Comments on: BlockCity? http://www.blumblog.com/intersections/blockcity/ Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:02:35 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Christoph Hinkelmann http://www.blumblog.com/intersections/blockcity/comment-page-1/#comment-22 Christoph Hinkelmann Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:32:40 +0000 http://www.blumblog.com/intersections/blockcity/#comment-22 You need to get yourself higher up on the Google foodchain - some cat from South Africa is currently stealing your thunder... You need to get yourself higher up on the Google foodchain – some cat from South Africa is currently stealing your thunder…

]]> By: David Blum http://www.blumblog.com/intersections/blockcity/comment-page-1/#comment-21 David Blum Thu, 17 Apr 2008 01:32:18 +0000 http://www.blumblog.com/intersections/blockcity/#comment-21 As a consumer, there are certain brand marriages that simply feel awkward, forced and unnatural - I remember the guttural reaction I had to the news that Ford had acquired Jaguar. I think what's interesting about imagining the merger with Best Buy - and your observation that they do indeed *have* a defined consumer experience - is precisely why a merger for a brand like CC with a poorly defined brand experience could help to position the new entity in a more relevant and appropriate way. Ultimately, it’s the responsibility of these newly formed marriages to figure what the customer wants from each of the brands independently – and to of course retain and enhance those aspects – while focusing on potential synergies to create new branded experiences that exceed what either could have done alone. As a consumer, there are certain brand marriages that simply feel awkward, forced and unnatural – I remember the guttural reaction I had to the news that Ford had acquired Jaguar. I think what’s interesting about imagining the merger with Best Buy – and your observation that they do indeed *have* a defined consumer experience – is precisely why a merger for a brand like CC with a poorly defined brand experience could help to position the new entity in a more relevant and appropriate way.

Ultimately, it’s the responsibility of these newly formed marriages to figure what the customer wants from each of the brands independently – and to of course retain and enhance those aspects – while focusing on potential synergies to create new branded experiences that exceed what either could have done alone.

]]> By: John Kottcamp http://www.blumblog.com/intersections/blockcity/comment-page-1/#comment-20 John Kottcamp Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:16:08 +0000 http://www.blumblog.com/intersections/blockcity/#comment-20 I agree that the recent bid by Blockbuster for Circuit City is interesting in the context of what it portends for the future of branded experiences, but I think the real importance is the business necessities that are driving such a marriage. Today’s consumer is bombarded on so many fronts by content, much of it of less than stellar quality, that they react by either tuning out or becoming much more discerning in their consumption of content. This extends beyond just entertainment and encompasses the changing way consumer approach the buying process, whether in an ecommerce context or simply going into retail stores. The merging of Blockbuster, a supplier of content and Circuit City, a supplier of the hardware that enables the consumption of content, demonstrates the ying/yang between content and technology. And this is a lesson that all of us in the world of entertainment and marketing need to take notice of. If we don’t understand the technology that delivers the branded experience, we won’t be able to design, develop and deliver the content in a way that connects with today’s consumer. I agree that the recent bid by Blockbuster for Circuit City is interesting in the context of what it portends for the future of branded experiences, but I think the real importance is the business necessities that are driving such a marriage.
Today’s consumer is bombarded on so many fronts by content, much of it of less than stellar quality, that they react by either tuning out or becoming much more discerning in their consumption of content. This extends beyond just entertainment and encompasses the changing way consumer approach the buying process, whether in an ecommerce context or simply going into retail stores.
The merging of Blockbuster, a supplier of content and Circuit City, a supplier of the hardware that enables the consumption of content, demonstrates the ying/yang between content and technology. And this is a lesson that all of us in the world of entertainment and marketing need to take notice of. If we don’t understand the technology that delivers the branded experience, we won’t be able to design, develop and deliver the content in a way that connects with today’s consumer.

]]> By: Mike Doane http://www.blumblog.com/intersections/blockcity/comment-page-1/#comment-19 Mike Doane Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:38:25 +0000 http://www.blumblog.com/intersections/blockcity/#comment-19 David, Yes, this seems to be a trend in the marketplace right now. But what about the case where a beloved brand is acquired by a less-known brand, and the consumer perceives this as ruining the brand they loved? For example, going to Circuit City always seemed to be an "undefined consumer experience" and therefore Blockbuster acquiring/redefining them makes me go, "eh!" But, if Blockbuster was to go after Best Buy, which to me has much more brand appeal, it might cause some consternation with shoppers. David,
Yes, this seems to be a trend in the marketplace right now. But what about the case where a beloved brand is acquired by a less-known brand, and the consumer perceives this as ruining the brand they loved? For example, going to Circuit City always seemed to be an “undefined consumer experience” and therefore Blockbuster acquiring/redefining them makes me go, “eh!” But, if Blockbuster was to go after Best Buy, which to me has much more brand appeal, it might cause some consternation with shoppers.

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