Learn how Faber-Castell, a legacy pencil manufacturer, innovates and adapts to new technology. Discover their strategy for balancing brand stewardship and innovation, and their approach to sustaining their business for the longer term. Explore the challenges of adopting new technologies and the importance of vision and customer experience in driving change within an organization.
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Quick takeaways
Faber-Castell balances stewardship of its brand with innovation and evolution, prioritizing quality and differentiation in its products while exploring new markets and opportunities.
Faber-Castell strategically evaluates the adoption of new technologies, considering their impact on their brand and market, and chooses to focus on traditional products while leveraging new innovations in the industry.
Deep dives
Balancing stewardship of beloved brands with innovation and evolution
The podcast discusses the challenge of balancing stewardship of beloved brands with innovation and evolution. It explores how companies like Faber-Castell, an established pencil manufacturer, have navigated this challenge. The company has focused on creating a generational approach to strategy, thinking about the long-term growth and reinvention of the business. It has prioritized quality and differentiation in its products, while also exploring new markets and opportunities, such as the cosmetics industry and the trend of adult coloring books. By staying true to its core values and adapting to market changes, the company has experienced growth and success.
Deciding when to adopt radical new technologies
The podcast delves into the decision-making process of adopting radical new technologies. It highlights the case of Faber-Castell and its approach to technological change. Despite facing competition from digital alternatives, the company has chosen to focus on its traditional products while leveraging new innovations in the industry. The podcast emphasizes the challenge of knowing when to embrace new technologies and when to stick to core offerings, especially for established companies. By carefully evaluating the potential impact on their brand and market, companies can navigate technological shifts successfully.
The importance of a long-term, generational approach to strategy
The podcast emphasizes the importance of a long-term, generational approach to strategy. Faber-Castell, as a family-run company, has a deep commitment to its heritage and a vision that extends beyond immediate goals. The company's CEO, Count Anton Wulf Gang, has focused on building a brand that becomes a companion for life, creating products that cater to different stages of an individual's journey. By prioritizing quality, brand identity, and customer experience, Faber-Castell has been able to adapt to market changes while maintaining its core values. This strategic approach has helped the company thrive and endure over its long history.
Pencil-maker Faber-Castell has been in business since 1761, but it is still innovating and adopting new technology.
In this episode, Harvard Business School associate professor Ryan Raffaelli discusses his case, “Faber-Castell.” He explains how the company balances stewardship of its brand with innovation and evolution, and how leaders decide when—and when not to—adopt new technologies. Plus, he breaks down Faber-Castell’s “generational” approach to formulating strategy to sustain their business for the longer term.
Key episode topics include: strategy, product development, innovation, family businesses.
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