UPDATED - Ice cream - cure for the blues during recession?

After talking with a fellow colleague Christopher Lovell, there were a few developments that where taken into account. For instance, considering Hertbrand is an umbrella brand for a number of various sub-brands, could we not create innovation to roll out across ALL the sub-brands? Is there a way to boost sales during the summer months (or even when it snows?). Could a dying brand be rejuvenated somehow? (similar to Cadbury's successful Wispa campaign).

These considerations will be developed - watch this space.

Original post:

 

Probably not, but then again, this is only an early stage strategy idea for Unilever's oddly-named ice cream company, 'Heartbrand'. I'll be considering how to develop this deck further over the coming weeks - I'm sure there's an insight in here somewhere waiting to be scooped out (see what I did there?), refined and exploited.

 

 

 

What's already going down in the world of ice cream...

 

Trends and Insights .2

A few ideas to start your week.

We all know the benefits of regular deodorant use, although the market sector is massively saturated. One line extension that's captured the imagination recently is the Lynx/Axe Deo for women (a first for the brand I believe). How can we add additional rational value to a traditional body spray? Can we enrich it with extra properties never before seen? Maybe...

Brands can capitalise on seemingly insignificant consumer activity. Such as the prominent trend of 'war-painting' that we all saw last year at festivals. Nothing is too small for a brand to accommodate, as long as it adds value for both parties. It's the little things that matter.

Trends and Insights .1

Over the next few days I'll be posting ideas dreamed up. Some ideas have potential, some seem incomplete but can always be improved on. We'll start with a kind of obvious, but still interesting one. This trend seems to be taking off (see what I did there?) in the USA at the moment. Did you know that UK police force helicopter pilots are contracted, and so do not have the power to arrest perpetrators? Can we think of a faster, more mobile and cheaper option? During this time of increased austerity, I expect this trend to become ever more prevalent, and more desirable for national governments seeking to cut costs, whether we like it or not.

People still dismiss using drones under the grounds of privacy invasion. But at the end of the day, both civilian drones and police helicopters are the same thing - people looking at people from the air. It all depends on the integrity of the pilot, whether they're on the ground or not. Technology is merely a facilitator.

As wallets tighten, another trend that may prove big in 2012 is hypertargeting. If a brand isn't somewhere, it's nowhere. Take a brand to the people.