Duisburg, Essen, University, Diss., 2004.

A brand can be a valuable asset for a company in two ways: On the one hand the brand can have an influence on the perceptions and preferences of the consumer and therebypositively influence the performance and success of a product, which can lead to acompetitive advantage. On the other hand, a brand can even be an asset of significantfinancial value. For the actual building of a strong brand, several theoretical modelsexist. Car modification companies offer modifications for and modified versions of cars ofother brands. The thereof resulting connection between the two brands and itsconsequences for the brand of the modification company cannot be depicted with theexisting theoretical brand and brand building models. In addition to that, carmodification companies touch upon the field of luxury cars. This factor has to be takeninto consideration when dealing with the brand building of car modification companies. In addition to the lack of applicability of existing brand building models for the carmodification industry, this special industry has not been covered by research yet ingeneral. In this thesis, a theoretical framework for brand building, the model of customer basedbrand equity as well as the characteristics of luxury branding will be lined out. In orderto examine how the special factors of the car modification industry, namely theconnection between the modification company and the base brand and luxury brandingcan be integrated into this model, six representatives from the car modification industryhave been interviewed. The results and analysis of these interviews show that through the assessment of thecustomer based brand equity of the base brand, the modification company can identifystrong and favorable aspects of the base brand that it can build upon, emphasize and/orexpand with the modification as well as weaknesses and flaws of the base brand that itcan make up for with the modification. Furthermore, the examination shows that byassessing the model of customer based brand equity of the modification brand and arelevant special brand factor, in the case of this thesis luxury branding, for commonfeatures and similarities, this special factor can also be integrated into the theoreticalmodel. Through these findings, the thesis is able to present a revised model of customer basedbrand equity that incorporates both the connection between the modification brand andthe base brand as well as the special factor luxury branding.

Brand equity has been highlighted as one of the most valuable assets one company possesses. However, negative information related with brand extension, such as brand extension failures, can lead to negative perceptions, which may be difficult to reverse. Therefore, it is of critical interest to managers and academicians to have better understanding of the effect of brand extension on the parent brand, especially its negative effect. In this research, the focus is to investigate the feedback effect of negative information of brand extension on the parent brand. This dissertation focuses on how negative information of brand extension impacts the parent brand. It attempts to clarify the previously mixed findings on reciprocal effects of brand extension. More importantly, it endeavors to fill the research gap of examining the issue of how negative information of brand extension affects the parent brand and to improve the understanding of the process by which negative information of brand extensions causes parent brand dilution, i.e. decreases the consumers¡¯ favorable attitudes towards the parent brand.Therefore, the focus of this dissertation was to investigate the effects of brand extension¡¯s negative information on consumers¡¯ attitudinal evaluation of parent brand, over different levels of brand extension fit, information negativity, and association set size with parent brand. In general, the significant impact of negative information on parent brand evaluation has been enlightened by this research.

No description available.

Abstract Branding is so hot and popular that many companies, academics or even politician research it and try to be differentiated in order to show forth their brand value or equity, particularly after Taiwan joined WTO in the beginning of 2002. The thesis is a case study of Siemens brand strategy and management, to illustrate what are corporate brand strategies and how to do for brand management. It presents a workable and realistic result and suggestions to industries. The thesis concludes that 1. Brand strategy is a part of corporate management strategy, and can be framed by vision, mission statement, objectives, and target groups¡Ketc. 2. Brand strategy and management should not be stand-alone. Brand management is led by brand strategy and accomplishes it. 3. Character, logo, claim, typeface, color and design quality are Siemens¡¦ brand elements, which have to be harmonized and fulfilled in order to maximize the brand equity. 4. Brand image can be built up by brand elements, however brand strategy should also focus on quality, after service, or even company¡¦s essence of business strategy or management in the long run. Ensuring that brand is an asset, not debt, of a company.

Thesis (M.A.)--Concordia University, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the brand management of a motor manufacturing company. The study set out to establish what the most important elements are that contribute towards a successful brand and to identify a potential model that can be used to measure the brand elements that are evident in the Toyota brand. By using this model, the Toyota brand was evaluated, bringing to the fore the key success factors that have made Toyota the number one motor manufacturing brand in South Africa. The qualitative research was conducted to evaluate Toyota's understanding of its brand and then questioning the usage of the brand through an individual interview with the custodian of the Toyota Brand in South Africa. The results of this qualitative research were used to identify the key values that the manufacturer sees as brand-building elements and to then evaluate how they are using these values to build and enhance the brand. These core brand values were then evaluated in the quantitative research that followed. The quantitative research was conducted through questionnaires where the retail network (General Managers, Sales Managers in the Toyota retail network) evaluated Toyota SA's implementation of its brand's core values through the dealer network. The sample size consisted of twenty nine (N=29) randomly selected Unitrans Toyota dealers in the country. An extension of the study compared these key success factors with the values that are delivered through the retail network to the customers. The brand expectations that the customer has in mind to the realisation of the brand promise at retail level were compared. This study gives insight into the workings of the Toyota brand and tests the communication of the brand blueprint through to the retail network. This study allows Toyota to review the way they communicates their brand to the direct customer, the retail network. The study also found that Toyota should use the opportunity to communicate the brand name to its direct customers, namely the retailers, and that, if needed, Toyota should revise the communication strategy. Other recommendations are that both Toyota and its retailers should take note of the fast-changing business environment, acknowledge the importance of managing the length of the product line, and that Toyota should embrace the retailers as partners rather than mere franchisees. The retail network, in turn, can get a better understanding of the role it has to play to ensure the sustainability of the Toyota brand. The study also allows the retail network to realize the importance of customer service in the whole Toyota brand set-up. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the brand management of a motor manufacturing company. The study set out to establish what the most important elements are that contribute towards a successful brand and to identify a potential model that can be used to measure the brand elements that are evident in the Toyota brand. By using this model, the Toyota brand was evaluated, bringing to the fore the key success factors that have made Toyota the number one motor manufacturing brand in South Africa. The qualitative research was conducted to evaluate Toyota's understanding of its brand and then questioning the usage of the brand through an individual interview with the custodian of the Toyota Brand in South Africa. The results of this qualitative research were used to identify the key values that the manufacturer sees as brand-building elements and to then evaluate how they are using these values to build and enhance the brand. These core brand values were then evaluated in the quantitative research that followed. The quantitative research was conducted through questionnaires where the retail network (General Managers, Sales Managers in the Toyota retail network) evaluated Toyota SA's implementation of its brand's core values through the dealer network. The sample size consisted of twenty nine (N=29) randomly selected Unitrans Toyota dealers in the country. An extension of the study compared these key success factors with the values that are delivered through the retail network to the customers. The brand expectations that the customer has in mind to the realisation of the brand promise at retail level were compared. This study gives insight into the workings of the Toyota brand and tests the communication of the brand blueprint through to the retail network. This study allows Toyota to review the way they communicates their brand to the direct customer, the retail network. The study also found that Toyota should use the opportunity to communicate the brand name to its direct customers, namely the retailers, and that, if needed, Toyota should revise the communication strategy. Other recommendations are that both Toyota and its retailers should take note of the fast-changing business environment, acknowledge the importance of managing the length of the product line, and that Toyota should embrace the retailers as partners rather than mere franchisees. The retail network, in turn, can get a better understanding of the role it has to play to ensure the sustainability of the Toyota brand. The study also allows the retail network to realize the importance of customer service in the whole Toyota brand set-up. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Over the decades, brand extension has been a core marketing strategy for a great number of companies. Brand extension enjoys a good reputation for bringing practical advantages to companies whilst it faces disputation at the same time because of a relatively high percentage of failures. Using modified Aaker’s brand equity model as the theoretical framework, the authors undertake a comparative case study to analyze the opportunities and challenges a company might face while using brand extension strategy, particularly in category brand extension: Yamaha Corporation as a successful example, and Virgin Group as a failure one. The analysis mainly focuses on the four elements in the modified Aaker’s brand equity model: brand awareness, brand loyalty, brand associations and perceived quality. The findings show that a company faces challenges when consumers have a more solid loyalty towards the competitor’s brand and when consumers are confused about brand associations. On the contrary, a company acquires opportunities in brand extension as long as a strong brand loyalty and a related connection between the parent brand and the extended brand exist.

This study aims to examine how brand management is implemented in SMEs, and investigate the problems encountered by SMEs when managing their brands in order to build strong brands.