PPR, the multinational holding company that is home to brands including Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Brioni and Sergio Rossi, is rebranding as Kering, indicative of a transformation from French conglomerate to internationally focused sportswear (encompassing its brands including Puma, Tretorn and Volcom) and luxury-goods group. 

The new name, accompanied by an owl logo and tagline, "Empowering Imagination," is pronounced "caring." CEO Francois-Henri Pinault explains, "We are there to care for the brand and take care of the brand," the Wall Street Journal reports.

Pinault carries on his father’s legacy as founder with the new name, which a press release explains was inspired by family roots in France's Brittany region as "Ker" meaning home in Breton, with the action-associated "ing" implying "doing" and "going."

Manfredi Ricca, the managing director at Interbrand in Milan, commented to the International Herald Tribune that the new identity reflects an awareness that companies need “a strong angle on what they stand for,” both for consumers and for employees, to demonstrate their “overarching vision” and values.Continue reading...

Country? England. Gun? Shot. Agent? Provocateur. Murder? Employment. Skyfall? Product placement.

The latest James Bond film hit the US this weekend, letting audiences decide for themselves what all the product placement hubbub was about. The verdict? Meh. Some valuations have nailed down some dollar numbers on just how much exposure Skyfall brought its top-line brand partners, but what about the unidentifiable brands on-screen?

Despite no label ever being seen, at least one already has backorders going into 2013. And what to make of Bond's glorious return to tobacco?Continue reading...

Just as it did with the last Spider-Man movie, Sony has released a movie tie-in commercial for the upcoming James Bond movie that showcases the Xperia TL, the official smartphone of Skyfall. Sony Classical has also announced that it will release the Skyfall soundtrack on Nov. 6th.

Sony joins Heineken, Walther, Coke Zero, Omega, Tom Ford and other brands tapping into Skyfall fever. As  Anderson Cooper's recent 007 profile on 60 Minutes reported, "companies don't pay to be placed in a Bond film but agree to spend millions marketing the movies. Heineken, 007's beer of choice in Skyfall, is spending $75 million on a worldwide ad campaign."

The sure-to-be-blockbuster's most unexpected product placement so far?Continue reading...

For 50 years, James Bond has been finding his way out of life-threatening situations and winning hearts on the world’s silver screens. Friday, Oct. 5th marks the 50th anniversary of Bond on the silver screen, which is being promoted as Global James Bond Day. And in about a month, the British spy will come striding onto the big screen once again, so that means the heavy media push is now on.

The upcoming Bond film, Skyfall, has already been raising some eyebrows with the news that 007 will enjoy a Heineken during the film and not his typical martini tipple, with fans encouraged to help the new Bond girl, Severine, "crack the case" in a Facebook mystery game. But plenty of other marketers are jumping on the film’s release as well to encourage consumers to be more like the women-objectifying, consistently drinking, hidden-weapon-wielding Bond.Continue reading...

China is the second latest economy in the world, every significant brand's future is impacted by its growth (or collapse!); but who's got the time?!  A weekly potpourri of ten reads that will make you look like a keen China observer during any conversation about China.

This week: Tom Ford, Apple, Moutai, iPhone 5, BYD's remote car, Baidu, KFC, luxury watch corruption search and more...Continue reading...

Apple warms up to business markets, as Disney CEO Bob Iger joins board and Steve Jobs' position as chairman is filled.

Chrysler Ram named official truck of Detroit Red Wings.

Conde Nast debuts private ad exchange.

Crocs revamps retail store design.

Dell sales disappoint.

Dunkin' Donuts promotes single-serve holiday campaign on Facebook.

Foursquare adds features to enhance city guides.

H&M's next guest designer may be Tom Ford.Continue reading...

Donatella Versace reportedly nixed a photo shoot with real women as models for her new H&M collection because they didn't fit the Versace brand. Judging by the video for the capsule collection, which goes on sale Nov. 19, she doesn't think much of real models, either, if the tongue-in-chic trailer for the studded, disco-tastic collection is any indication.

The designer, who took over designing the label after her brother Gianni's death, just confirmed that the first Versace couture collection in eight years will take place in Paris, in January. H&M, meanwhile, is eyeing its next big designer collaboration, with Tom Ford's name being floated by fashion insiders. See more of the Versace for H&M collection below, including the New York launch party.Continue reading...

Best Buy announces nationwide rollout catered to health and fitness products.

Bing hits all-time market share high in November.

Club Med announces the grand opening of the only all-inclusive family resort in the U.S., Sandpiper Bay.

ESPN app advances long-delayed interactive TV push.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney announces agreement to recover $7.2 billion for victims of Bernard L. Madoff's ponzi scheme from estate of Jeffry M. Picower.Continue reading...