Weddings and Funerals

July 20, 2006

This has got to go on record as one of the craziest line extensions ever.


The world’s most famous wedding-dress designer apparently thinks she can follow the bride right from the altar to the matrimonial bed. Vera Wang has teamed with Serta to sell designer mattresses for $3,000 a pop. For less than the cost of one of her dresses, at least you can rest assured you will get more than one use out of the bed.


Whenever you read a press release that says, leading “XXX” maker has now created a “lifestyle” brand and introduced “YYY.” watch out. It means leading XXX maker is diluting its brand and could be headed for trouble. There is no such thing as a “lifestyle” brand it is just a fancy word to try and justify absurd line extensions.

On the other hand, a former client of our has hit PR gold today with a front page story in the New York Times style section. We worked with Mark Duffey to name his brand and focus his company to create a new cateogory to be first in. Everest is the first nationwide funeral concierge service. For $995 or a monthly subscription fee Everest Funeral Package helps customers plan their final rites, providing concierge services that range from writing obituaries to negotiating prices with undertakers across the country.

Everest_1 

We are so proud of Mark and all he has accomplished with the Everest brand. Look for him on a Today Show segment soon.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/20/fashion/20funeral.html