In SMPL Q+A, we interview our practitioners on all things relevant to branding, design and simplicity. Here, we speak with our practitioners about our work with global leader in audience measurement, data and analytics Nielsen.

Siegel+Gale

October 2021

Given the current climate around the pandemic and global market conditions, mergers and acquisitions are on the rise. This uptick in activity will likely sustain as industries continue to be impacted, and innovation drives the search for efficiencies, consolidation, supply chain adjustments, evolving service models and increased scalability. Embracing change and acquisitions that help across these areas is a priority for many companies. One thing is clear—the success of these deals ultimately hinges on the people inside the organization, not the balance sheet.

Siegel+Gale

December 2020

Today, brand is more than a name, logo, tagline, advertising campaign or even the marketing department’s sole purview. A brand’s success is measured by the summation of the touchpoints all stakeholders—customers, employees, partners, investors, community—have with an organization. When a brand is well-managed, stakeholder experiences align with the expectations set by marketing communications and the brand grows in value over time. However, sometimes brands lose relevance and need to be reconsidered, a process known as rebranding. Here are six scenarios when a company might want to consider rebranding.

Margaret Molloy

December 2020

Whether your business model is shifting, you’re undergoing a merger or acquisition or you’re trying to reach a new audience, chances are your company will need to revisit its brand. When CEOs contemplate a considerable challenge such as a rebrand, they tend to focus on the exhilarating first half of the marathon — a new name to signal change or an impressive new visual identity. But it’s the second half of the race that is the most critical and requires as much — if not more — attention.

Lisa Kane

August 2020

SMPL Q&A is a blog feature in which we interview experts on all things relevant to branding, design and simplicity. In this Q&A we speak with group director, strategy, Lisa Kane, about how M&A activity continues to disrupt healthcare.

Lisa Kane

July 2018

Mergers and acquisitions are big business. With a record 3.2 trillion in M&A expected in 2018*, it’s not surprising that companies devote most of their attention and resources to the financial, operational and logistical components of a merger or acquisition. Focusing on the implications of how the merger or acquisition will affect the brand is less tangible, and therefore often put on the back burner or just plain neglected. Ultimately, that can be a costly mistake.

Margaret Molloy

February 2018

When companies approach branding firms like Siegel+Gale for guidance on merging two corporate or product brands, the request is typically for us to develop a name, logo, endorsement strategy and story for the new merged entity. In many cases, however, it’s not the right move to simply create and launch a new brand identity overnight. Merging brands is a process. It’s about transitioning equity, shifting perceptions and migrating customers.

Siegel+Gale

March 2018

Mergers and acquisitions done right can offer companies tremendous opportunities for growth. They can also be a complicated, messy time for brands. Building an effective, merged business is a high-risk act of undoing existing assumptions—for employees, for customers, for investors, and others. In this time of flux, brand equity must be managed strategically, clearly and consistently.

Siegel+Gale

April 2018

Merging brands is a process that requires changing the point of view and inviting customers into a new initiative. It is important for the process of a merger or acquisition to be done sensibly and methodically, while utilising the company’s marketing and brand management capabilities.

Siegel+Gale

June 2018

Mergers, acquisitions and spin-offs challenge even the most reputable and profitable companies. According to KPMG research, almost 70 percent of such deals actually reduce shareholder worth or have no impact—even after companies have spent significant time and resources on finances, operations and logistics. Meanwhile, in the pressure-cooker process of getting a deal done, the impact on the surviving brand is often put on the back burner—or neglected completely.

David B. Srere

June 2018