ThomasM
[PuristS]
14331
Brands, Branding, and brand obssession, Part 1
Hi,
I've been a watch nut (and car nut, and audiophile, and...ok, I admit it, I'm OCD...) since the early 1970's.
I can't say I've aways been a Purist...no, wait, let me correct that - I've always had the idea of being a purist in my mind, but I wasn't completely sure what it meant nor realized the full implications...
I do know I preferred Lamborghini to Ferrari not only because of the cars, but also because the brand was less well known, less popular, hence I got the extra joy of "knowing something only those in the know, know..."
Porsche's were positively COMMON by comparison...
Little did i know...
The same applied to watches and watch brands - the Big Three were the ne plus utra - PP, AP, VC...Rolex was just POSITIVELY COMMON...
Little did I know...
I have come to realize that, in the world of psychodynamics and behavioural psychology, NOT choosing a brand because of that brand is just as brand influenced as BUYING a brand because of the brand...
Little did I know...
Today, not much has changed, but much has changed.
The WWW; social media; editorial power to the masses ...
So answer me this -
why is Honda so popular today?
why do so many people aspire to wear their belt buckles?
More posts:
Brands, Branding, and brand obssession, Part 1
Hi, I've been a watch nut (and car nut, and audiophile, and...ok, I admit it, I'm OCD...) since the early 1970's. I can't say I've aways been a Purist...no, wait, let me correct that - I've always had the idea of being a purist in my mind, but I wasn't co...
LOL! another precious about belt buckle ;)
I think that H on buckle is for Haldimann ;) Cheers D
These belts are old-fashioned in France for at least 3 years.
You look like a teenager who goes to his first evening at the club with it. I have to confess that never the power of the brands/brandings has been so strong. Is it due to the influence of social media? Or to the emergence of new customers? Both? Things h...
Agreed; there are many legitimate and useful reasons for powerful branding...
some of those reasons useful to consumers and not just the conglomerates and brand collecting tycoons that have scooped up hallowed ateliers in the past 2-3 decades. I thought it might be fun to explore what those benefits, assumptions, and yes, even red ...
Hello ThomasM...
Welcome here! You will find that this is a friendly, relaxed community of generally like-minded people. You will also find that we have fora dedicated to many of your interests; enjoy wandering through them. Looking forward to reading more of you here, an...
thank you for your kind welcome, Pplater! I've heard...
about this mythical place; glad I finally found it. I hope everyone here are not too like minded; that would make discussions awfully boring! Do y'all allow different points of view? Are newbies allowed to ask beginner questions? What about fanboys? Will ...
Not at all...
I hope everyone here are not too like minded; that would make discussions awfully boring! Do y'all allow different points of view? Of course different points of view are allowed! Heck, you should even post them: how else will we identify targets? Are newb...
I just read and laughed about what I just read. Love such writing and responses and hooe
and hope everyone loves open discussion, accept different opinions, word of wisdoms and witty comments. Keep going pls :) haha
Agreed, Mark. KCKL - let's all work together on getting the nun to post more...
his witticisms are among the most precious things in this community! :-)
They say that 'out east', too ;)
So when are you coming over, pplater?!?? Enquiring minds wish to know.
Actually, it's a brilliant design.
TM, At one point many years ago I was captivated by the infamous Haha belt buckle. But not because it was all about the prestige of the big brand - actually, in my naïveté, I had no idea who made it when I first saw it. No, I was attracted to it because i...
I was wondering when someone would bring that up!
Well done, sir! Unfortunately - at least in my book - it fails on all three counts of " attractive and intelligently-designed but unbranded - or at least less-branded". It would actually be pretty difficult for a belt buckle to reek more of conspicuous co...
At last, I've figured out what these belt buckles really are!
Just to keep things classy around here: They are hood ornaments... ...for the crotch. I should probably go sit in a corner now, eh? Best, E.
Esharp, LOL! lovely analogy! And thanks...
for the clarification on the H-onda belt; as someone who goes to great length to figure out a way to strap and unstrap tang and buckle watch straps for minimum damage each time, your comments particularly resonate. Who knows? soon even the WanderingPurist...
Honda belts lol!
For belts, I choose Montblanc belts as they are very discreet with a very small Montblanc emblem (hardly visible) or no logo at all. It\'s always a balance for consumer luxury mentality - "I want something people will recognize (even if common) especially...
A powerful dichotomy, Robin, and I think most of us have fallen on both sides at some
point in our lives. My personal favorite belt is one that has too many Medusa heads - so out of character for me, but I love the sleek buckle, which looks like it could have been designed by Marcelo Gandini or Bertone. Fits right in with modern Lamborghin...
Your post and this ugly belt ...
Don't know why, reminds me of a character of a book: The main character, Cayce Pollard, makes a living by having an allergic reaction (she faints, pukes etc.) to bad logos. She cannot stand, as an example, the Michelin Man (faints). Back to real world: I...
I remember that book...
I've always been a big fan of Gibson and quite enjoyed Pattern Recognition when it was published - interesting characters and situations, although I do remember thinking the plot became somewhat daft towards the end. About 'debranding' or 'rebranding' car...
That's exactly my impression ...
" thinking the plot became somewhat daft towards the end ". By and large, Gibson comes with a great idea and wonderful wording (I don't know a better way, also from this book, to describe "jet lag", remember?) but the end is always convoluted. Great "de b...
S-line badge probably
perfectly matched someones key scar or door bump in garage :) Best D
One could go crazy trying to rationalize human behaviour...
or become delusional and sincerely believe one actually finally has "the answer..." :-)
Purists are pragmatic.
Back to Thomas' post, I was surprised he showed a belt I wanted. The H buckle. I saw a few times a few people I know, wearing them. The longer I waited the more people I see wrapping their waist with that alphabet. The longer I waited, the wanting of H wa...
KCKL...
you name dropper, you! :-) Seriously, I think a large part of connoisseurship (or is that too pompous, Nilo? How about "being a mature enthusiast?") is being conscious of when one is being influenced by branding, when it goes above and beyond what "brands...
Hi Thomas. Purists are very much aware of what goes beyond..
Too much branding perhaps and maybe hype.. I fail to understand why many brands are jumping on to the bandwagon to come out with "smart watches". I think it's rubbish. Are we not smart enuff? I like iPhones. Using the 6 right now. I would rather encourage...
More and more brands take a wide place in our everyday life but...
when things reach an extreme they one day or another finish to reverse. It is true in styling, moral, liberty etc ... D&G, H, LV and others are brands I see a little too much these years and join Fx's opinion on that matter (new media and middle class...
"Their success will be their downfall." Some interesting points...
Hi, Mark, Rightly or wrongly, I've long held Rolex success against them - I don't need a Rolex to affirm my station in life, no matter how much I might respect their engineering or manufacturing. Especially when that "station" is being read and interprete...
it's all about the marketing
The manufacturers knows it very well. Let's focus the attention to the high end brand: do you think they provide the same quality of 10, 20,30, 40 (etc) years ago? ( rhetorical question ) People simply ignore what they buy, they don't care too much becaus...
Hopefully...
PuristSPro can continue to be a refuge, a safe haven, a last bastion, against that sort of mentality...and continue to call out, albeit respectfully and with love, when "brand" overwhelms the inherent quality and design that gave birth to "brand" in the f...
not belt buckles
" I have come to realize that, in the world of psychodynamics and behavioural psychology, NOT choosing a brand because of that brand is just as brand influenced as BUYING a brand because of the brand..." - I could bore everyone to death with my over-opini...
