Extensions, Part 2

In the short term, extensions and merchandise make money, build hype, and give customers a way to “live the brand.” Longer term, they may be detrimental, leading to overexposure and loss of focus, hurting sales and market share. One solution is to offer...

Company Audit, Part 1

The concept of the customer value chain provides a valuable framework for analyzing the organization. The theory may be applied either to a single organization, or to a group of organizations working together to deliver the product to a customer. The theory presents...

Company Audit, Part 2

Uses of the value chain The value chain can be used in a number of ways. First, it can form the basis for analyzing a single organization, identifying the systems that support the creation of the product, evaluating their importance in creating customer value and...

Customer Support

Customer experience management, service, or care: whatever the name, it’s about the human contact between a company and its customers. There is an old business truism: failure to provide satisfactory customer support (also called customer service) is the single...

Customer Value

Satisfaction and value Quality represents the benefits that the customer derives from a transaction, but it must not be forgotten that these benefits come at a cost to that customer. If the costs outweigh the benefits, satisfaction will disappear. Abbott (1955)...

Design and Brand

When a great design becomes the icon of an era, the design becomes a brand itself. This has happened with several popular cars. The New Beetle and New Mini are examples of carmakers seeking to capitalize on the brand appeal of a particular model by reviving its...