Areeb Imran’s Post

Cultural Awareness: The Key to Global Brand Success! In today's interconnected marketplace, global success requires more than just a great product—it requires cultural awareness. Brands that prioritise understanding local customs, language, and traditions secure customer trust, recognition, and loyalty. Consider KitKat’s phenomenal success in Japan. Nestle didn’t merely export a chocolate bar; they adapted to the Japanese market by aligning their brand with the local culture. By translating KitKat as "Kitto Katto," echoing the Japanese phrase “kitto katsu” (“you will surely win”), they turned a simple snack into a symbol of good luck. From embracing exam season traditions to introducing region-specific flavours like Wasabi or Shinshu Apple, Nestle demonstrated a deep understanding of Japanese values and habits. As a result, KitKat is now more than just a product in Japan; it's a cultural icon. For businesses aiming to scale globally, this is a masterclass in cultural alignment. It’s not just about selling. It's about building meaningful connections with your audience. When a brand speaks the language of its target market, it fosters trust, credibility, and long-term loyalty. Global growth isn’t just about expanding borders; it’s about breaking cultural barriers. If you're ready to tailor your brand for global success, let cultural awareness be your competitive edge. 𝘐 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴. 𝘍𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦. #culturalawareness #globalsuccess #brandloyalty

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐀 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐀 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 🛍 While leisurely shopping at my usual haunt, MUJI, I was greeted with a shelf of popular local snacks in Singapore. Think fish, prawn, belinjau, vegetable crackers, and addictive popcorn in local flavors like Nasi Lemak, Pulut Hitam, and Tom Yum! The no-frills packaging with simple images for easy identification is so MUJI. 🤔 I must admit, I was a bit puzzled at first. How did this fit into the overall concept of the brand? I could understand the usual Japanese offerings, but crackers? 🍦 To me, MUJI has always been about simplicity (the Japanese aesthetic of "su" / 素, meaning plain or unadorned) and functionality. It's about a lifestyle. 🌎 And since MUJI is a global brand, it makes sense to localize their offerings to resonate with Singaporean customers. 🤗 It's no longer just about food. It's about understanding local culture and nuances. Its about sharing moments of customers' lives—days spent in front of the TV or a laptop, binging on your favorite snack, or buying mega packs of crackers from the back of a van in the Central Business District. 💪 This simple yet powerful narrative aligns perfectly with the MUJI philosophy. Customers are no longer just buying MUJI products. They're subconsciously purchasing items that fit their lifestyle, becoming part of a community that embodies the MUJI philosophy. 🤝 When a brand becomes part of a customer's lifestyle, it becomes "sticky". This creates a strong bond or brand loyalty that's hard to shake off, possibly more powerful than any form of paid marketing. >>>>>>>>>> Till the next one. I'm Kelvin C.. 🔔 𝘏𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘍𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘹 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴!    👋 𝘐𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘺, 𝘥𝘰 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 favor to 𝘓𝘊𝘚 (𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦, 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦). 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘻𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨! >>>>>>>>>> #retail #retailwalker #retailsingapore #localisation #marketing #branding #customerloyalty #consumerinsights #muji #ccpn #lbfalumni #kelvinc 📸 mine

Why Japan Can't Get Enough of KITKAT: A Lesson in Cultural Marketing 🗾 Ever heard of a chocolate bar with over 300 flavors, from matcha to sake to Hello Kitty-themed? That's KITKAT in Japan, a cultural phenomenon that goes far beyond just a chocolate. ❓ But how did a British brand win over Japan's heart? They didn't force their way in. Instead, they embraced Japanese culture: 🍫 Gift-giving culture: Special editions & souvenir packaging made KITKAT the perfect gift or souvenir. 🍫Lucky charm: The name's similarity to "Kitto Katsu" ("You will surely win") turned it into a student's exam good luck charm, boosting sales in January. Creative Flavors & Collaborations: 🍫Gourmet: Collaborations with renowned chefs like Yasumasa Takagi created unique flavors like passionfruit or strawberry cheesecake. 🍫Limited Edition: Cherry blossom flavors in spring celebrate the season. 🍫Collabs: Handpicked partnerships with iconic Japanese brands like Pokemon and Hello Kitty create collector's items. 🍫Regional Flavors: Exclusive flavors for specific regions across Japan add a local touch. ✅ The takeaway? Understanding your audience and tailoring your approach to resonate with their culture can be the key to unlocking incredible success. This isn't just a story about chocolate; it's a lesson in cultural marketing. What are your thoughts on KitKat's success in Japan? Share your insights in the comments #21dayscommunicationchallenge #KitKat #Japan #CulturalMarketing #MarketingStrategy

HOW DID KIT KAT CO - CREATE WITH THE JAPANESE MARKET? 🍫 🗾 It is a common misconception that it is solely the brand that determines the its shape in the market. This story of Kit Kat justifies as to how even the market or the consumers play a role in branding. When Kit Kat entered into the Japanese market, the brand found it challenging to adapt and hard to grow. While the brand was struggling in majority of the regions in Japan, peculiar observations were made by Kit Kat that its products were doing considerably well in Kyushu region, specifically in the month of January. Later on, it was understood that Kit Kat was distributed as a sign of luck in the beginning of the new year. It was also a common practice for students to exchange Kit Kat before the examinations as a sign of luck. One layer deeper, the brand also discovered that, the word "Kitkat" meant "You'll Surely Win" in the Kyushu dialect. However, there was a minute conflict of interest here because the reason why Kit Kat was doing well in the market (You'll Surely Win) was straight up antagonistic towards brand's tagline, that is "Take A Break". But, altering the approach or the tagline was completely out of the equation, even though it meant better market penetration. Kit Kat was in a position where it had to choose whether to stay rigid with the branding ideas and probably penetrate less in the market and stay silent about the misled perception, or stay composed on the branding, while also establishing liberty to co - create the brand with the customers. It is commendable as to how sensitively Kit Kat managed to tackle this issue. Kit Kat started displaying "Cherry Blossoms" in the brand advertisements and on the package representing success. It also displayed phrases like "Cherry Blossoms Will Definitely Bloom" so as to make the product relevant in the market. KitKat Chocolatory Nestlé #takeabreak

Tale of Japan in Sakura Season | Biggest Moment Marketing of All Time. Sakura time is a once-in-a-year opportunity, and brands make the most of it. But let's talk about brand marketing. Yes, brand marketing, not tourism. During Sakura time The Coca-Cola Company becomes more Japanese than any other local brand! It makes the bottles slimmer specifically so it becomes easier to hold and take pictures against the surrounding cherry blossoms to upload them on social media. Well, How insane is that? Starbucks has cracked the cherry blossom code. Even store layouts are changed so that user can click Starbucks cup against a cute cherry blossom tree! #JackDaniels too took inspiration from all the pink flowers to create ‘Black Blossom’. A special Sakura-themed whiskey. Even Sakura themed #KitKat are so engrained in Japanese culture, that they are a standard thing to give students as good luck before exams! Whenever a collective moment or experience occurs, it presents a chance for brands to engage with their audience on a profound level, connecting with the emotions and feelings that emerge during these shared instances. This can result in enhanced brand loyalty, greater interaction, and ultimately, increased sales. #marketing #branding #japan #momentmarketing

📈 Trends are crucial to formulating a successful strategy. 🇯🇵 For F&B brands targeting Japan, there's good news: gourmet and food-related content is the most followed category on social media in Japan, as very recent research has revealed. The survey, conducted last month with nearly a thousand participants spanning three generations (X, Y, and Z), found that the gourmet and food category was the most popular, with approximately 40% of respondents following it. (Find the link to the source in the comments.) This trend contrasts with the typical Western preferences, where entertainment or fashion often dominates among followers. 👉 While this trend presents an opportunity for F&B brands looking to expand in the Japanese market, it's important to note that high demand also brings strong competition. Therefore, a sound strategy is crucial for success. _______ Follow me and click the 🔔 to get more insights on F&B localization in Japan. Marton Lendvai, MBA TOO International _______ #localization #foodandbeverage #japan

👑 Successful Brand Strategies in Japan 👑 Did you ever wonder why some Brands succeed in Japan and others not? Here are some strategies that successful brands in the food and beverage industry in Japan often employ, along with examples of brands that have effectively implemented these strategies : Localization and Cultural Sensitivity: Adapting products and marketing strategies to fit Japanese tastes and cultural preferences is key. The Case of McDonald’s Japan Customer Engagement and Service: Providing excellent customer service and actively engaging with consumers through feedback mechanisms and loyalty programs can build brand loyalty. E.g. : Starbucks Japan Partnerships and Distribution Channels: Form strategic partnerships with local distributors or retailers to navigate the complex distribution network in Japan. E.g. Coca-Cola Japan Cultural Sensitivity and Adaptation: Respect Japanese culture and adapt marketing strategies accordingly. KFC’s case. You know now what are you waiting for ? Are you ready ? Click on https://lnkd.in/gBvu7WVS to learn more about others successful Brand in Japanese food business. Don’t forget to visit our LinkedIn page as well to stay constantly updated about market trends. https://lnkd.in/gSN2_GdG #DigitalMarketing #ContentLocalization #CulturalAdaptation #SEO #TokyoBridgeMarketing 

No global brand succeeds without mastering the local. Even when a brand carries a consistent global identity, it’s ultimately defined by local perceptions. How do consumers interact with it? How does it stack up against local alternatives? This is especially true for food and beverage (F&B) brands, which are inherently local in two ways: 1️⃣ Their production origin—often tied to a specific place that shapes the brand's identity. 2️⃣ Their consumer market—where local preferences, tastes, and competitors come into play. To thrive globally, F&B brands must prioritize localization. Here’s how to get started: ✅ Understand local consumer preferences—What flavors, formats, or values resonate? ✅ Navigate cultural and regulatory differences—Avoid missteps by aligning with local norms. ✅ Adapt your product—Small changes can make a big impact, from portion sizes to packaging. Localized expertise isn’t optional—it’s essential for building a strong global presence. _______ 🔔 Follow me to learn more about strategies for localizing your F&B brand in Japan—or reach out to discuss how to prepare your brand for success. Marton | TOO International

As challenger brands, we may not have the luxury of big budgets, but we do have something even more powerful: creativity! Imagine turning everyday moments into unforgettable brand experiences. Our teams parade in the middle of a Bukit Bintang might seem crazy, but when it’s choreographed and branded, it’s viral magic. We can’t outspend the competition; but we can have a genuinely good proposition for Malaysians and activations - making a little go a long way and turning heads without emptying pockets. So, let’s get creative, think outside the box (or the billboard), and have a little fun along the way! Let them cook 🫶🏼 Here’s to the underdogs making a big splash! 🥂 #GuerrillaMarketing #ChallengerBrands #CreativeThinking #MarketingMagic #BrandStrategy

The greatest honor of a planner is the structure that helps a company grow.