An investment banker and professor explains what really drives success in the tech economy Many think that they understand the secrets to the success of the biggest tech companies: Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google. It's the platform economy, or network effects, or some other magical power that makes their ultimate world domination inevitable. Investment banker and professor Jonathan Knee argues that the truth is much more complicated--but entrepreneurs and investors can understand what makes the giants work, and learn the keys to lasting success in the digital economy. Knee explains what really makes the biggest tech companies work: a surprisingly disparate portfolio of structural advantages buttressed by shrewd acquisitions, strong management, lax regulation, and often, encouraging the myth that they are invincible to discourage competitors. By offering fresh insights into the true sources of strength and very real vulnerabilities of these companies, The Platform Delusion shows how investors, existing businesses, and startups might value them, compete with them, and imitate them. The Platform Delusion demystifies the success of the biggest digital companies in sectors from retail to media to software to hardware, offering readers what those companies don't want everyone else to know. Knee's insights are invaluable for entrepreneurs and investors in digital businesses seeking to understand what drives resilience and profitability for the long term.

Point of Sale examines media retail as a vital component in the study of popular culture. It brings together fifteen essays by top media scholars that show how retail matters as a site of significance to culture industries as well as a crucial locus of meaning and participation for consumers.

As global economies grow and the cost of doing business increases, the brand is the pre-eminent business asset needed for success in global business development. Brand Management Strategies: Luxury and Mass Markets presents the brand experience on a market continuum from mass market to luxury, using diverse examples from Burberry to BMW, Coca-Cola to Chanel, and Starbucks to Starwood. Underpinned by the author's many years of practical experience as both a professor and brand consultant, this book details the proven steps necessary to develop, build, and sustain a successful brand strategy and business. Features - Filled with current examples from fashion brands such as Burberry, Coach, Banana Republic, and Target and non-fashion brands including Apple, Samsung, Hyundai, Porsche, Ritz Carlton Hotels and more - Brandstorming: Successes and Failures depict real world case studies of successful-and not so successful-branding strategies - Experiential learning tools include learning objectives, bolded key terms, and end of chapter Conversations discussion questions and Challenges projects and activities STUDIO Resources - Study smarter with self-quizzes featuring scored results and personalized study tips - Review concepts with flashcards of terms and definitions Teaching Resources - Instructor's Guide provides suggestions for planning the course and using the text in the classroom, supplemental assignments, and lecture notes - Test Bank includes sample test questions for each chapter - PowerPoint® presentations include full color images from the book and provide a framework for lecture and discussion PLEASE NOTE: Purchasing or renting this ISBN does not include access to the STUDIO resources that accompany this text. To receive free access to the STUDIO content with new copies of this book, please refer to the book + STUDIO access card bundle ISBN 9781501318436. STUDIO Instant Access can also be purchased or rented separately on BloomsburyFashionCentral.com.

Creativity and Innovation in the Fashion Business explores the ways in which creativity and innovation play a central role across the fashion industry, paying particular attention to design and technical perspectives. This topic is examined through careful theoretical analysis, incorporating the perspectives of multiple contributors who together possess a wealth of combined experience in creative and technical roles in the fashion business. Broad in scope, this textbook first provides a wide overview of creativity and innovative developments across the industry, before considering technical and digital innovation in production and product development, as well as trend forecasting. The final part of the book then consists of an exploration of sustainable innovation in design for fashion brands and retailers. Each chapter includes aims and summaries to structure learning and highlight key points, academic insights from thought leaders and interviews from industry and academia. A vital introductory textbook, Creativity and Innovation in the Fashion Industry is well-suited to undergraduate and postgraduate modules across subjects such as Fashion Business, Fashion Design and Manufacturing, Product Development, Innovation Management, and Buying and Merchandising. Online resources include PowerPoint slides and a test bank.

A fun and humorous introductory book, written in Stephen Brown′s entertaining and highly distinctive style, that introduces curious readers to the key components of brands and helps them to begin to make sense of them - what they are, what they do, why and how - using plenty of examples and references drawn from a wide range brands such as Amazon, Apple, Google, Gucci, Nike, Nintendo, Starbucks, Swatch and The Worst Hotel in the World. With 3,000 branding books published each year, why would you (or your students) want to read Brands & Branding? Here are seven reasons why: It’s introductory, aimed at undergraduate students or postgrads without a bachelor degree in business and assumes nothing more than readers’ awareness of high profile brands such as Coca-Cola, Microsoft and Chanel It’s indicative, focusing on the basics and thus being a more reliable revision aid than Lucozade It’s immersive, taking readers on a journey and, working on the assumption that they have smartphones or tablet computers to hand, the print text links to images, articles and academic publications to give emphasis and context where appropriate. It’s inclusive, considering articles and reports but also blogs, novels, newspapers, reviews, social media and other sources It’s irreverent – branding is not always a deadly serious business! It’s intimate, Stephen speaks to you directly and together you will pick your way through the sometimes weird and unfailingly wonderful world of brands and branding using examples rather than abstract ideas to illustrate points. It’s inspirational, celebrating the curious and successful stories of brands from Cillit Bang to Cacharel Suitable for first and second year marketing or advertising students, and for those new to or interested in branding and who are keen to know more.

Many facets of place branding, such as identities, image, promotion or sense of place, have been around for a long time. However, the need to analyse their nature in the context of branding and to examine their relationships in detail has grown rapidly in the last decade or so, as places all over the world have put branding activities higher than ever in theiragenda. This important new book examines and clarifies key aspects of the recently popularised concept of place branding, expounding many controversies, confusions and discords in the field. The expert contributors clarify several unresolved issues surrounding the application of place branding, in particular its multiple goals. They provide adetailed analysis of the role of local communities in place branding strategies, and illustrate not only how, but also why brand management should be implemented. Case studies from a range of jurisdictions and cultural and political viewpoints are drawn upon, each illustrating an array of issues or techniques in specific economic, cultural and geographical contexts. This book provides a theoretically informed but practically oriented overview and discussion of the increasingly popular field of place branding as an instrument of place management. As such, it will strongly appeal to both academics and practitioners in the fields of place marketing, place branding, local development, tourism planning and development, tourism marketing, cultural geography, urban and regional planning. Consultants in local authorities, national and regional tourism boards will also find this to be a fascinating read.

In the modern media industry digital content production is cheaper, more democratic, and accessible, and it's becoming easier to do things your own way. So what if you want to set up on your own? This book will guide you through the joys and pitfalls of running your own creative company in today's diverse media climate. This is a nuts and bolts guide to company set up, structure, management and content production for digital platforms, TV, festivals, charities, education, brands and businesses. Full of tips for creating innovative business models and platforms, handling tricky people and situations, funding and networking, these pages are your touchstone for making that bold first move into founder/managing director status. Featuring interviews with industry experts including digital agency and production company CEOs, creative entrepreneurs, crowd funding platforms, investors, film makers, media lawyers and accountants.

'Anyone using, practising or teaching qualitative research will find in this series a treasure-house of ideas, techniques and issues. This is a -must-have-' - Admap 'this is one of the best texts on the subject I've come across and I did find some of the content truly inspirational' - Mick Williamson, Creative Director, TRBI for in Brief magazine 'It will be essential reading for anyone involved with qualitative market research' - David Barr, Director General of the Market Research Society 'An ideal resource for people aiming for a qualitative market research career, for academics interested to know more about an important field of application for qualitative research methods, or for those who are already engaged in the field and who wish to update their skills and reflect on their practice and profession' - Nigel Fielding, University of Surrey Qualitative Market Research is a landmark publishing event. The seven volumes provide, for the first time, complete coverage of qualitative market research practice, written by experienced practitioners, for both a commercial and academic audience. The set fills two important market gaps: it offers commercial practitioners authoritative source texts for training and professional development; and provides students and researchers with an account of qualitative research theory and practice in use today. Each book cross-references others in the series, but can also be used as a stand-alone resource on a key topic. The seven books have been carefully structured so as to be completely accessible in terms of language, use of jargon and assumed knowledge. Experienced market researchers will find the tools to help them critically evaluate their own work. Those new to market research will be provided with a complete map of qualitative market research theory and practice (including brands and advertising theory) and the stimulation to discuss and learn more with tutors and practitioners. Qualitative Market Research will be an invaluable resource for academic and professional libraries, commercial market researchers, as well as essential reading for students in market research, marketing and business studies.