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Tag: Kathleen Hall

  • Brand growth slows finds Interbrand’s Best Global Brands report 2023

    Brand growth slows finds Interbrand’s Best Global Brands report 2023

    Mumbai: Interbrand has launched its Best Global Brands 2023 ranking, revealing many of the world’s top 100 brands are in a state of stagnation. The rate of growth in the overall brand value of the table slowed sharply after last year’s significant increase – rising 5.7 per cent this year compared to last year’s 16 per cent increase, taking the total brand value to $3.3 trillion ($3.1 trillion in 2022).

    Interbrand cites lack of growth mindset, weaker brand leadership and poor forecasting as behind the slowdown. This follows a longer-term trend in which brands operating exclusively in one sector taking an incremental approach have experienced slower brand value growth.

    Interbrand Global CEO Gonzalo Brujó said: “After a few years of strong brand growth, we have entered a period of stagnation, with this year’s table showing moderate growth in overall brand value among the world’s biggest brands.

    “Businesses which have witnessed a rise in brand value, including Airbnb (#46), LEGO (#59) and Nike (#9) have all transcended their established category norms and play a more significant and meaningful role in society and consumer’s lives.

    “As we continue to navigate economic and environmental headwinds, there is a need for improved business cases and better brand management to drive future investment and sustain growth within traditional sectors and beyond. Those who can successfully leverage their brand into new consumer pools of potential will reap the rewards of strong brand growth.”

    More than two decades of analysis show companies that address a more diverse set of customer needs, often across sectors, continue to dominate the top of the table – making up almost 50 per cent of the total value. Based on the data, these companies operating across several different verticals are more stable[1], achieve higher top-line growth[2], remain more profitable[3], and benefit from a greater growth of brand value[4]. For these companies, a focus on brand rather than product plays a greater role in driving choice (12 per cent vs average), meaning they can address more customer needs, within and across categories.

    Interbrand global chief strategy officer Manfredi Ricca said: “A brand like Apple can no longer be ascribed to a sector. It competes across different Arenas, helping its customers Connect (the iPhone), but also Thrive (the latest Apple watch was positioned as a health device), Fund (its new savings account drew nearly $1 billion in deposits in the first four days), and much more. Apple’s move across Arenas has enabled it to hold the BGB top spot for 11 years, having overtaken Coca-Cola in 2013.”

    Microsoft chief brand officer Kathleen Hall, said: “We are honored to be recognized for continued strong growth in the Best Global Brands ranking this year. The combination of brand perception and financial performance is a great indicator of brand health and relevance and one we value tremendously. With our acquisition of Activision Blizzard, our prominent leadership position in AI, and our continued commitment to make a positive impact on society, we aspire to be a brand people can trust and build a responsible future with.”

    Nestlé Nespresso SA CEO Guillaume Le Cunff: “Since the beginning, sustainability has been at the heart of the Nespresso brand and we have worked hard to show coffee can be a force for good. This is a very proud moment to see Nespresso recognised in Interbrand’s Best Global Brands ranking for the first time. And we’re not stopping there. We believe that the most powerful force behind our brand is our commitment to sustainability, which enables us to consistently offer the unforgettable taste and truly elevated coffee experience that consumers expect from Nespresso worldwide.”

     

  • MSN survey reveals softer side of male gamers

    MSN survey reveals softer side of male gamers

    MUMBAI: According to a recent survey commissioned by Microsoft’s MSNGames, a casual gaming site, Americans are feeling more stressed out and starved for time than ever.

    56 per cent of men (age 18 to 34) and 71 per cent of women (age 18 to 34) spend less than an hour on themselves a day engaged in activities that provide downtime or alone time and are pampering or relaxing to them.

    Once considered a simple leisure pursuit, playing casual games – including action and arcade, puzzle, word and trivia, and card and board games — is among the activities men and women said they like to engage in when they have just 20 minutes to ‘recharge’ during the day.

    Although stress reduction and mental dexterity are often cited as reasons people of all ages play casual online games, males in the 18 to 34 age bracket are most likely to list playing games as a daily escape – a chance to indulge in some “me time.” Men are also more likely than their female counterparts to play a game at work, with males age 18 to 34 most likely to sneak in a quick game during their day.

    With many people indicating they have a mere 60 minutes a day to spend on relaxing activities, it is no wonder U.S. men and women are seeking easy, quick stress-reduction techniques. As a result, MSN Games has teamed up with Dr. Kathleen Hall, the founder of the Stress Institute, to urge Americans to resolve to “Take Back Your Time” this year and engage in activities that help reduce stress and give the brain a boost.

    Dr. hall says, “Reclaiming just 10 minutes of ‘me time’ each day can greatly improve your sense of well-being. Stress can have a catastrophic effect on our mental, physical and spiritual health. In today’s harried and hectic world, taking time out for stress-reducing activities is no longer a luxury, but a 21st-century necessity.”

    More than 13 million people each month play ‘brain food’ games on MSN Games, such as the numeric logic game “Sudoku,” virtual aquarium “Fish Tycoon,” gem-swapper “Bejeweled 2” and the family favorite card game “UNO.”

    “There is a growing body of medical research that shows stress can cause the memory to become impaired. But playing online casual games, such as brainteasers, crossword puzzles, trivia titles, and any variety of mentally challenging and fun games, can actually stimulate the brain and stimulate new connections between cells” says Dr. Hall.

    The MSN Games survey found that nearly two-thirds of US adults who have played a quick, fun online game in the past 12 months say that they feel less stressed afterward, indicating that arcade-style games are an excellent destination on the road to wellness.

    “We know that ‘play’ de-stresses the body and actually lowers our blood pressure and heart rate. Taking a break to solve a brain-teasing puzzle or take on a fun vocabulary challenge on MSN Games is a perfect way to clear your mind of the clutter and stress that can pile up during the day,” Dr. Hall adds.