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Brand Relevance: Making Competitors Irrelevant - always yours

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260 BRAND RELEVANCE<br />

opinions, but the fact that these numbers are large and are<br />

growing is impressive and suggests that visible programs can<br />

affect how people defi ne as relevant options. Further, the many<br />

responsive new products that are fi nding success indicate that<br />

there is a real opportunity behind the numbers. 7<br />

Categories and Subcategories:<br />

Complex and Dynamic<br />

Although there are exceptions, in most cases the defi nition of<br />

a product category or subcategory, like that of a brand, is multi -<br />

dimensional and complex. Consider offerings like TIVO,<br />

Segway, Apple ’ s iPhone, Muji, or Enterprise Rent - A - Car. In<br />

each case there are many elements of the brand and the new<br />

category or subcategory that it is driving. When such complexity<br />

is present, it can be a serious mistake to attempt to focus on<br />

one element or insist that the concept be distilled into a single<br />

thought. The essence of the ongoing point of differentiation<br />

might be missed. Further, trying to simplify a product category<br />

or subcategory can result in missing a key defi ning ingredient.<br />

A multidimensional category or subcategory defi nition is<br />

therefore desirable. It is often easy for a competitor to overcome<br />

or neutralize a brand that has defi ned a category or subcategory<br />

with a single benefi t. More diffi cult is to overcome is a complex,<br />

multidimensional concept because the challenger brand will<br />

likely be defi cient if there are several dimensions acting as hurdles<br />

to overcome.<br />

Another observation is that the defi nition of a category or<br />

subcategory will change over time. Those brands that are successful<br />

at discouraging others from entering will usually continuously<br />

innovate. Their offerings will be moving targets. Apple ’ s<br />

iPod, for example, was followed by a half - dozen products that<br />

raised the bar for imitators.

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