Branding the Totalitarian State

If you haven't already picked up a copy, check out Iron Fists: Branding the Totalitarian State by Steven Heller, just out by Phaidon Press. It's about $90, but it's totally worth it. Not a first date book, it touches on the role of brand in destructive, totalitarian regimes. And, he compares the dynamics to the brands we all know and trust...

Check out its New York Times Review, where the reviewer states that: "Heller, by means of unsettling images and shrewd analysis, amply restores the vileness to branding."

Brand Strategy in the Middle Ages

A cool little piece in this month's issue of The Atlantic pays homage to the phenomenon of brand awareness in the Middle Ages. According to an economist at UC Irvine, consumers at markets in the Middle Ages looked for "conspicuous characteristics" that helped customers identify which guild had produced the goods on offer. Buyers were more willing to pay for goods coming from reputable outlets.

Gary Richardson, whose original work was called "Brand Names Before the Industrial Revolution" did his research by studying mercantile records, internal guild documents and other artifacts.

Houston Astros Get New Marketing and PR Leadership

Congrats to Clint Pasche in his new appointment to the position of Houston Astros' new Director of Marketing, and Sally Gunter for her new role as Assistant Director of Media Relations. Looking foward to the 'stros thrashing the Reds next week.

Congrats to Sommer Walden at PM Realty Group

Kudos to Sommer Walden for joining PM Realty Group as the company’s new Vice President and Director of Marketing.

For those unfamiliar with PM Realty Group, it’s a big deal. The Houston-based national, full-service commercial real estate firm recently announced that it has been retained by Bank of Hawaii, trustee for the George Galbraith Trust, to market the Trust's approximate 2,100 acres of agricultural land in central Oahu.

In fact, I would be happy to provide a full-service brand audit of PM’s new property in Hawaii to help ensure that the property is optimally presented to the marketplace for improved value realization. At cost. My bags are packed. Pretty please.

If you haven’t been to O’ahu, you are missing out.