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About Positioning

Manhattan Bagels: full of steam

Manhattan Bagels has more than 65 locations nation wide- the one place they’re not welcome? Manhattan. And that’s because New Yorkers can smell their own. Manhattan Bagels is from Jersey, which, despite its proximity is about as far from Empire living as you can get. And you know what that means, their co-companies Noah’s and…

Oscar, Tony, Emmy and Razzie: the origins of award names

People love to congratulate each other. Whether it’s for eating lots of hot dogs, writing a catchy song or being able to play make-believe for millions of dollars, awards are our way of saying you’ve done something better than anyone else. Like height, eye color or the preference of boxers over briefs, the desire to…

“Captain America Who?” the shielded one gets a name change in Russia

Captain America? More like Captain Planet. The comic book golden boy, the tireless defender of freedom and patriotism and cool fighting skills, can bring down the Third Reich with a twitch of his shield. Yet somehow he’s no match for an international marketing blitz. Apparently some of the Cap’s international audiences have forced him to…

How Much of Your Business Startup Allowance Should Go to Branding

When you’ve had a great idea and fully committed yourself to making it a reality, it’s easy to focus solely on development. It’s easy to focus all of your funds on development, too. After all, when you’re immersed in a project, you can feel like everyone else will see it the way that you do….

The Dos and Don’ts of Startup Branding

If you’ve read our blog, you know how often we emphasize that good branding, or lack thereof, can make or break any startup. No matter how good your business starting ideas  are on their own, you have to get people to notice, and then you have to get them to care. These are some of…

Scotland Yard’s Vice Squad Succumbs to the PC Police

    by Jeffery Racheff London’s Vice Squad is starting to sound more like the Nice Squad. The special Scotland Yard division tasked with battling prostitution and various underworld activities in the Greater London area will now officially be called Serious Crime Directorate 9: Human Exploitation and Organized Crime Command, or SCD9 for short. And…

Hippies with AK-47s: Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

Maui Wowie. Albino Rhino. Cat Piss. Alaskan Thunderf**k. No, these are not rock bands or energy drinks. They’re the colorfully bizarre names of marijuana strains. And with Proposition 19 on the ballot in the upcoming midterm election, Californians will have the chance to make their state the first place where it is legal to smoke…

The Hard Rock Hotel, Den of Evil

by Jeffery Racheff Imagine this scenario: It’s family dinner night, and you and the hubby and the kids decide to go out for a nice wholesome meal at the Hard Rock Cafe. But as you step through the shiny big doors, instead of classic guitar solos and famous leather jackets, you’re greeted by half-naked women, drug-dealers…

How Branding Can Affect Your Business Startup Capital

“Spend money to make money.” If you’re a startup, the old adage certainly applies to development and hiring. But what about using capital for branding? Working with startups, we hear a lot about the ongoing tensions between branding and capital that go on during the early phase of starting a company. Most startups are focused…

Business Startup Exhibition: How Branding Makes You Stand Out

A business startup exhibition is an opportunity to learn more about brand positioning strategy. Whether you’re planning a trip to a business startup exhibition or looking to apply the information that you learned at one, it helps to think about the startups that you remember. Why did they stick in your head? It’s important to…