Strong brand is a significant element of the differentiation in the highly competitive environment. The first step in the systematic brand building is to define its identity, which ensures the consistency of a brand over time. The goal of the master's thesis is to find out how czech brand consultants define the brand identity. In the master's thesis there is a comparison of the most frequently used elements in the theoretical models and brand bibles of foreign companies with approaches of czech consultants. Theoretical models and brand bibles have been analyzed by using conceptual content analysis. Qualitative research was used to find out approaches to the brand identity of czech consultants. Results of the qualitative research and the synthesis of the theoretical and practical part revealed that czech consultants get inspired from abroad, where some of them use models and some of them approach to defining brand identity instinctively. The master's thesis brings the primary insight into this field within the Czech Republic and can be used as a base for mapping the whole situation in the Czech Republic.

BACKGROUND A great interest of researchers has been attracted to the phenomenon of country-of-origin (Andéhn et al., 2016). It is argued that companies could increase competitiveness in the market by implementing a COO into the company's branding strategy (Guercini & Ranfagni, 2013). However, prior research on COO has been focused mainly on the investigation of customer perspective, while the producer's (e.g.firm) perspective was not taken into account (Brodie & Benson-Rea, 2016). Thus, the understanding of COO branding has to be expanded. Furthermore, the use of a COO can not be managed as independent marketing activity (Bhaskaran & Sukumaran, 2007) and has to be rationally implemented into the brand (Brodie & Benson-Rea, 2016). This creates a gap in the knowledge of how firms manage the use of a COO and how the COO is implemented into the company's brand identity. This gap can be addressed by evaluating the producer's perspective and the COO's impact on the brand identity and branding strategies. PURPOSE The aim of this study is to extend the understanding of the impact of the COO on the brand identity of Swedish SMEs. Additionally, to investigate the use of Sweden in branding. METHOD To fulfill the purpose of the study, exploratory qualitative research is executed, employing a multiple-case study design where nine cases were selected to develop an in-depth understanding of the research topic. CONCLUSION Based on the research, the COO has a strong impact on the brand identity of Swedish SMEs. As it can be seen from the empirical data, the brand identity of Swedish SMEs is impacted by the COO in terms of personality, physique, and culture dimensions on the key characteristics of the origin. Additionally, the COO is implemented into the Swedish SMEs branding through nine strategies.

Visuell kommunikation är en stark marknadsföringsstrategi för att exponera ett varumärkes identitet därav är sociala medier är därför en väsentlig marknadsföringsplattform för att förstärka varumärkets distinkta idé om deras identitet. Den visuella interaktionen från varumärket genererar skapandet av tankar, kopplingar och minnesvärda upplevelser för konsumenterna som kommer påverka deras relation till varumärket. Studien granskar därför inledningsvis hur tre modeföretag belyser sina varumärkesidentitet genom sin marknadsföring på Instagram genom en semiotisk analys som studerar tecken av bakomliggande meningar och betydelser. Varumärken som marknadsför sig på sociala medier når en publik som sträcker sig globalt och därför är det essentiellt att distribuera en relevant varumärkeskultur som ska anpassa sig efter varje lands kultur vilket visar sig vara ett område som är en utmaning för varumärken. Därför granskar studien dessutom hur modeföretagens identitet uppfattas av konsumenter utifrån interaktioner och reaktioner via kommentarsfältet. Studiens resultat kopplas samman med Kapferer´s brand identity prism tillsammans med resterande begrepp från teoretiska referensramen. / This research reviews three fashion companies and how they shed light on their brandidentity through their marketing on Instagram. This will be done through a semiotic analysis thatstudies signs of underlying meanings and the study is based on a theoretical frame of reference withKapferer identity prism. The results of the study are linked to Kapferer's brand identity prism togetherwith the remaining concepts from the theoretical frame of reference. The brands are analyzed separately.

För ett framgångsrikt varumärke är det viktigt att konsumenterna ser på företaget på samma sätt som företaget ser på sig själv. Det vill säga att ett företags identitet stämmer överens med företagets image. Om identitet och image faller långt ifrån varandra kan problem uppstå för företaget och det blir svårare att reparera sin image (Kapferer, 2005). När en ny juicebar intog den svenska marknaden med ett annorlunda koncept som alkoholfri cocktailbar ställdes identitet och image mot varandra. Med hjälp av Stuart Halls teori om encoding/decoding, Kapferers Brand Identity Prism och associationsteorier undersöktes Juiceverkets image och identitet. Det visade sig att det existerar ett gap mellan dem. Vissa delar av identiteten stämde överens med mottagarnas image av företaget, medan andra delar inte gjorde det. Ett gap existerar mellan mottagarnas image av företaget som fokus på hälsa, medan företaget menar att de inte är ett hälsoföretag. Mottagarna tolkar också företaget som trendigt och modernt medan Juiceverket menar att de undviker att följa trender. Kanske den största skillnaden i gapet mellan Juiceverkets identitet och image står i företagets identifiering av sig själva som en alkoholfri cocktailbar, medan mottagarna beskriver företaget som en trendig juicebar med hälsofokus.

<p>Aldrig förr har den svenska konsumenten varit så hälso- och miljömedveten. Ett resultat av detta är att fler mervärdesmärkningar har dykt upp på våra butikshyllor. En av de mest kända mervärdesmärkningarna inom ekologiskt producerade varor är i dagsläget KRAV-märkningen.</p><p>Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka om Uppsala Universitets företagsekonomistudenters attityder gentemot KRAV-märkta produkter stämmer överens med den bild som KRAV vill förmedla. Studenterna har fått ange vilka produktattribut de anser vara av störst vikt vid livsmedelsinköp, vilka sedan har jämförts med hur väl de anser att KRAV uppfyller dessa. Genom detta har vi kunnat urskilja en generell attityd hos studenterna gentemot KRAV-märkta produkter.</p><p>Resultatet visar på att studenterna har en positiv attityd gentemot KRAV-märkta varor. Dock visar undersökningen på att den bild som KRAV vill förmedla inte helt överensstämmer med den bild som studenterna har om varumärket. Den traditionella bilden av KRAV, där samhälls- och miljöansvar står i fokus, anser studenterna att KRAV uppfyller mycket väl. KRAV har däremot inte lyckats med att förmedla att KRAV-märkta produkter numera även står för god hälsa och smak. Vidare kan vi urskilja en tendens mot att studenterna inte värdesätter KRAV:s traditionella värderingar särskilt högt. Samhällsansvar och miljöansvar är inte någon prioritet vid studenternas val av livsmedel.</p><p>Slutsatsen vi kan dra av detta är att om KRAV vill nå ut till studenterna som målgrupp bör de lägga större betoning på de produktrelaterade attributen som studenterna anser vara av störst vikt (smak, nyttigt, kvalité, tillgänglighet). KRAV bör fortsätta sitt arbete med att ladda varumärket med hälsoargument och framhäva de attribut som studenterna värdesätter hög</p>

This research recommends a new approach to brand strategy for Korean professional football teams, focusing on the relationships between team brand identity as the basic element of sports team branding, team brand loyalty as the most desirable goal, and identification between fans and teams as the mediator between identity and loyalty. Nowadays, professional football teams are no longer merely sporting organisations, but organisational brands with multi-million pound revenues. It is vital for football teams to build a relevant brand strategy based on the relationship with their fans. Existing research on sports branding suggests that fans who are deeply identified with a specific team tend to possess extremely high loyalty, holding a particular team as central to their identity. Therefore, managing the relationships between team brand identity, fan-team identification, and team brand loyalty can be the most powerful brand strategy for football teams, particularly for Korean football teams that do not retain strong fan bases and yet desire to gain consumers who identify with them. Through two empirical studies and case study analysis this research investigated a construct of team brand identity in the professional football context. Consumers’ associations with football teams were examined and 13 elements of a team brand identity scale were developed. It was revealed that team brand identity is composed of four identity dimensions which are experience, visual, non-product, and product. Case studies, with a further literature review of team brand identity, clarified and confirmed the first study findings. The final empirical study tested and confirmed the correlated and serial relationships, and provided the basis for the new theoretical model on which to build the brand strategy.

PiM's is young brand on the market, that is interesting by its courageous modern strategy. Main aim of my master thesis is reveal perception of the brand PiM's by consumers and compare it with its identity. Thesis is devided to theoretical and practical part. In theoretical part I defined term brand and its basic characterictics. Also I defined PiM's history and brand identity. In methodological part I chose and defined methods suited for analysis of the image. In practical part I applied methods as analysis of secondary data and survey by on-line questionaire. On these basis, I enlisted important information about image of the brand PiM's. By comparison of identity and image I reach the whole analysis of the image and I gave recommendations, how to built image successfully in the future.

Magister Commercii - MCom / The focus of branding is often externally focused, yet it is the employees through their direct interaction with the brand, that can make or break the brand promise. Despite the important role of employees in building the brand, they are often overlooked in brand building strategies. The purpose of the study was to test the effect of internal brand management on brand commitment and brand trust in a government organisation. Front-line employees of the South African Post Office, a state-owned organisation in South Africa was selected to collect the data using convenience sampling. Cronbach Alpha and content validity was used to test the reliability and validity of the measurement instrument. The data was not normally distributed and non-parametric tests were performed during data analysis. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the basic characteristics of the respondents and the correlation coefficient (Rho) was used to test the relationships between variables. All three hypotheses were accepted. The results are consistent with previous research, however, new developments are emerging. For front-line employees to commit to the brand, they must trust the brand, which in turn is created through brand identity. Negative external communication influences the ability of front-line employees to deliver the expected brand promise. Importantly, the role of top management in fostering internal brand management cannot be overlooked.

<p>Summary</p><p>This thesis discusses the possibility for PERSONEC to use storytelling as a strategic communicative concept in its marketing to mediate the brand identity of its organisation. In the search for this, we have chosen to describe the concept of brand identity and storytelling as a draft for the construction of the brand.</p><p>We have then analysed how storytelling can be applied, and already is, at PERSONEC and also presented some recommendations about how storytelling could be developed by PERSONEC.</p><p>In this thesis we investigate how PERSONEC communicates and manages its brand identity through the implementation of storytelling. Our main problem is: How can PERSONEC use storytelling as a concept to communicate its brand identity both internally and externally? This in turn involves two sub questions, namely: What is the brand identity of PERSONEC? And: What is storytelling as a concept and how can it be employed at PERSONEC?</p><p>Data collection has been performed using a qualitative method. In order to find out about brand identity and storytelling, primary data has been gathered through interviews with key personnel at PERSONEC. Secondary data consists of results of surveys on public awareness of the PERSONEC image as well as results from customer satisfaction survey on PERSONEC. The findings have been analysed based on diverse theories on brand and storytelling. Our thesis has in the beginning an explorative approach which at the end results in a conclusive description.</p><p>Theories, mainly from Aaker (1996) and Kapferer (2003) have been used to investigate the brand identity of PERSONEC. In accordance with their theories, the identity can describe the reality of the organisation and can be a tool to create a unitary illustration of the organisation, to be communicated internally and externally. In our results we have found that PERSONEC is symbolised by knowledge in personnel-, payroll- and financial management in the Nordic region with an experienced and diversified staff.</p><p>Based on theoretical and empirical material about storytelling we have found key issues of the notion of storytelling. These involve discussions about the concept of storytelling, its area of application and how stories should be structured and also which aspects are important for this process. We consider storytelling as a concept to structure the communication of an organisation both internally and externally. The stories can act as a bridge between the organisation and the outside world and can also simplify description and communication of complex processes and concepts. In order to differentiate itself PERSONEC should continue to use storytelling to communicate its core values in a more emotional and engaging way.</p><p>Stories reveal. Stories motivate. Stories bind individuals into teams. Stories create solutions.</p>

Summary This thesis discusses the possibility for PERSONEC to use storytelling as a strategic communicative concept in its marketing to mediate the brand identity of its organisation. In the search for this, we have chosen to describe the concept of brand identity and storytelling as a draft for the construction of the brand. We have then analysed how storytelling can be applied, and already is, at PERSONEC and also presented some recommendations about how storytelling could be developed by PERSONEC. In this thesis we investigate how PERSONEC communicates and manages its brand identity through the implementation of storytelling. Our main problem is: How can PERSONEC use storytelling as a concept to communicate its brand identity both internally and externally? This in turn involves two sub questions, namely: What is the brand identity of PERSONEC? And: What is storytelling as a concept and how can it be employed at PERSONEC? Data collection has been performed using a qualitative method. In order to find out about brand identity and storytelling, primary data has been gathered through interviews with key personnel at PERSONEC. Secondary data consists of results of surveys on public awareness of the PERSONEC image as well as results from customer satisfaction survey on PERSONEC. The findings have been analysed based on diverse theories on brand and storytelling. Our thesis has in the beginning an explorative approach which at the end results in a conclusive description. Theories, mainly from Aaker (1996) and Kapferer (2003) have been used to investigate the brand identity of PERSONEC. In accordance with their theories, the identity can describe the reality of the organisation and can be a tool to create a unitary illustration of the organisation, to be communicated internally and externally. In our results we have found that PERSONEC is symbolised by knowledge in personnel-, payroll- and financial management in the Nordic region with an experienced and diversified staff. Based on theoretical and empirical material about storytelling we have found key issues of the notion of storytelling. These involve discussions about the concept of storytelling, its area of application and how stories should be structured and also which aspects are important for this process. We consider storytelling as a concept to structure the communication of an organisation both internally and externally. The stories can act as a bridge between the organisation and the outside world and can also simplify description and communication of complex processes and concepts. In order to differentiate itself PERSONEC should continue to use storytelling to communicate its core values in a more emotional and engaging way. Stories reveal. Stories motivate. Stories bind individuals into teams. Stories create solutions.