Volume 13 (2024-25)

Each volume of Journal of Brand Strategy consists of four, quarterly 100-page issues published both in print and online.

Articles currently published in Volume 13 are listed below.

Volume 13 Number 1

Editorial
Simon Beckett, Publisher
Practice Papers
Securing brand trust and reputation in an era of political polarisation and AI-driven disinformation
Wasim Khaled, Blackbird.AI

This paper analyses the seismic reputational risks now facing brands as two major sociotechnical forces converge — the rise of ideological polarisation and the emergence of AI’s ability to generate synthetic media impersonating organisations. It examines how brands have embraced polarised stances on social issues to build deeper connections with values-driven consumers, especially younger demographics like millennials and Gen Z. By adopting partisan positions. Brands also become targets for ideological attacks seeking to erode trust. Meanwhile, rapid advances in generative AI empower malicious actors to disseminate disinformation, attacking brands with harmful narratives, misinformation and disinformation on an unprecedented scale and realism to do financial and reputational harm. The paper provides an in-depth examination of both dynamics. It explores how younger consumers increasingly demand corporate advocacy on divisive issues, forcing brands to navigate complex sociopolitical fault lines. Taking progressive stances risks a backlash from ideological opponents ready to instigate reputation-damaging retaliation. The paper also details the exponential threats introduced by AI synthesis technologies like generative adversarial networks. It explains how even modestly resourced attackers could soon produce unlimited volumes of fake content, misinformation and disinformation to target brands across all digital channels and media types. To address these converging risks, the paper recommends that brands invest in capabilities including monitoring sociocultural tensions, technologically authenticating communications, establishing early disinformation warning systems, educating consumers on resisting manipulation, crafting proactive narratives, practicing radical transparency and testing defences. It emphasises the need for holistic ‘narrative intelligence’ combining data analysis, cultural discernment and human wisdom. With deliberate strategies focused on verification, transparency and continuous learning, brands can foster resilience and enduring trust despite inevitable disruptions. The paper concludes that competence in navigating partisan debates and AI deception will become a competitive advantage in determining which brands lead in this complex future.
Keywords: disinformation; misinformation; narrative attack; brand; harm; intelligence
Small brand giants: Harnessing innovation to disrupt for growth
Ivonne Kinser, Vantagec Creative Group

Small brands face big marketing and branding challenges in a world in which industry giants wield considerable resources. This paper promotes innovation as a catalyst for brand success. It discusses how brands can use innovation to challenge conventions, reshape industries and achieve notable success in a dynamic industry. The paper outlines innovative strategies that empower small brands to carve distinct niches, enhance brand awareness and shine brighter than their larger counterparts. It concludes that innovation, far from being a mere buzzword, is a force that can propel small brands toward growth and market disruption.
Keywords: marketing; branding; innovation; small brands; brand innovation
Building brand trust and consumer willingness to convert with reception marketing
Shannon Reedy, Terakeet

In the dynamic landscape of marketing, shifts in technology, business and behaviour occur that revolutionise how brands connect with consumers. One example is the concept of Reception Marketing. This paper examines the history of marketing strategies, exploring the consumer and marketplace contexts that catalysed the evolution from interruption-based methods to Permission Marketing, ultimately leading to the emergence of Reception Marketing. By examining the challenges with Interruption and Permission Marketing relative to reaching contemporary audiences, this paper highlights the need for a new approach that aligns with today’s empowered consumer who bridges the information and artificial intelligence (AI) age. The paper introduces and defines Reception Marketing as a strategy that leverages consumer signals to build authentic and consistent connections between brands and consumers, where each is defined relative to their ability to resonate, build brand equity and therefore make consumers more likely to convert. The paper goes on to discuss the important principles of Reception Marketing and its role in shaping the future of marketing strategies, brand-consumer relationships and the state of the Internet at large. The paper also explores how owned asset optimisation (OAO), along with AI and other technologies, enable brands to implement Reception Marketing at scale.
Keywords: reception marketing; interruption marketing; permission marketing; consumer empowerment; brand-consumer relationships; owned asset optimisation; consumer data; authentic connections; brand equity.
Case Study
Advancing brand purpose: How Crayola elevates its long-standing mission to a compelling go-to-market strategy and an inspiring point of view on creativity as an essential life skill
Victoria Lozano, Crayola

Founded in the early 1900s, Crayola was grounded in a deep sense of purpose and a fundamental belief that creativity is essential to each individual child and the collective potential of a nation. Discover how Crayola has re-sharpened its focus on the brand’s mission and translated that focus both internally to nurture its culture and externally to propel its go-to-market strategy. Learn about Crayola’s strategic framework and the multitude of ways that framework is translating into compelling products and collaborations, engaging experiences and impactful content that aims to further deepen consumers’ relationship with the brand. This paper describes Crayola’s point of view on creativity and its ambition to help drive a societal shift in understanding and appreciation of creativity as an essential life skill crucial to future potential.
Keywords: corporate culture; creativity; innovation; brand purpose; brand identity; mission; social impact; advocacy
Research Papers
From Kit Kat to copycat: Exploring Generation Z’s attitude towards copycat products in the confectionery category
Jamie Marsden, University of Leeds, et al

As consumers look to reduce discretionary spending, one option available to them is to switch to lower priced copycat brands. Facing such financial constraints, this paper asks whether Generation Z might prefer these more value-orientated products. Through four focus groups participants were asked to compare competing confectionery products from both copycats and leader brands. By drawing on their own experiences and responding to the physical products, participants were asked to explain their preferences when buying such products. Three themes emerged from the analysis. Firstly, contextual convenience shaped the available options when buying snacks; second, taste was assigned the highest priority for such relatively low-cost items. This preference was dependent on prior experience with the products and therefore brand familiarity and trust. Third, price disparity became an influential factor for the more generic tasting products but less important for products that were considered more distinctive in their taste profiles. The implication of this research is that for these types of low-cost, emotional buys, the price advantage has to be meaningful for it to translate into a cost-driven decision. For copycat products, this means that the greater the price disparity and the more comparable the taste, the more they appeal. For leader brands, this study highlights the importance of maintaining the emphasis on preserving their distinctive taste and keeping prices relatively comparable with those of competitors to avoid conceding market share.
Keywords: copycat packaging; look-alike brands; me-too brands; imitator brands; dupes
Media brand extension of tech conglomerates: The roles of parent brand loyalty, portfolio quality, perceived fit and feedback effects
Hun Kim, Joongbu University, et al

Tech conglomerates have launched many extension brands to enter the streaming media market. This paper analyses a study which examined the factors that affect these brand extensions from the perspectives of consumer attitude and perceptions. A total of 1,404 participants who reported having used parent brands were recruited for the study and were included in the final sample. Five hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling analysis. Loyalty to the parent brand, variance in brand portfolio quality and perceived fit significantly influenced attitudes towards brand extensions. In addition, perceived fit and attitudes towards brand extensions positively reinforced consumer attitudes towards the parent brand. Finally, no difference was found with reference to the aforementioned factors when the more established streaming extensions were compared with the newer extensions of tech conglomerates. A unique aspect of the study is the structural validation of brand extensions by tech conglomerates. Further, the results of the study support the understanding of the importance of feedback effects and perceived fit in the brand area of tech conglomerates.
Keywords: media brand extension; tech conglomerates; brand loyalty; feedback effects