Interested in growing your business?
Being different and showing how you are different can a way to separate yourself from your competitors. The bread and butter of success is often a simple vision that is executed with focus and perseverance from the founder and the team around them. However it is the interesting stories around these businesses and the brands they create is what we are interested in and is what is remembered.
Below we review the origin of 5 well known brands that become household names.
1. Nike
The creation of Nike's iconic "swoosh" logo: In 1971, Nike co-founder Phil Knight hired graphic design student Carolyn Davidson to create a logo for his new company. Davidson presented several designs, but Knight wasn't impressed with any of them. Finally, she came up with the "swoosh" design, which Knight initially thought was "just okay." However, he eventually decided to use it anyway, and the rest is history.
2. Coca Cola
The origin of Coca-Cola's secret formula: Coca-Cola was created in 1886 by pharmacist John Pemberton, who developed the recipe in his backyard. The exact ingredients of the formula are a closely guarded secret, but it is believed to include extracts from coca leaves and kola nuts, as well as a mix of spices and other flavorings.
3. Apple
The birth of Apple's logo: Apple's iconic logo, featuring an apple with a bite taken out of it, was designed by graphic designer Rob Janoff in 1977. Janoff has said that the bite was added to make the apple more recognizable, and to suggest that it was a computer "byte" (a unit of digital information).
4. McDonalds
The history of McDonald's golden arches: McDonald's golden arches were first introduced in 1953, as part of a new design for the company's restaurants. The arches were originally intended to serve as a giant billboard, attracting customers from a distance. Today, the golden arches are one of the most recognizable logos in the world.
5. Amazon
The evolution of Amazon's logo: Amazon's logo has undergone several changes since the company was founded in 1994. The original logo featured a simple black font, while later versions added a stylized "smile" underneath the word "Amazon." In 2012, the company introduced its current logo, which features an arrow that points from the letter "A" to the letter "Z," symbolizing the company's wide range of products.
To Summarise
While your brand may not be as well known as some of the brands above. None the less, all of these brands started as unknowns with just a dream and a lot of hard work and some luck on the way. Great brands typically grow their businesses through a combination of strategies that focus on building a strong brand identity, creating unique and innovative products, and developing a loyal customer base.
Building a success business with a strong brand can create a”moat” around your business (in the words of Warren Buffet). Overall, successful brands are proactive, innovative, and customer-focused. They invest in their brand identity and customer experience, create innovative products, build a loyal customer base, and are always looking for new opportunities to grow and expand their business.