Hitmakers: How Brands Influence Culture
Hitmakers is an exploration of cultural influence and how brands create it. Every two weeks, Ana Andjelic, a brand executive, and Rei Inamoto, a creative entrepreneur, talk about brands that made a dent in culture - through their product, aesthetics, content, business model, or technology - and unpack how they did it.
Latest episodes
Nov 21, 2024 • 14min
How to build a product universe: Utility Driven Brands
What do Banana Republic and Google have in common? By combining brand strategy with merchandising, these brands influenced culture. They grew by building a product universe.In this excerpt from episode 2, Rei and Ana explore product pyramids of these brands, and how they grew through smart product-led branding.Watch us on YouTubeFollow Ana here:Newsletter "The Sociology of Business"New book "Hitmakers: How Brands Influence Culture"Follow Rei here:Rei's LinkedInNewsletter "The Intersection"Rei's global innovation firm I&CO
Nov 14, 2024 • 33min
How to build a product universe: tactics of product-led branding
What do Banana Republic, McDonald’s, and a 1,800-year-old Japanese shrine have in common? By combining brand strategy with merchandising, these brands influenced culture. They grew by building a product universe.In this episode, Rei and Ana explore product pyramids of different brands, and how they grew through smart product-led branding.Related Links:The growth of a Japanese shrine: https://open.substack.com/pub/reiinamoto/p/rethinking-rebranding?r=2e839vMcDonald’s example: https://www.mcdonalds.com/ae/en-ae/anime-campaign.htmlHow to build a product universe: https://andjelicaaa.substack.com/p/how-to-build-a-product-universeWatch us on YouTubeFollow Ana here:Newsletter "The Sociology of Business"New book "Hitmakers: How Brands Influence Culture"Follow Rei here:Rei's LinkedInNewsletter "The Intersection"Rei's global innovation firm I&CO
Oct 31, 2024 • 45min
Five Elements of Product-Led Branding
Discover the fascinating concept of product-led branding, where exceptional products craft brand identities. Explore iconic examples like Nike's Moon Shoe and Levi's 501 jeans. Delve into the five core elements: Value, Wear, Aesthetics, Narrative, and Fandom, that shape consumer connection. Unpack how cultural narratives and emotional ties enhance brand desirability, and hear about the revival strategies of brands like Abercrombie. Join a journey where innovative marketing and community engagement redefine modern branding!
