One Brand Clapping

For your enjoyment and edification, BCBusiness has archived its popular branding blog, One Brand Clapping, which ran from 2009 to 2011. In One Brand Clapping, David Allison, co-principal of the Vancouver creative-services firm Braun/Allison, delivered poignant rumination on and cogent analysis of branding and marketing in Vancouver.

February 02, 2011 One Brand Clapping: Marketing

One Brand Clapping Makes Its Exit

After a stellar two-year run, Vancouver's premier branding blog, One Brand Clapping, is closing down. Below, author David Allison blogs his valediction, and delivers an urgent exhortation to his readers.

It’s been great couple of years, hasn’t it? We’ve strolled hand in hand through the forests of marketing, examining the old growth, taking note of the saplings.

But there is a time to every purpose, and the time has come to lay to rest my weekly rumination on Vancouver branding, One Brand Clapping.

January 13, 2011 One Brand Clapping: Trends

Five Consumer Trends to Know in 2011

The holiday season hangover period is a great time to analyze consumer spending habits, target consumer trends and gear up for 2011.

Consumer-purchasing habits become magnified when holiday shopping is in full swing. We can learn so much about consumer trends that will help us market our brands and businesses by simply observing.

Even by participating in casual conversations with our friends and family about what’s caught their eye, what they’re looking for, and how they’re looking, we can gather tons of valuable information.

Here are five consumer trends to keep...

November 17, 2010 One Brand Clapping: Innovation

Pushing the Boundaries of Print

A Stockholm-based company is reimagining the traditional print medium – with the world's first wearable magazine.

Media is arriving in all forms. And something truly innovative just landed on the publishing industry’s doorstep. A company in Sweden is pushing the boundaries of print with the world’s first wearable magazine. Fashion statement or conversation piece – either way, I love it.

Last year Esquire blew readers away with their augmented reality issue...

November 12, 2010 One Brand Clapping: Social Media

The Social Media Secrets of Old Spice

Social media isn't all fun and games. It takes brains too.

Not long ago, Old Spice saluted its one million Facebook fans with what Adfreak referred to as an “explosively awesome image.” Awesome indeed. The fiery explosion, the powerful No. 1 finger salute, the soaring eagle wings, the laurels, the tall ship – the image is a feast for the eyes. And the additional message to fans is as equally awesome:

“One million of you have entered into a sacred club. The Club of the One...

October 20, 2010 One Brand Clapping: Branding

10 Principles for Building Up Your Brand Strategy

The must-dos: Your brand’s ability to generate value relies on 10 principles.

“Business is changing, but the principles of strong brands still hold true.”

Interbrand is a 36-year-old branding company that manages the brands of some of the biggest companies in the world. They’ve been kind enough to publish online what their guiding principles are for good branding, and they make a lot of sense.

Unfortunately, the methodology they describe,...

October 12, 2010 One Brand Clapping: Retail

Gap Gets Bullied Out of Its New Logo

Uh-oh. Perhaps the Gap should have taken advantage of social media before it rolled out its new logo.

Popular American clothing brand Gap rolled out their new logo last week without much fanfare. The public’s reaction to it, on the other hand, was an entirely different story.

By now you’ve probably seen the new logo. And you’ve probably added your own “this is downright awful and dated and what’s up with the Helvetica?” rant to the bottom of every comment section you could – your closest friends bearing the brunt of...