The Power of Brand Ownership
Marketing in the Cultural Landscape

Explores the dynamics between branding and consumer identity within both the physical and digital realms that form our cultural landscape.

Miriam J. Johnson (Author)

9781009538404, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 23 January 2025

279 pages
23.7 x 16 x 2 cm, 0.544 kg

'Tackles the complex topic of brand identities in a new way by considering their role in shaping the cultural landscape and, in particular, the role of gender.' Alistair Williams, Johnson & Wales University Charlotte

How do brands cultivate loyalty and influence consumer purchasing decisions? The Power of Brand Ownership explores the complex dynamics between branding and consumer identity within both the physical and digital realms that form our cultural landscape. Miriam J. Johnson uncovers a symbiotic relationship where brands serve not merely as navigational aids in a consumer's journey but also as integral components of self-identity and social projection, and the power that entails. Investigating the nuances of power shifts, brand authenticity, activism, and the gendered nature of consumption, Johnson asserts that brands are both influenced by and influencers of the cultural terrain they inhabit as well as the temporal contexts in which they interact. Theoretical frameworks articulate the fluidity of capital within the consumer-brand nexus whilst insightful case studies illustrate industry examples, revealing the shifting strategies employed by companies to make brands identifiable and desirable in the ever-changing cultural landscape.

Introduction
1. What we mean when we talk about the cultural landscape
2. Using brands as landmarks for mapping the cultural landscape
3. Brand capital, perspective, and power
4. The role of gender
Case Study 1 – Gender: Virgin Atlantic and Bud Light
5. The importance of authenticity
6. Brand activism as power dynamic
Case Study 2 – Activism: Kate Spade Change Please
7. Ownership as power
8. The transience of power in the cultural landscape
Case Study 3 – Shifting power: Skype, Burberry, and Old Spice
9. TLDR: the application to industry.

Subject Areas: Sales & marketing [KJS]