Can a Soap have any intellectual assets? I do not mean EastEnders or Coronation Street. Not wishing to wash my hands of the subject there are 9-10 different areas where just looking at my new bar of soap got me thinking……. Continue reading →

The new sports ’super car’ named the McLaren MP4-12C ‘represent everything that the McLaren stands for: ‘MP4’ represents the racing bloodline, ‘12’ represents the intense focus on complete performance, ‘C’ represents the revolutionary Carbon MonoCell’ .

How would you name a £175,000 sports car – not Herbie ll, certainly not Ferrari or Lamborghini. After 12 years since McLarens last sports car I would opt for Renaissance.

Photo exfordy creative commons

In some modes of business the ‘Place is the Brand’. Westfield, Bluewater and Meadowhall in retail therapy or Twickenham Lords and Wembley in sport.
Some of the Brand Tools used for Place may be modified for your business. I am looking to add to the list of tools below:

Maps as often used by the Isle of Man
Flags, banners and bunting.
World class architecture as used at Wembley.
Sponsorship like Arsenal’s Emirates stadium.
Badges, shields, coats of arms and heraldry.
Events like Westfields ‘Greatest Fashion show on Earth’
Humour as in ‘Your Welcome to Yorkshire’

I received an email from a young business promoting it’s attendance at a National Trade Show. The strap line that caught my eye was ‘Best for Dummies’ but as I read further it was qualified with’ …. in the April edition of Mother & Baby. ‘

If you are in the Baby Business have a look at Clevamama, – sometimes it pays to email.

On 28th April 2010 twelve candidates from nine countries are competing for the European Inventor Award 2010, a highly regarded innovation prize presented annually by the European Patent Office together with the European Commission.

Unfortunately there are no British inventors in the final dozen. Let us hope they are all inventing hard, filing strong patents and growing innovative businesses instead of chasing this prize free award.

Brand Republic ‘First for advertising, marketing, media and PR jobs’ are currently seeking to fill 3 manager jobs for ‘3 mobile’. The logo and brand awareness says enough about the company so the recruitment can focus on the job and candidate.

O2

are also looking to recruit a ‘Brand & Social Media Insights Manager’ and it makes you wonder what intellectual assets are created with job titles and positions.
In my experience job titles signpost both internally and externally and there clever use creates  an intangible asset.

Manchester United may face litigation for unpaid tax on ‘image rights’ paid to footballers as part of remuneration according to their fund raising prospectus.
Sol Cambell has issued a writ claiming his £30,000 per week was not paid by Portsmouth FC, in line with his contract, to his personal Swiss trust.
In France a high court corruption action is pending which will involve the abuse of image rights payments.

Pushing tax planning to the evasion level is an Intellectual Liability not an IA. Reputation should mean more than dickering about to save paying fair taxation.

Young businesses can get increased exposure and brand awareness by entering for industry awards. There is the potential to win not only cash but prizes in kind such as professional advice and contact with other entrepreneurs.
www.maiden-voyage.com a young business aimed at the female traveller has been short listed for the innovation awards at the business travel show.

I like the clean cut image that is promoted by Laura Ashley’s ‘Fresh Green’ colour scheme. If you offer a design service as Laura Ashley does then it seems sensible to be at the top of your own game as well. (No cobblers children and shoes here).

A nit pick about the 2009 web site re Environmental Reports, they eulogise about 2006 even though they supply 2008 data. Attention to detail is important if they want to live up to the claim to be a ‘Luxury British Brand’.

No Logo

St John Ambulance logo is a registered trademark. The charity says it may not be reproduced in any way whatsoever without the prior consent and written permission of St. John Ambulance National Headquarters. Fair enough, I have taken it off this site although there were at least 20 copies available on the internet.

St John Ambulance are currently recruiting a Head of Service Delivery to ‘challenge the status quo’ so I hope the good work the charity does becomes more widely known and promoted.

St John Ambulance Supplies is the part of the organisation that offers a wide range of first aid products for sale. A worthwhile extension of the brand that deserves wider exposure.