(3)A timely, provocative and urgent look at the origins and nature of the modern corporate system, a world in which everything can be commodified, a closed system that conquers not through exclusion but total inclusion.
There is no way to mistake the ubiquitous trademarked Coca-Cola bottle, or the stylish ads for Absolut Vodka with any of their competitors. How have these companies created this irresistible appeal for their brands? How have they sustained a competitive edge through aesthetics? Bernd Schmitt and Alex Simonson, two leading experts in the emerging field of identity management, offer clear guidelines for harnessing a company's total aesthetic output -- its "look and feel" -- to provide a vital competitive advantage. Going beyond standard traditional approaches on branding, this fascinating book is the first to combine branding, identity, and image and to show how aesthetics can be managed through logos, brochures, packages, and advertisements, as well as sounds, scents, and lighting, to sell "the memorable experience." The authors explore what makes a corporate or brand identity irresistible, what styles and themes are crucial for different contexts, and what meanings certain visual symbols convey. Any person in any organization in any industry can benefit from employing the tools of "marketing aesthetics." Schmitt and Simonson describe how a firm can use these tools strategically to create a variety of sensory experiences that will (1) ensure customer satisfaction and loyalty; (2) sustain lasting customer impressions about a brand's or organization's special personality; (3) permit premium pricing; (4) provide legal "trade dress" protection from competitive attacks; (5) lower costs and raise productivity; and (6) most importantly, create irresistible appeal. The authors show how to manage identity globally and how to develop aesthetically pleasing retail spaces and environments. They also address the newly emergent topic of how to manage corporate and brand identity on the Internet. Supporting their thesis with numerous real-world success stories such as Absolut Vodka, Nike, the Gap, Cathay Pacific Airlines, Starbucks, the New Beetle Website, and Lego, the authors explain how actual companies have developed, refined, and maintained distinct corporate identities that set them apart from competitors.
What's Next?: What to Expect in 2013 
(1)An inside look at the world-class customer service strategies at top companies
This revolutionary book finally answers the question and reveals how companies like Disney, Nordstrom, and The Ritz-Carlton get 50,000 employees to deliver world-class customer service on a consistent basis while the majority of businesses struggle with getting much smaller teams to do it right. But this book doesn't just reveal what the best customer service companies do; it reveals how they do it. After all, that's the hard part. Author John DiJulius, considered the authority on customer service, has cracked the code through his extensive experience at helping large companies deliver superior service, and he knows the best practices of the world-class customer service companies. Now, he shares that inside knowledge and shows readers how to emulate these high standards of service in their own businesses, no matter how small or how large. With proven action steps and non-negotiable customer service standards, any business owner or leader can differentiate their business by becoming a customer service powerhouse. John R. DiJulius III (Cleveland, OH) is President of The DiJulius Group, a consulting firm that helps companies differentiate themselves by delivering a superior customer experience that makes price irrelevant. He is also the President and owner of John Robert's Spa, with six locations, selected one of the top 20 salons in America.
Based on two highly acclaimed PBS documentaries watched by 10 million viewers, Affluenza uses the whimsical metaphor of a disease to tackle a very serious subject: the damage done — to our health, our families, our communities, and our environment — by the obsessive quest for material gain. In cleverly titled chapters like "Swollen Expectations" and "A Rash of Bankruptcies," the authors examine the origins, evolution, and symptoms of the affluenza epidemic. Yet they also explore cures and suggest strategies for rebuilding families and communities and for restoring and respecting the earth. Demonstrating that now, more than ever, Americans need ways of fighting the affliction, this edition includes a new introduction and updated figures, adds information on the impacts of stress and overwork, and provides an in-depth look at various campaigns and movements offering solutions for today's problems. Engaging, fast-paced, and accessible, it reexamines a serious, far-reaching issue for a wide audience.
(1)All about China's relentless path to world manufacturing dominance-as told through the frustrations of one American family
In December 2005, author and journalist Sara Bongiorni wrote a short, humorous article chronicling how Chinese manufacturing had reached into every facet of her family's daily life. This obscure article soon became a global phenomenon. It was reprinted from Canada to Dubai, with Bongiorni interviewed on CBS, NPR, Radio China, and other international outlets.
Obviously the topic had struck a chord-one that seized consumers' attention across every cultural and economic border.
A Year Without "Made in China" is the thought-provoking and thoroughly entertaining account of the difficulties one American family faces when they attempt to live an entire year without Chinese-produced goods. It does a remarkable job of taking a decidedly big-picture issue-China's fast-changing status in the global economy-and communicating its impact on the daily life of the average consumer. Drawing on her years as an award-winning journalist, Sara Bongiorni fills the book with fascinating stories and anecdotes, such as Wal-Mart's stubborn reluctance to admit just how much they rely on Chinese produced goods to stock their shelves. Hard-hitting and humorous, A Year Without "Made in China" promises to generate plenty of "buzz".
Sara Bongiorni (Baton Rouge, LA) is an experienced journalist who has worked at daily newspapers and regional business publications in California and Louisiana for the past decade. She has won local, state, and national awards for her articles, including a 2002 Best in Business award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers for a series on the impact of out-migration on the Louisiana economy. Bongiorni graduated from the University of California, San Diego, and holds a master's degree in journalism from the University of Indiana at Bloomington.
