Finally, a savvy bit of sports sponsorship. Unilever’s decision to partner with Lotus F1 for the next three years has paid instant dividends, with victory in the very first race of the season giving their Sure for Men antiperspirant prominent exposure.
During a recent dinner at Alyn Williams’ new restaurant at The Westbury Hotel, I noticed he’d badged it with his own brand identity - a modern ‘AW’ rendered in a slender sans-serif – presumably to build recognition around a name that is not known to most.
This trend for chefs to create personal brands is not particularly new, as it’s an obvious way in which they can turn recipes into revenue by building an edible empire.
For those of us who work in the achingly cool world of branding, Christmas can be a tricky time. We’re forced to abandon our dedication to directional haircuts and Nordic minimalism, and join the masses in embracing the yuletide aesthetic in all its shiny, glittery and garish glory.
Granted, there’s always the option of a cheesy Christmas jumper, worn with a gigantic slice of self-congratulatory irony, but even this does little to help us stand out from the crowd, as the streets become one giant, itchy, 80s eyesore.
