Browsing: brand

News
The coffee cart that hatched a Kiwi brand: the design, purpose and ‘kaizen’ behind Kokako’s 15-year story
By

Auckland-based coffee retailer and café Kokako started from humble beginnings in 2001 when former owners Helen Ollivier and Christian Lamdin slung their steamy brews out of a coffee cart. Now the Kokako brand can be seen in cafes and stores all over the country, while its flagship Grey Lynn store has become a hub for customers who enjoy slick surroundings, organic food and perhaps a glass of cold brew coffee or two. Having just celebrated its 15-year anniversary, it seemed like the perfect time to chat to owner Mike Murphy about the brand and why he thinks it’s been so successful.

News
Postie Plus relaunches with a new look and a responsible retail model
By

Following last year’s restructure, Postie Plus has adopted a “responsible retailing” model, dropping prices by 30 precent and taken on a new look crafted by Saatchi & Saatchi. Elly Strang talks to Pepkor South East Asia managing director Jason Murray to find out about its new persona and what the store has to offer the New Zealand market.

News
Samsung makes a splash with the new S7
By

It’s that time of year again, the internet is abuzz with excitement over another smartphone as Samsung releases its Galaxy S7. With Samsung phones so popular around the world we thought we’d see what’s driving all the hype in New Zealand.

News
The dark side of SEO: reputation management, article spinners and ethical dilemmas
By

In 2008 Canadian musician Dave Carroll was travelling with United Airlines. During a layover he heard a fellow passenger remark that baggage handlers on the tarmac in Chicago were throwing guitars. He arrived at his destination only to discover his $3,500 guitar was severely damaged. After an unsatisfactory response from the airline, he used his musical talent to create a song he dubbed ‘United breaks guitars’ with a music video and all. The song went viral and the incident created a PR disaster for the airline. But now, when Googling the airline, there is no mention of the incident. This is an example of the power of search engine optimisation (SEO) and its role in protecting brand reputation. We chat to Pure SEO’s Richard Conway about this idea and the threat of negative SEO.

News
Coming clean: is getting Volkswagened worth the risk?
By

When it comes to corporations, history shows that consumers tend to forgive accidents—and even stupidity. But willful deception is another kettle of fish. And Volkswagen inventing technology to cheat on its emissions tests is about as willful and deceptive as it gets (if it wasn’t so evil, you could almost applaud their inventiveness). So far, it has had a major impact on Volkswagen’s share price (and other car brands’ share prices), it is getting ready for a recall of 11 million cars, billions of dollars in fines are on the cards and the first of what could be many lawsuits have already been filed. Some believe it could bring Volkswagen to its knees. So can the company recover from this reputational car crash? And what can marketers learn from the saga?

News
To the wallet, through the heart: Farmers embraces the creative trend in retail
By

While most retail advertising released today features little more than price, product and sale shouted through every available megaphone, there are also some examples of retailers returning to a more creative approach when it comes to their advertising. And the most recent example of this is the new Farmers brand ad. PLUS: should marketers focus on the emotional or the rational? Should they be doing more brand or retail ads?

News
Who needs limes?
By

You might be wondering why Justin Timberlake is dressed up as a giant lime in a recent commercial. Well, it’s because he has founded his own tequila blend in partnership with Sauza Tequila called Sauza 901 and subsequently stars in an E True Hollywood story-styled mockumentary about the sad state of limes after the triple distilled liquor hits the shelves.

Opinion
Brand Black Caps: how do you measure success?
By

The recent storyline couldn’t be better for the Black Caps. A dream run at the World Cup including winning in the last few balls against South Africa, record beating scores and packed grounds to experience the big occasions. So how has the Black Caps brand fared through this process? Julian Smith has a look.

Opinion
The profitability of purpose
By

Last year, New Zealand retail giant The Warehouse announced it would stop selling all R18 games and DVDs. It also announced that it would introduce a living wage for many of its staff. These moves will cost the company money in the short-term. But, as Janisa Parag writes, brands that put people and purpose first outperform those that focus on profit.

News
StopPress Presents: ‘Brand is as brand does’, with US brand expert Marty Neumeier—GET IN FOR THE LAST FEW TICKETS
By

Marty Neumeier, best-selling author, designer and renowned business adviser, is on a mission to “revolutionise the way business does business in the 21st century”. And you can find out how he plans on doing that at an event on Friday 29 August where he will share his insights on modern brands and the importance of being credible in an age of transparency.

News
Spark gets behind the dreams of 11 Kiwis
By

With Spark livery freshly stamped over those of the corporate we used to know as Telecom, the organisation is expanding its Givealittle fundraising platform from charity to individual projects. Spark My Potential will pick out some of the projects listed on Givealittle and give them crowdfunding coaching and in some cases match pledges dollar for dollar.

News
Fonterra hands Colenso BBDO some more business, looks to push social as a brand channel
By

Colenso BBDO has long worked on Fonterra’s major brands like Anchor, Tip Top, Fresh ‘n Fruity and Mainland and it’s gradually been adding new chunks of the business to its roster, with the most recent being the addition of some smaller brands after Shine shacked up with Goodman Fielder. Now it’s added some more after the agency was appointed as the social media partner for all of Fonterra’s brands after a competitive pitch.

News
The firestarter: Jason Paris on the story of Spark
By

Telecom has announced that it will emerge as Spark on 8 August. But the powers that be say the new name is just one aspect of the company’s transformation into “a confident, forward-looking technology company”. In an edited version of an article originally published in the May/June edition of NZ Marketing, Ben Fahy looks at the thinking behind one of the country’s biggest-ever—and most controversial—rebrands and the important role chief operating officer Jason Paris played in the process.

News
Contact switches off its swoosh, adds a dash of whimsy with colourful new brand identity
By

Contact Energy has added a bit of playfulness to its power of late, with lights in Wellington’s cable car tunnel and a Twitter competition to decide the winner of the People’s Choice Award at the Fringe Festival. And that attitude seems to be in keeping with its playful new brand identity, which was created by Wellington’s Designworks and San Francisco-based type designer Jessica Hische.

News
Spark by logo, Spark by name: Telecom sheds its home phone heritage
By

Ever since Telecom did the splits back in 2011, there have been rumours that the ‘New Telecom’ might not stick with its name, which carries with it a fair bit of equity but also a fair bit of monopolistic baggage. And where there’s smoke, there’s fire, because Telecom has announced that it will change its name to Spark later in the year.

News
From blog to brand: Jamie Frater (Listverse)
By

In a new series, we talk to Kiwi keyboard tappers that have managed to shift from the personal realm of blogging to create online media brands that are widely read (and in some cases profitable). In the first segment, we chat to Jamie Frater, the founder of Listverse.

News
Writing poems for peanuts
By

In addition to the creamy goodness of crushed peanuts, every jar of Pic’s Really Good Peanut Butter also comes with the deep and meaningful musings of Taumaranui poet Bill Smith, whose work is printed on the reverse of the label.

News
From export sticker to recognised brand: Bonita gets a facelift
By

Following the successful brand projects for Jazz and Envy apples, Turners & Growers approached BRR with a unique brief to take the Bonita brand and export label and create an engaging brand for generations of kiwi banana lovers. Inspired by the flair for life in South American culture, BRR saw the opportunity to introduce a sense of personality, energy and positivity into the Bonita brand and the wider category.