Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references.

Assignment (MComm)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Two different subjects that have been well researched over the last couple of decades are branding and startups. The intersection of these two subjects has however not been covered nearly as much. Some researchers go as far as claiming it to be an oxymoron. Built on this has this thesis been conducted in order to narrow this gap in research and shed light on the importance of branding efforts among startups. The objective of this study has been: To provide a deeper understanding of brand identity and brand image among startups  To fulfill this objective, two sub-objectives were established: To examine if there exists a gap between brand identity and brand image among startups To identify which key factors that influence brand identity and brand image among startups The study has been of an explorative and descriptive character with a deductive approach. For research strategy was embedded multi-cases chosen. Data collection has been collected by conducting semi-structured, qualitative interviews. This data has later been analyzed with the analyzation methods within-analysis and cross-case analysis. The finding of the study is that there exists a mismatch between the view of the management and the view of the customers. It can therefore be concluded that there is a gap between the brand identity and the brand image among the three startups investigated in this study. Communication and relationship have furthermore been found to be key aspects that affect the magnitude of the gap.  The practical implication to be taken from this study is the importance of branding in the early stages of a company. It can furthermore be important for practitioners, mainly managements of startups to be aware of the key aspects communication and relationship, and to work with branding even in the early years of a company. The theoretical contribution has been to investigate in an area where limited research has been made but more is needed. The need of research for entrepreneurs to rely on are desired.

How we communicate about brands and companies has changed. CEOs have come into the spotlight of brand communications but little marketing research offers holistic knowledge about CEOs as brand endorsers. This research investigates how CEO endorsers influence consumer attitudes toward a brand differently from conventional endorsers (e.g., celebrities and athletes). Further, this research examines underlying mechanisms that determine consumer responses to CEOs as brand endorsers and especially consumer moral judgments of a brand’s wrongdoing. Building on research on brand endorsers and brand equity, as well as drawing theoretical support from research on leadership, anthropomorphism and mind perception, this dissertation proposes a moderated mediation model of CEO endorser effects on consumer moral judgments. Brand endorsers for decades have been viewed as essentially communicating via three characteristics: attractiveness, expertise and trustworthiness. This dissertation identifies perceived leadership as an additional endorser dimension elicited from a CEO-brand endorser. Further, this dissertation introduces brand mind perception into marketing research and finds that perceived leadership positively influences consumers’ perception of brand mind, which in turn determines consumers’ moral judgments. Boundary conditions are explored and include endorser-brand relationship and crisis controllability. Two sets of studies provide empirical support. The first set defines and develops the scale of perceived leadership including item generation (Study 1), item purification (Study 2), and scale confirmation (Study 3). The second set tests the hypotheses in the conceptual model. Two exploratory studies first find preliminary evidence of that perceived leadership differs from existing endorser dimensions by its effects on moral judgments (Study 4), and that mind perception is possible for a brand and can be enhanced by CEO association (Study 5). Study 6 shows positive effects of CEO endorsers on consumer attitudes by communicating perceived brand leadership. Study 7 investigates a brand-wrongdoing scenario and shows that perceived brand leadership yields negative results for a brand by increasing blame and reducing forgiveness; Study 8 demonstrates these relationships are mediated by brand mind perception. Study 9 shows that the inspiring aspects of perceived leadership can enhance perceptions of brand mind (to feel and experience), thus reducing consumers’ blame. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.

The aim was to compare whether there are different perceptions of the brand of ČEZ, as by its employees and from the public. Literature review dealt with the brand and its history, brand management and brand positioning. This chapter also included information on marketing research. The practical part introduced company ČEZ. Using quantitative and qualitative methods of marketing research, I tried to find out if employees perceive the brand more positively than public. Research results are displayed using a semantic differential scale and obtained values were compared. Based results then I confirmed or refuted the contrary, the hypotheses at the beginning of work. At the end of part I tried to suggest possible measures to improve the brand perception.

The purpose of this study is to examine how a new startup-company are using visual communication on the social media platform Instagram to build a brand identity. The study is based on a case study about the beverage company Swedish Tonic and how they use Instagram to brand themselves and demonstrate their identity. The research question from which the study is based on is: How do Swedish Tonic use Instagram as a tool for building their brand identity? To help answer this question three question formulations has been applied. The studies theoretical framework consists of three theories. The first one is Images and information in cultures of consumption by Martin Hand, the second one is The Rossiter and Percy grid by John. R Rossiter and Larry Percy and the third one is called The Aaker model by David Aaker. The study contains three methods which is a qualitative interview, a quantitative survey and a semiotic image analysis. The interview was performed with the CFO and founder of Swedish Tonic Viktor Eriksson and was the base for all the empirical data. The results of the study announce that Swedish Tonic use Instagram in purpose to brand and identify themselves through visual communication. The focus is mainly on the product as it appears in almost every image but in different environments and contexts that are trendy and modern. This show a new way of product focus where the product together vid the brand identity represents who Swedish Tonic is as an organisation. The result also clarify that consumers' perception of the company is well-matched with how Swedish tonic wants to be perceived.

M.Comm.

This master's thesis deals with the analysis of the image of the Employer brand of global company on the local market in the Czech Republic. As a theoretical basis focuses on defining brand as such, its value and its management. The basic concepts of Employer Branding: Employer Brand, EVP and some tools for building external employers' brands were also defined. The aim of the thesis is to map attitudes of university students to the employer's brand of selected local branch of chosen global company. I also investigated whether the study of selected university affect student perceptions of the brand. In the practical part, the thesis deals with the analysis of the specific employer brand and external brand building tools. Questionnaire research is carried out among students and scatter analysis is used for the evaluation. Other research tools are case studies in the form of storytelling, analysis of free associations, and semantic differential. The results are proposed recommendations for the company based on the evaluation of the perception of the employer's brand and also the model of the ideal employer.

The aim of the thesis is to introduce and evaluate regional branding occurring in the Czech republic, other countries of the European Union and the EU as a whole. On the basis of the information, the strategies of individual brand programs in the Czech Republic are evaluated and possibilities for improvement are presented. The basic methods of qualitative research used in the practical part of the thesis are the analysis of secondary data and field research. Using identified facts, own regional product is designed to meet the required criteria of the selected territory. In the form of a case study that is created as a manual, its communication activities are designed and the most appropriate branding program, including an explanation of the certification process, has been chosen.

Purchasing is an important concept in the life of students. The decision whether to purchase branded apparel is hence a very important one. The 21st century student is less loyal and more demanding when choosing branded apparel. Marketers should understand how students evaluate celebrity endorsers when they appear in printed advertising and respond accordingly. The objective of the research is to find out how celebrity endorsed print advertisements affect Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) students’ purchase behaviour. The results of this study could assist marketers in improving the quality of their advertising and to more accurately meet the needs of this dynamic student market. A literature review was conducted to provide an understanding of the consumer purchasing behaviour and the role celebrity endorser played in printed advertisements. The empirical study was designed to assess the impact of the use of celebrity endorsements of printed advertisements targeted at NMMU students. The empirical findings showed that both male and female students indicated that the use of celebrity endorsers get their attention and created interest, and make advertisements more memorable. Males were more influenced than ii females. Moreover, both groups indicated that for a desired or familiar product, celebrity endorsers did not easily change their purchase decisions. It was also found that the use of pictures, colours and wording featured in the advertisements are important to students. The study proposes that marketers should continue to focus on effective marketing communications and establish whether a celebrity should be used. The correct selection of a celebrity endorser can help to create greater consumer persuasion.