Brand Strategy 101: Terminology

June 25, 2013

Brand Strategy 101: Terminology We’re starting a series of posts dedicated to terminology. Why? Well, because our clients always ask how we define or approach certain challenges. And it can be tough; especially because different branding firms define words in different ways. And, brand strategy terms seem to be the most puzzling and sometimes, overwhelming. […]

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Branding Pharmaceutical Drugs in China

June 04, 2013

Did you know according to the Chinese Association for Pharmaceutical Equipment group that the Chinese pharmaceutical industry has been growing at an average annual rate of 16.72% over the last few decades? And that growth isn’t going to slow down anytime soon. China stands at the cusp of a modern society with an increasingly affluent […]

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Same Product, Different Name

August 31, 2011

You’re making a sandwich and go into your fridge to pull out a jar of Hellmann’s Mayonnaise…or is it Best Foods? Well, it depends where you are making this sandwich. If you live east of the Rockies, you’re spreading Hellmann’s Mayonnaise on your bread. But, move west of the Rockies and you’re using Best Foods. […]

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Confessions of a Name-Induced Shopper

September 08, 2010

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Be honest – have you ever bought a product solely because of its name or packaging?*whispers* I have.The bottle’s appearance sucked me in, the matte hot pink and matte yellow bottles at the end of a sea of glossy blue and purple cans. I moved in closer, seeing the name EOS emblazoned across the top. […]

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Go Forth and Add!

April 09, 2010

As we have learned from the Chevy Nova, it is important to perform an accurate linguistic screen in all markets where you intend to launch your product. As you may have heard, the Nova was not such a big hit with Spanish-speakers. Translated literally, its name means “star” but when spoken it sounds like “no […]

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[Sic] of Bad Grammar?

March 04, 2010

If you know the difference between good and well, and that and which, then today is your (not you’re) day to unabashedly correct and edit bad grammar. *Finally!* National Grammar Day was established in 2008 by Martha Brockenbrough, founder of the Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar (SPOGG) and author of Things That Make […]

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War & Words

December 01, 2009

The National Museum of Language in College Park, MD is curating an exhibit on the role of the War of 1812 in the development of American English. (Thanks to the Visual Thesaurus for the tip) The role of the museum is to promote a better understanding of language and its role in history, contemporary affairs, […]

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The Etymology of Forgotton Folks

October 27, 2009

As namers, we use words like “neologisms,” “hybrids,” and “current usage words” with every project we work on. A neologism (from the French “new + body of knowledge”) is a made-up word or something that has been coined for a specific purpose (ex: Aceba). A hybrid is two words fused together (ex: FunHub), while a […]

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Just don’t call me Grandma!

September 13, 2009

Today, right now even, pick up the phone and call your grandmother or grandfather in honor of National Grandparents Day. But as you scroll through your contacts, what name are you looking for? We surveyed our team in search of the most unusual grandparent naming. From the most traditional to the young and hip, we […]

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U.S. City Nicknaming

August 04, 2009

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Here at Addison Whitney, we know branding. We know how important it is to have a brand name that reinforces your overall strategic plan. The following are a list of “nicknames” that some U.S. cities have been given or have adopted themselves. How successful are these nicknames at making the connection to the city […]

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