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Jeffrey Slater at Camp Winadu in 1965 |
When I was at summer camp in the 1960’s at Camp Winadu, I
had an arch competitor named Scott Rogers. He and I were always competing with
each other in baseball or in the 50 yard dash. One of us were either #1
or #2 in most sporting events throughout each summer in the Berkshires. I never felt any animosity toward Scott and
looking back, I realized he made me a better athlete through his own physical
prowess.
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Jeffrey Slater and Ra El Remez in front of Rachel's Brownies in 1978 in Malvern, Pennsylvania |
In the mid-1980’s when Ra El and I were marketing Rachel’s
Brownies, we too had competitor like The Well-Bred Loaf, Mrs. Field’s Cookies,
Famous Amos and several other challengers. I never looked at these competitors
with disdain or envy. I always thought that they pushed us along to get better
at what we did and to help us build the brand we wanted. Once again the
competition helped us define our own goals yet pushed us to work harder.
Today it is easy to be hyper critical of your competitors
within whatever category you work. I still take have the attitude that I can
learn something and improve my own professionalism by being aware of the
competitor but not imitating them. My competition helps to define my brand only if I
let them. I can fight back by knowing how we can deliver on our own brand
promise without always trying to be like the competitors.
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Competitors make you stronger, faster and more agile |
When I think about a competitor, these are the nine questions
and thoughts that go through my mind…
1. Just because they
do something, doesn’t mean it is smart or right for my brand. Competitors do stupid things for dumb reasons.
2. Instead of getting
into a price war with a competitor, what can I do that gives unexpected value that
encourages customers to pay a higher price? No one benefits from a price war but my brand can succeed with added value.
3. If your competitor’s
brand has a personality, what are the flaws and weaknesses that you want to
avoid? Know your competitor's personality but don't imitate it- ever. If they zig, can you zag?
4. When your competitor markets their brand, what tone do
they communicate to potential clients? Is it sickly sweet, is it arrogant,
is it personable, is it boring, is it dynamic?
How is the personality of how your brand communicates different and is that difference relevant to our audience?
5. Am I spending too much time worry about their next marketing move
and not enough time on my own?
6. What gap is there
is their product or service offering that could be highlighted in what we do? If they charge extra for something- could we do it for free? Or, could we bundle together some benefits and sell them as a package?
7. Can I find a
unique way to reach my audience that does something valuable for my brand? For
example, if my brand is all about our open heart approach to the world, do we
allow our employees to volunteer once a month at a shelter? How can we build the emotional breadth of our brand in an important and relevant way to our potential customers?
8. Coke and Pepsi are very different brands yet the actual carbonated products
are very similar. The difference is in the emotional reference points we have
to one versus another. Is there a way where you can reinforce that difference?
(Are your brand colors the same- maybe change them. Are you in the same
magazines advertising – do something else with your marketing dollars).
9. Are there ways that testimonials from former customers of
your competitor can help you? “I used to buy all my X from Y business but I
switched to Z because I was treated like a human being.” How can testimonials
from customers who switch from a competitor help define your brand.
The Long Run
I don’t know what ever happened to my former camp mate Scott
Rogers. I hope he has lived a happy and prosperous life. I have spoken to my friends from
Well-Bred Loaf a few times over the years and from time to time had contact with Wally Amos from Famous Amos.
My marketing approach to business
has always been to know my competitor and to thank them for pushing
me forward
but to keep focused on how I want to define my own brand. I'm not obsessed but competitors but I recognize their strengths and weaknesses so I can define my brand differently.
Thank your competitors for making you a better brand. For over 30 years, being grateful toward my competition has served me well.
Scott, if you are out there, want to race?
About Me:
I am a
marketing professional with over 30 years of experience creating success. If
you enjoy these blog posts, please sign up to receive them in your email or
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You can comment on this blog, send an email to me at
JeffreyLynnSlater@gmail.com or as the Car Talk guys on NPR like to say,
write your question on the back of a $20 bill and mail it to me. Thanks for
traveling along with me on this journey.
Labels: Camp WInadu, Competitors, Marketing Moments, Scott Rogers, Well-Bred Loaf