| |
| |
|
WebsiteAlways |
|
Branding Junk Removal - He Did It, Can You?
What does it mean to be remarkable? Brian Scudamore, CEO and Founder of 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, who in 1996 was operating the million dollar plus company at the age of 26, said it means, "You've got to get out there and be loud and proud... You've got to stand out. You have got to have a brand that is worth remarking about." He learned much about this type of philosophy from the book Purple Cow, written by one of his mentors, Seth Godin. It's kind of like Sir Richard Branson's recent flying superhero-saving nurses publicity stunt to launch Virgin Mobile Canada. Like Branson, Scudamore takes risks. He and his company want to make sure they get noticed. After all, they're "building the Fed-Ex of Junk removal." He does know, however, that beyond the gorilla marketing, his strategies and his team of motivated employees and franchise partners are key to sustaining the brand. "It's all about the people," he said. After changing the company name, from Rubbish Boys to 1-800-GOT-JUNK (Scudamore was looking for a more professional name and was inspired by the Got Milk campaign and the 1-800-FLOWER model, where it doesn't matter where you are in the country, you can call one number), Scudamore knew he would be able to build a brand. It had never been done in the industry. "Junk removal is not something new. It's been around forever," he said. "But, it is similar to some other industries where brands have come in and successfully dominated and created a very branded industry. "Look at Starbucks. There used to be a mom and pop coffee shop on every corner. You don't see that anymore. It's all Starbucks." 1-800-GOT-JUNK is heading in that same direction. Perhaps you'll never find it on every corner, but July 2004 marked its 100th franchise. The company's short-term goal is to have 250 franchise partners with system-wide sales of $100M by the end of 2006. And, its long term goal is to be the World's Largest Junk Removal Company with a presence in 10 countries by the end of 2012. "We're building something much bigger together than anyone of us could ever build alone," said Scudamore. He is committed to maintaining and strengthening this type of team work. The growth of the company depends on it and it's also what makes the brand special. "We're only as good as we make ourselves out to be. If we're out there not delivering on our on-time service and up-front pricing that we promise, then our brand doesn't build. People will start to look at us and say, 'These guys aren't as good as they say they are.' That's the problem with having such a well-established brand and reputation; you have to deliver on your promises. You simply cannot hide from a disgruntled customer, especially not when you're wearing a big blue wig and standing beside a large mobile billboard, waving to the morning commuters as they pass by. The "Honk if you love junk" sign will not help either. By Christina Lee Christina Lee is Editor of The Image Architex Online Marketing Magazine (http://www.theIMAGEarchitex.com). Visit the site for more articles on branding and general marketing practices, opportunities, tips and ideas for small-sized business entrepreneurs, artists and producers.
MORE RESOURCES:
Branding - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Logo Files: Versions Of Your Logo That You Should Own Your logo is the most important graphic element in which you will invest for your business. You should own the logo in many file formats. Santa - The Brand Every Christmas Eve, a burglar named Santa busts into homes around the world, but he has never been charged with B&E. He has one of the best, most positive brands around and it continues to inoculate him against any hint of impropriety, as it has for generations. Branding - More Than Just a Statement - A Memory Scar Conjure up in your mind broad rolling meadows with runs of cattle or stock of some type, all discriminate by virtue of a registered brand. That's a most common and accepted understanding of branding. Nike / Sears / Kmart The Sears-Kmart merger hopes to fabricate some sort of silver lining for both retailers but instead seems to embody the inevitable philosophy of "going down together." Kmart, an already sinking ship, certainly worsens conditions for Sears, and Sears does not have a strong enough current to keep Kmart afloat when there are enterprises like Wal*Mart and Target constantly blasting holes in the stern with brand messages of "smart and classy. A Lesson in Branding from Paris Hilton I have never been a fan of Paris Hilton.I see her parading around in her odd-looking clothing choices, leading her loyal following of giddy anorexic schoolgirls around by their noses, and I think, "Skank. Branding Services - Brand Identity Guru Branding Services is a tactic that marketing executives and managers should not only understand, but also employ. Branding services helps your company clearly position your company over your competition by branding your product/service in the minds of your target markets. Trademark Your Business - Lessons Learned Small business owners learn many lessons the hard way - through the school of hard knocks. I recently experienced my own tough lesson concerning the importance trademarking my business name. Great Brands Depend On Attention To The Brand Architecture Do you have the architecture in place to make sure each and every brand contact sends the right message?Thinking in terms of architecture, a building that looks great and catches your attention is probably designed so that each component looks perfect and enhances the overall effect of the building.In the audiobook, "Sound Advice on Brand Marketing," author Tom Miller says, "Great architecture works because of attention to detail, and great brands depend on the same level of attention. Trademark: Do I Need One for My Business Name and Logo? Wondering if a trademark is important to you as a business owner? Let's start with the basics. A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, or logo that distinguishes and identifies the source of goods of one company or person from another. My First Year In Cyber Space My first year as a Cyberpreneur was a steeplearning-curve. I was an academic beforestarting an online business, so I had a lot to learn. Could Ray Kroc have founded McDonalds in the Era of Sarbaines Oxley? Over regulation of our free markets is stifling our growth in America and killing the next superstar Entrepreneurs. Let's discuss just how bad it really is. What is an Artists Statement & How Often Should It Be Updated? An artist's statement is a statement of ideas and thoughts that describe your philosophy, vision, and passion towards your artistic creations.Ponder over the following questions prior to writing your artist's statement:Is your work whimsical, thought provoking, or edgy?Does it portray a series of stories?Whom or what has influenced you the most?How is your work meaningful to you?How do you begin to write your artists statement? You could begin by writing a quote that has inspired you and your work, or you could create a strong sentence that summarizes your philosophy about your life and how art has changed your views on life in general. The Top 10 Strategies for the Positioning of Success Many businesses of today are often driven to compete striclty on price, quality, and features of their products and services. Companies who prosper over the long term don't simply offer the best deals, the best quality, or the most impressive bells and whistles. Self-Marketing: The I Focus Ever had one of those conversations where you wondered what the topic was and the only word you could identify was "I"?As a marketer, I often recommend marketing yourself. However, there comes a point, rather quickly in any conversation when the other person tires of hearing "I". Brand Strategy - Brand Identity Guru If you could have the secret recipe and all the manufacturing facilities of Coca Cola but not the Coca Cola brand-or have its famous brand but no facilities-which would you choose? It's not a trick question. But it demonstrates the power of the brand. Positioning and Branding - Brand Identity Guru Where is your brand positioned in the marketplace? How is it perceived, both positively and negatively? Can you identify your brand's core strength's and equities? What are the barriers or threats standing in the way? A brand strategy company will provide you with an objective assessment of your brand.They can deliver specific solutions that will allow you to reach your strategic business goals and objectives, and clearly differentiate your brand and identity in the marketplace. The Trust Issue In Marketing One of the prime motivating factors in the purchase decision making process is "trust". A consumer will at some point for however long or short of a time, ask the question, "Can I trust this company/person/product?"In today's ever-changing world of marketing, electronic media, email, and advertising innovations and intrusions, companies, and businesses are marketing to an ever increasingly suspicious consumer, who is conflicted between their desire not to be "sold" to and their desire to consume. Brand Extension; Going from Consumer to Commercial As more and more home pressure washers are sold at leading retailers such as Wal-Mart, Sears, Home Depot, Cosco, etc. We are seeing companies offer products in brand line extension to service this niche. The Positioning of Success Many businesses of today are often driven to compete striclty on price, quality, and features of their products and services. Companies who prosper over the long term don't simply offer the best deals, the best quality, or the most impressive bells and whistles. Brand Identity Company - Brand Identity Guru Hiring a brand identity company is very important. In every marketing campaign, your company should have a solid brand identity on which to hang its hat.
|
| Interesting articles | Home | site map | Link |
| © 2006 |
