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Archive for november, 2005

Culturestones – Things that last over time

Published by on november 29, 2005

Back in the days when Englishmen colonial India, at that time does culture could not been more different than they where for each other. They influence the India culture with their way of being (they even got them to play cricket). Today Indians say that the English part of their culture is disappear more and more. And ones again the Indian culture is taken over its culture again. Still there are English tracks that always will be a part of India culture like the Gateway of India in Mumbai/Bombay (se photo above). Stones will always be around, that’s why I call these manifestos for “Culturestones.”
Same thing is happening with corporate cultures when they do fusions. When different culture combines in corporate fusions like Air France and KLM ore DHL and Dutch Post what are there Culturestones that will last forever?
Today cricket has gone from a sport to a religion in India; it has become fare stronger part of the India culture than it is a part of the English culture. Differences in cultures can be strong as stones when they become rituals and manifestos as a part of the new culture.
Where is the Culturestones for your company? And can you share them with your consumers? How can consumer value and relations be Culturestones? Witch is the most different combination of corporate culture you can think of? Cricket is ONE with India what else will be it over time in a corporate fusion?

The grass is always greener on both sides of the hill

Published by on november 28, 2005

In my first book Detective Marketing, I did write: “The grass is always greener on both sides of the hill.” Today is consumer power growing so fast that I would like to ad “grassroots don’t mind the hill.”

Create more Kodak moments

Published by on november 27, 2005

If you sell cameras, for instance, you’ll sell more close to where there’s something to photograph. Kodak should really create more Kodak moments: the Spanish steps in Rome, the Eiffel Tower… A tourist destination is rated by the number of photographs taken by tourists, which drives story-telling back at home. India doesn’t have that problem the whole nation is like ONE big Kodak moment. On my first trip to India I did shot 500 photos in Mumbai. Here they are some of them.

How important do you think the numbers of photos is for buzz and storytelling for the marketing of India?

If a picture says more than 1000 words, how will you target then to take does pictures?

What is it good for? Absolutely nothing!

Published by on november 26, 2005

Exactly that is the feeling you get as a consumer, when you give positive feedback to companies. They only respond on feedback to consumers that are not satisfied.

When companies only give unsatisfied consumers good feedback
they create a negative ground for their corporate culture.

If the customer is not let inside, there is a risk that he may force his way in as a “Trojan horse” employee. Disloyalty can cause incredible damage: program code can be posted on the internet, blueprints can be spread across the world, new films and games can be leaked well before their premiere. Disloyalty can take every so subtle forms as well. How many times have you gone into a store to be told by an employee that the “other store” had a better/cheaper product? Dissatisfied customers can be expensive for everyone, especially if they work for you.
How can companies get ONE into the corporate DNA?
How can a satisfied customer recruit others?

Not for kids

Published by on november 25, 2005

This show is not for kids, more for wild animals. You most check out this film clip. Probably the show is not maybe for your kids.

Why some say no to ONE

Published by on november 24, 2005

Many CEOs say “ONE sounds great, but we have so much work to do just trying to live up to our promises to the consumer that we can’t afford to think about the future or taking the next step with our customers.”

It’s a bit like living in a rough neighbourhood and putting on a tough facade to fit in. Your entire life then becomes a struggle to keep up the image. Instead of devoting all that energy to fighting, it is better to get to know the people in the neighbourhood and make friends with the right people. This is more than a metaphor, this is my own childhood in a rough neighbourhood.

A company that produces its products and services together with the company can spend less time and money on fighting to maintain its image and more time making the right friends. There are a number of good cases of large companies moving into the right neighbourhoods. Proctor and Gamble have literally moved into Spanish-speaking and black neighbourhoods in the US to develop products that meet the needs of the people who live there.

When I lecture or take consulting assignments I ask people who are sceptical of ONE a simple question: “Tell me the names of your 5 most loyal customers.” Ninety-nine times out of a hundred they have no answer.

Then I say: “In a tough neighbourhood, you wouldn’t last a week without knowing who your friends are.”

Fortune Magazine on Hollywood vs. Bollywood

Published by on november 21, 2005

Read Y.A. Pitalwalla article Hollywood vs. Bollywood in Fortune Magazine. The reporter has a great feeling for combing numbers with the fact that Bollywood is developing fast. Personally I think it will explode when stars like Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt and and some other Hollywood stars start to act in ONE Bollwood movie where both culture meet.


The export of Bollywood is going to get the rest of the world
more innovative and move their business. Only watch
ONE of their film and soon you will start dancing
in your next meeting or in the boardroom.

How you can start ONE newspaper today!

Published by on november 19, 2005

A local newspaper should be as a mirror where consumers can see themselves. That is the reason why I like the name of the newspaper Mumbai Mirror.
But where is your ONE local mirror as a newspaper? And where is the New York Mirror, Moscow Mirror, Dubai Mirror, Stockholm Mirror and so on…
The local market is big and strong – who would like to use a mirror/media if they not can see themselves in it? Local media always attract local advertising funds too.
If you like to use a mirror where you can see yourself, then you should open your ONE newspaper today and start to develop the concept together with Mumbai Mirror. You can start by looking into their website/mirror.
Good mirror makes you look real.

Is design next step for China?

Published by on november 18, 2005

Business Week (Asia edition) have “China design” as cover story.
Sony had problem to connect to young Chinese so they went out on the streets of China to get ONE with the consumers they wanted to connect to.

If the product is consumed on the street,
should not management be there to?

What else brands do you think is street smart?

DO OR DIE

Published by on november 17, 2005

Last evening at an Indian version of Oscars Award I talked with a gentleman from the army. On his business card they had their manifesto “DO OR DIE.” That is a bit stronger than JUST DO IT, but at the same time it conveys different values.
The DD Awards 2005 was more than different from Oscar Awards. The purpose of this Award was to show their respect and honors to the stars behind the stars. It was a most humble thing to do and it would be great to see Brad Pit and Merleene Streep to give the award to best sound technician.Same thing in corporation, most of the time the lights only shines in one direction,
still the source is powered from both directions.

Categories like: “Best film building” and “Best technique in film studio” sounded a bit different but had an entrepreneur dimension. The price winner at this award seemed to be more passionate about doing a good work than build their stars. It felt like they are in it for the big picture and not only a star role.
After missing lunch, I ran to the Award in costume and tie. It was held outside in 30 degrees celsius and lasted for nearly 6 hours so I was more in to DIE than DO but I love Bollywood and learn more about the star behind the stars, and so should you.

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