Just back from a week’s holiday in Hong Kong. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience. With my business coach’s hat on, I couldn’t help but notice how many familiar brands there were on display. I saw an Apple store which reminded me of the Apple store in Sydney. I saw shops selling Nike, Coke, Calvin Klein and Levis just like home. I saw stores such as Tiffanys and Armani where names were very well known to me.
All this got me thinking….as much as one likes to go somewhere different and experience new things, the long term future belongs to the global brands.
Interestingly it’s not just companies that constitute global brands. Sports stars and other personalities can be a global brand too. Take David Beckham for example. He has transcended his original claim to fame and really wouldn’t need to kick another football for the rest of his days. In a region where there is barely a postage stamp of grass, let alone football fields, Becks is plastered up on posters everywhere. Maybe it’s like the Marlboro Man of yesteryear - if you wear Becks’ tracksuit then just maybe some of the gloss from his sporting triumphs transfers as well.
So, if a once humble soccer hopeful who talks funny (“Know wot I mean?” can achieve this, what can each of us respectively do to build our own brands? Food for thought!