What is a brand, and why do brands matter? What is brand equity or a brand franchise? And how do you measure and manage brand equity to maximise profits over the long term? Let's first explore the notion of a brand and speculate about its origins.
The word 'brand' is most often defined as a symbol, name or sign that identifies and distinguishes one product or service from competitive products and services. We might think of 'identifies and distinguishes' as the practical or tangible functions of a brand, but these are only the visible tips of the iceberg. Below the...