PSFK Good Brands Report. The Good Brands Report of 2009 is a celebration of leadership during this challenging year.
Those who made it onto the list are businesses from which we should learn. They are not just the well-known brands of the day, but also companies that lead by example in innovation, environmental consciousness, and social policy. We started our search for the Good Brands of 2009 by looking at the companies we were writing about on PSFK.com throughout this year. Then, we asked a panel of cross-industry global experts from the Purple List to tell us which of 40 common brands on PSFK were considered ‘Good’. Download: Good Brands Report 2009 Key Findings There are a number of common traits shared by the Good Brands. Utility – Aim to enhance your usefulness for the consumer.
Experimentation – Constant innovation is the essential element of growth. Design – Premium aesthetics coupled with consistent delivery wins every time. Community and listening – Create a sense of community for your customers. Good Brands Report: Lessons From The Top 10 Brands. Good Brands Report: Google (#1) Google has become a way of life.
For many people it’s the beginning, middle and end of the web experience. They are the provider of a vast array of services that enable work, play, learning and more. Google’s ability to promote innovation amongst its staff means that it has a constant flow of new ideas. Accessibility and usefulness define this brand. Good Brands Report: Apple (#2) Apple stands apart from the competition, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to delivering outstanding experiences through their hardware and software products, as well as their marketing and retail operations.
Their focus on delivering convenience, connectivity and simplicity through design is indicative of their shift from a company traditionally serving the creative professional to one that makes products and services for all. Apple’s iPhone has become a genuinely disruptive piece of technology, causing a number of players in the consumer electronics market to contemplate their relevance and gaming companies to re-evaluate their platforms.
Lesson for Business: Every aspect of your brand should be as good as your product. “Apple provides its consumers a community like atmosphere through their stores and the experience in them. Good Brands Report: GOOD Magazine (#4) Whether reinventing how we read books via the Kindle, offering businesses digital and logistical infrastructure solutions, or introducing environmentally friendly packaging, the tech giant seems to constantly be trying to improve and extend its offering.
The company continues to re-evaluate its business, innovating based off its strengths, and finding new ways to generate revenue from every part of the business – all while providing its users with an enhanced experience. The company’s success is due in large part to an excellent understanding of its customers, a strong sense of community, and a successful push towards serving an “eco-system of needs.” Lesson for Business: Identify parts of your business that could be offered as additional services. “The leader in ‘Long Tail’ retailing. Good Brands Report: Amazon (#5) Whether reinventing how we read books via the Kindle, offering businesses digital and logistical infrastructure solutions, or introducing environmentally friendly packaging, the tech giant seems to constantly be trying to improve and extend its offering.
Good Brands Report: Facebook (#6) The Virgin Group continues to make headlines, bringing its fun and irreverent personality to new and old business segments alike.
Exemplified by its recently launched Virgin America airline, Virgin has listened to consumers, identified problems easily fixed, and executed in flawless fashion. Small conveniences, such as in-flight Internet connectivity, a newly designed in-flight entertainment system, and a new food service model has made the airline a top pick for fliers. Lesson for Business: Think big, think small. Amaze customers with your audacity, please them with your attention to detail. “When you see the Virgin name on something, you know it will be a pleasant experience.”
Good Brands Report: Virgin (#7) The Virgin Group continues to make headlines, bringing its fun and irreverent personality to new and old business segments alike.
Exemplified by its recently launched Virgin America airline, Virgin has listened to consumers, identified problems easily fixed, and executed in flawless fashion. Small conveniences, such as in-flight Internet connectivity, a newly designed in-flight entertainment system, and a new food service model has made the airline a top pick for fliers. Lesson for Business: Think big, think small. Amaze customers with your audacity, please them with your attention to detail. “When you see the Virgin name on something, you know it will be a pleasant experience.” Mike Maddaloni, Web & Technology Expert, “It’s not only about making money taking people from one place to another, but doing it responsibly. Good Brands Report: Twitter (#8) Twitter has built an unprecedented platform for direct communications.
It has given both businesses and individuals a simple way to directly connect with other members of the Twitter community. It’s a flexible technology that can morph into new iterations at the same pace as peoples’ changing needs. The service has proven to be a game-changer, acting as a hyper-relevant conduit of information for what’s happening now, especially is the field of journalism. Lesson for Business: Stay flexible, allow your audience to dictate how your products or services are used.
“It’s a fascinating example of being single-minded and yet extremely complex. Damon Garrett, Electronics Expert, Singapore “Twitter created a simple tool to communicate ideas in real time. Good Brands Report: IKEA (#9) Beyond IKEA’s continued allegiance to its core premise of offering affordable, well-designed furniture and household goods, they have maintained creative efforts to evolve their marketing and peripheral services around this central hub.
Useful services such as their bike-sharing program in Denmark, car sharing in France and their free water taxi in New York offer innovative ways to help their customers more easily access their stores. By making it as easy as possible to buy their products, IKEA closes the gap between intent and purchasing. Lesson for Business: Take a wider view of the shopping experience, making each step along the path to purchase simpler and more enjoyable.
“IKEA has stayed true to their ideals, providing high quality Scandinavian goods at Eastern European prices for over several decades.” Good Brands Report: Skype (#10) PSFK recently conducted a review of global brands that are doing “good” in regards to innovation, environmental responsibility and social collaboration.
From this exploration, we’ve created the Good Brands Report 2009. We looked at the companies we were writing about on PSFK.com and then asked a panel of cross industry global experts from the Purple List to tell us which of 40 common brands on PSFK were considered ‘Good’. These companies represent businesses from which we should learn. They are not just the well-known brands of the day but also companies that lead by example.