Project

One comment

  • Serge

    December 17, 2013 at 11:54 am

    Completely agree.
    That’s a good idea of binding your brand to the common associations. This way your brand has more chances to become recognizable.

Comments are closed.

Connect With Us