A glimpse into the minds of the Positioning Pioneers

Posts By Al Ries

  • Owning a word in the business school market.

    In its October 18th issue, Business Week published its rankings of the top business schools in the country. No. 1: Northwestern’s Kellogg School of...

  • The trials and tribulations of Donald Trump.

    Recently Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts announced that it would file for bankruptcy. According to executive vice president Scott Butera, shareholders will face “significant...

  • The power of the name.

    You probably missed the news, but Schlotzsky’s Deli, a 513-unit sandwich chain, recently filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition. What went wrong at Schlotzsky’s?...

  • The curse of convergence.

    Why is much advertising so deadly dull? Perhaps it’s the lack of real product innovation. Products that are new and different and serve a...

  • The Big Bang theory.

    Should a new brand take off rapidly like a rocket ship? Or should a new brand take off slowly like an airplane? One of...

  • The future of interactive television.

    What are the three biggest, most exciting, most dynamic industries in America? Many people would say computers, television, and the Internet. Great, why not...

  • The two deadly sins.

    The big news on Wall Street this week is the forthcoming initial public offering of Google, Inc. According to The New York Times, the...

  • Don’t fall into the mushy-middle trap.

    Pepsi-Cola recently announced that late this summer it would launch a mid-calorie cola called “Pepsi Edge.” Not a good idea. With 70 calories per...

  • Why don’t big companies launch new brands?

    In the last 20 years, Procter & Gamble, the world’s most magnificent marketing machine, has launched many magnificent brands. They include: Vicks, Oil of...

  • Is integrated marketing the wave of the future?

    The hottest topic in marketing today is “integrated marketing.” Some professionals are calling for advertising, PR, direct mail, sales promotion and other functions to...

  • All hammer and no nail.

    Last January, a major food company launched a $40 million advertising campaign with the theme, “It’s what your family deserves.” Forty million dollars later,...

  • The mathematics of line extension.

    December 2003 Every company wants to increase sales. So the logical approach is to “broaden the line.” If we appeal to a larger segment...

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