The Malaysian automotive industry consists of two low-end manufacturers. To help these manufacturers, the government protects them with massive import duties, sales and other taxes that can jack up the price of an imported car with a large engine by as much as 155%. In addition to these taxes an Approved Permit (AP) is required … Continue reading »
Filed under luxury branding …
Brand deflation in Asia
Luxury brands are working hard to keep up with a more dynamic environment with more discerning, knowledgeable customers who have different requirements for value. To retain these customers requires a greater understanding of the those requirements and less emphasis on the mass economy tools such as positioning, reach, awareness. Loyalty is also less of a … Continue reading »
It’s getting easier to advertise luxury brands
Newsweek’s announcement that it will transition to an all digital format in 2013 is hardly a surprise. Such global magazines are increasingly expensive to produce and in a niche world, less relevant. But the bigger impact will come in the way advertisers communicate with consumers. According to research carried out by comScore, more tablet users … Continue reading »
New BMW 6 series
The Malaysian Automotive Association has forecast total vehicle sales in Malaysia will be 615,000 units in 2012, up 2.5% over 2011. If this figure is reached it will be a record for Asia’s largest passenger car market. This bullish forecast for 2012 is despite the fact that vehicle sales in Q1/2012 dipped 12.6% to 138,544 … Continue reading »
British luxury Brands need to take notice of Malaysia
Despite, or because of tough global economic conditions, the retail sector in Malaysia appears in rude health. Development of new malls continues at a phenomenal pace with at least 3,500,000 square foot of additional retail space becoming ready this year in the Klang Valley alone. This will bring the total amount of retail space in … Continue reading »
Bentley looks to extend its brand
At the Geneva Auto show in March 2012, the ultra luxury automotive brand Bentley admitted it was considering adding a luxury SUV to its range of vehicles. A month later at the Beijing Auto show the CEO announced that the firm expects to sell 3,000 of the SUV annually once production starts in 2015. You … Continue reading »
Why it pays to build brands not commodities
Mary Portas may not be a familiar name to many in South East Asia but the British born former actress has carved a niche for herself as a no nonsense retail guru. Portas was responsible for turning the drab and dreary retail graveyard formerly known as Harvey Nichols into the cool, must go to destination … Continue reading »
A tactical fail for a major brand on twitter
Qantas has had a bad run of luck recently and has also made some questionable corporate decisions. Especially in relation to the ongoing wage negotiations with the Transport Workers Union that is threatening further disruption to the Aussie carrier. The most recent Public Relations disaster is related to an attempt by the newly formed social … Continue reading »
Advertising campaigns need to be integrated across the organisation
Recently I wrote a post about my experiences when I called the number on a billboard selling a luxury automotive brand. You can read the full article here Basically I talked about how I rang this brand after seeing a billboard outside my office. I got through to the receptionist who asked for my number … Continue reading »
Build a brand with the basics
Right near my office at Phileo Damansara in Petaling Jaya, a luxury German auto manufacturer has two billboards advertising its top of the range luxury autos. One is a saloon and the other is an SUV. I like this particular SUV so much that if I was still putting posters up on my bedroom wall, … Continue reading »
