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WHAT IS BRAND

ANS. A brand is a product, service, or concept that is publicly distinguished from other products, services, or concepts so that it can be easily communicated and usually marketed. A brand name is the name of the distinctive product, service, or concept. Branding is the process of creating and disseminating the brand name. Branding can be applied to the entire corporate identity as well as to individual product and service names. Brands are usually protected from use by others by securing a trademark or service mark from an authorized agency, usually a government agency. Before applying for a trademark or service mark, you need to establish that someone else hasn't already obtained one for your name. Although you can do the searching yourself, it is common to hire a law firm that specializes in doing trademark searches and managing the application process, which, in the United States, takes about a year. Once you've learned that no one else is using it, you can begin to use your brand name as a trademark simply by stating it is a trademark (using the " TM " where it first appears in a publication or Web site). After you receive the trademark, you can use the registered (?) symbol after your trademark. Brands are often expressed in the form of logos , graphic representations of the brand. In computers, a recent example of widespread brand application was the "Intel Inside" label provided to manufacturers that use Intel's microchips. A company's brands and the public's awareness of them is often used as a factor in evaluating a company. Corporations sometimes hire market research firms to study public recognition of brand names as well as attitudes toward the brands. Here is the famous advertising copywriter and ad agency founder David Ogilvy's definition of a brand: The intangible sum of a product's attributes: its name, packaging, and price, its history, its reputation, and the way it's advertised.

WHY BRAND IS ESSENTIAL IN OUR LIFE

ANS. One of the most important parts of your personal brand is identifying what makes you different, unique and memorable from the vast amount of people out there. No two people are alike and you need to show why.

There is so much noise out there these days and it is impossible to listen to all of it. People may hear your message, but you want them to attentively listen to it. This is done through seperating yourself from the noise with your unique twist and viewpoint.

HISTORY OF PUMA

ANS. Puma SE, officially branded as PUMA, is a major German multinational company that produces athletic shoes, footwear, and othersportswear. The company was formed in 1924 as Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik by Adolf and Rudolf Dassler. The relationship between the two brothers deteriorated until the two agreed to split in 1948, forming two separate entities, Adidas and Puma. Puma is currently based inHerzogenaurach, Germany.

The company is known for its football shoes and has sponsored acclaimed footballers, including Pelé, Eusébio, Johan Cruijff, , , Lothar Matthäus, , , , Radamel Falcao, , andGianluigi Buffon. Puma is the sponsor of the Jamaican track athlete Usain Bolt. In the United States, the company is known for the suede basketball shoe it introduced in 1968, which eventually bore the name of New York Knicks basketball star Walt "Clyde" Frazier, and for its endorsement partnership with Joe Namath.

Following the split from his brother, Rudolf Dassler originally registered the new-established company as Ruda, but later changed to Puma.[3]Puma's earliest logo consisted of a square and beast jumping through a D, which was registered, along with the company's name, in 1948. Puma's shoe designs feature the distinctive "Formstripe",[4] with clothing and other products having the logo printed on them.

The company offers lines of shoes and sports clothing designed by Lamine Kouyate, Amy Garbers, and others. Since 1996 Puma has intensified its activities in the United States. Puma owns 25% of American brand sports clothing maker Logo Athletic, which is licensed by American professional basketball and leagues. Since 2007 Puma SE has been part of the French luxury group PPR.

Puma SE Type Societas Europaea

Traded as FWB: PUM

Industry Clothing and consumer goods manufacture

Founded 1924 as Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik

(registered in 1948)[1]

Founder(s) Rudolf Dassler

Headquarters Herzogenaurach, Germany

Area served Worldwide

Key people Jochen Zeitz (Chairman)

Franz Koch (CEO)

Klaus Bauer (COO)

Products Footwear, sportswear, sports goods, fashion accessories

Revenue €2.706 billion (2010)[2]

Operating income €306.8 million (2010)[2]

Profit €202.2 million (2010)[2]

Total assets €2.367 billion (end 2010)[2]

Total equity €1.386 billion (end 2010)[2] Employees 9,310 (average, 2010)[2]

Parent PPR

Website www.puma.com

 1920: Rudolf Dassler and his brother Adolf start making sports shoes

 1924: Foundation of Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik, Herzogenaurach, Germany  1948: Foundation of Puma Schuhfabrik Rudolf Dassler (1 October), Introduction of the ATOM, Puma's first football shoe  1949: Rudolf Dassler has the idea of football shoes with removable studs. He begins working on their development and production. Many football experts, like , are involved  1952: Introduction of the SUPER ATOM  1953: Development of ATOM's successor: the BRASIL  1958: Introduction of Puma's signature "Formstripe" at the FIFA World Cup in Sweden  1959: The company is transformed into a limited partnership named Puma-Sportschuhfabriken Rudolf Dassler KG

 1960: Introduction of the technologically advanced vulcanization production technique  1966: Launch of the WEMBLEY, the predecessor model to the Puma King  1968: Launch of the legendary KING. Puma is the first manufacturer to offer sports shoes with Velcro fasteners  1968: Launch of the SUEDE  1973: Launch of the CLYDE. Designed for basket player Walt "Clyde" Fraizer, as a wider-fitting version of suede model  1974: Rudolf Dassler dies. His sons Armin and Gerd take over the company's management

 1976: Introduction of the S.P.A.-Technology  1986: Transformation into a stock corporation  1989: Launch of the TRINOMIC sport shoe system  1990: Introduction of INSPECTOR, a growth control system for children's shoes  1991: Launch of the DISC SYSTEM sports shoe  1992: Capital increase by DM 20 million, share capital reaches DM 70 million  1993: Jochen Zeitz is appointed Chairman and CEO, Proventus/Aritmos B.V. becomes majority shareholder

 1994: The first profit since the company's IPO in 1986 is registered  1996: Puma is listed in the German M-DAX index; introduction of the CELL technology, the first foam-free midsole  1997: Launch of the CELLERATOR  1998: Puma starts a cooperation with designer Jil Sander  1999: Puma becomes an official on-field supplier of the U.S. National Football League (NFL)  2000: Production of fireproof footwear in partnership with Porsche and Sparco

 2001: Acquisition of the Scandinavian Tretorn Group  2002: Launch of the SHUDOH

 2003: Majority shareholder Monarchy/Regency sells its shareholdings to a broad base of institutional investors  2004: Collaborative partnership with world-renowned designer Philippe Starck

 2005: Mayfair Vermögensverwaltungsgesellschaft mbh acquires a total of 16.91% shareholding  2006: The company is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index; Introduction of the S.A.F.E. concept, a specific tool developed to continuously improve social and environmental standards. Shoe collection in cooperation with Alexander McQueen. Italy would go on to win the 2006 World Cup. Due to Puma's sponsorship of the Italian national team, many of the teams' players wore Puma cleats  2007: Voluntary public take-over by Pinault-Printemps Redoute; Prolongation of the contract with Jochen Zeitz by five years  2008: Melody Harris-Jensbach is appointed Deputy CEO; Designer and artist Hussein Chalayan becomes Creative Director, Puma also acquires a majority stake in Chalayan's business and Hussein Chalayan  2010: Signs two year deals to make the kits of Newcastle United, Motherwell, Hibernian, Burnley & Preston from the 2010–11 season  2011: Signs a deal to make kits of GNK Dinamo Zagreb from the 2011–12 season. Signs a three year deal with A- League champions Brisbane Roar [40]

PROFILE OF BRAND (COMPANY PROFILE)

ANS.