The way we work with clients is based on a few key principles and beliefs.
It's Not Our Strategy, It's Yours
Brand strategy isn't something you outsource. It's too important and fundamental to the business. When you work with us we don't lock ourselves in a room for four weeks and come back with "The Answer". We work closely with you and the executive team to guide you through the process. In our experience it is essential the leadership team of any organisation help to generate the brand strategy if they are going to believe in it and own it fully. Brand strategy work needs to consider stakeholder and organisation 'commitment' as well as customer, if it is going to be truly successful.
We Integrate Research & Strategy
We are first and foremost experts in everything to do with brand strategy, but one of the key tools we use to inform this is our understanding of people, their emotions and how they behave. We are highly skilled and experienced research practitioners so we do all our own consumer research. By understanding the problem and what is required from the solution we can make sure the research is designed and conducted to bring out the best possible insights and understanding.
We Like To Get To Solutions Fast
Our approach is to get to solutions fast then iterate and improve by exposing ideas early and often to stakeholders. There needs to be a learning stage on any project to understand the context and the problem to solve. But then we like to get to prototypes, early ideas and solutions which we them improve and refine based on exposing them to key audiences inside and especially outside the organisation. We see research as a way of building and constructing solutions not just a process of thumbs up or thumbs down on ideas.
A Strong Brand Is Key To Growth
Brand strategy and strong brands are not an indulgence. They exist to service one purpose and one purpose only and that is to generate superior long term profitability to a business. Business strategy drives brand strategy. Brand ideas cannot exist in a vacuum. They need to drive business outcomes. This is one of the reasons we spend the time to understand the business strategy first. What audiences are critical? Where growth will come from? So that the business strategy and brand strategy are totally aligned. Brand strategy must be informed by and deliver to commercial reality. We believe a great brand strategy, well executed can dramatically improve the fortunes of brands.
Rigour & Creativity Go Together
We think rigour and creative thinking about brand strategy are not at odds, but rather, go hand in hand. We like numbers, data, statistics and analytical rigour. We like to leave no stone unturned when it comes to knowing the business, the brand, the competition and the customer. But then, with any truly interesting strategy, there needs to be a measure of lateral thinking to get to breakthrough ideas. So we ensure a healthy measure of both in the way we approach projects. Imagination pushes boundaries and frequent check-ins with consumers keeps us anchored in what's relevant .