Here's a snapshot of worldwide Lovemark thinking - the products, people and places that saatchikevin.com visitors like best:

Fender Guitars: "Fender is THE brand name when it comes to guitars. The top musicians in the world use Fenders, e.g., Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck. And most of these musicians can remember exactly when they got their first Fender Strat."

"I wish to nominate Apple Computer as my Lovemark. I doubt if that comes as a surprise. I spend hours every day pounding away on a Mac. An Apple computer is the first thing I switch on every morning and the last thing to be turned off every night. Apple's computers enhance my life, and make what I do possible in a way similar products by other makers never do. I am amazed at what Apple comes up with every time they release a product, even if it is not revolutionary but simply evolutionary. Apple's story, their myth, their mystery is unassailable. I never cease to be fascinated. I wish them well even when they do things that exasperate me."

"The greatest Lovemark for me is the ribbon - the one we first saw to recognise Aids. The crossed ribbon for me has become a symbol to draw our attention to many, many issues. The bond the ribbon has for me is understanding, recognition, support, respect and, yes, love for those both known and unknown to us."

"Lovemarks - love the concept. I was already thinking, I love my Lexus passionately -- miss it when I'm on the road"and Lexus popped up as one of your examples. Another that comes to mind is the VW bug (please do not include Microsoft on the list…)."

"My Lovemark? Well, I got into a rather odd daydream yesterday in which I imagined that The Sunday Times (UK) went on strike and held their readers to ransom (I think that I imagined this to be done in a friendly, perhaps 'for charity' way). The strange thing is that, I was asking myself not whether, but how much I would pay to continue to receive it - at least 10 times the normal price (and I really am not particularly well-off or lavish with my spending) The Sunday Times is Sunday - and I love Sundays. I don't really have a favourite anything. But this Lovemark has got me."

"The Four & Twenty Meat Pie (it's a Downunder thing). Why? Nothing so bad has ever tasted so good. What sporting event in the Antipodes is complete without one smothered in sauce...and has been for 40 years. Yum."

"Newman's Organics, headed by Paul Newman's daughter Nell...range of great organic products with a entertaining story on the back of each pack...pretzels to die for. Hilarious and clever branding."

"A teacher I had in my Marketing Program…she has so much desire to help her students achieve their dreams and goals (which is rare to find these days)."

"The look from your wife when she is happy with life and you. I guess this could be called priceless, but is really a mark of love. Impossible to bottle, almost impossible for others to see."

"Oprah Winfrey. The lady is a breathing brand. Her life's journey, which is also her career, has evolved and progressed with diverse audiences. She has managed to take along her mature audience whilst still attracting new ones - males, politicians, opinion makers, even world leaders. Oprah is definitely a Lovemark."

"Bike Friday (Eugene, Oregon). A tiny custom builder of Travel Bicycles. I left…Costa Rica, the divine beaches and verdant jungles, for the cold, drizzle and concrete of Eugene, Oregon, to work for the company whose bike I staked my life on when travelling around the world for the past four years."

"Haslingden Deli, Rossendale, England. The guy that runs this place treats you like you're the only person in the shop, and like you've known him for years. The shop is the busiest I've seen, sometimes queuing out the door, but he remembers everyone's name, their favourite sandwich, the conversations last time you were in, and what your interests are... you can't help leave feeling motivated."

"My Lovemark is my dorm at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. I spent nearly 2.5 years of my life in this building. After graduating high school, I left ALL my friends in New Jersey and moved to Amherst. In this building, I met my best friends of the time and still now. I met girls, fell in love, and made love for the first time in this building. I experienced new things (hard liquor) and studied for 12 hours straight. Although I have few pictures, I have infinite memories that draw me back to this building early every November when its time for the two hour drive for Homecoming. When I go down the handicap ramp, see the building, I'm home."

"A Lovemark from The Edge: De La Salle College, (Auckland, New Zealand). Mystery: great stories. You know from the minute you walk in, this place has hosted a lot in its 48 years. There are secret ingredients - God, Saint De La Salle, even the De La Salle Brothers who run the place…Past and present operate together as old boy teachers and the Brothers In Action group support the school, while teachers who've seen two generations in their class perpetuate the legends and stories. Taps into dreams? "Shoot for the stars" and "You can succeed" on the classroom walls; dreams are made into realities in seven years. Most of all there is Lasallian spirit; everyone in the community experiences it, some are gripped more than others, no one can describe it and no one can ignore it. Sensuality: from the blood, sweat and mud on the rugby grounds…to the musty smell of the old school buildings, the vibrant maroon, blue and yellow colours and 900 boys singing together, the senses are taught to experience all over again. Intimacy: the emotional landscape is founded on pride, 'fighting the good fight', and achieving in the face of seemingly insurmountable adversity. Society tells these economically deprived young men they are the losers of the future, while La Salle inspires them to be leaders, achievers and examples to the world."

"Battersea Power Station, London. The empty shell of this derelict powerstation stands on the banks of the Thames just down from Parliament Square and Big Ben. It's a dirty old square building with four large chimney stacks at each corner, no windows, and filled with rusty girders. Yet at certain angles you can see straight through it like a picture frame around the skyline of London, and it is simply fascinating…Most can't agree, but for me, it's a brand of London."

"Haslam's Book Store is truly a Lovemark here in St. Petersburg (Florida). The store has been here since 1933, run by three generations of a family serving generations of other families. It's a modest-looking place in a central area where you go only to get to the bookstore. They've never moved to a "better" location…When we lived away from St Pete, on every trip back there had to be at least one day at Haslams...Old cookbooks and history books, a wide selection of books in other languages; you'd immerse yourself in another world. Competing against the Barnes and Nobles of the world hasn't been easy for them, and they have made a few concessions, such as opening some evenings and on Sunday afternoons, but you don't go there for Starbucks - you go there for books. What a concept - going to a bookstore for books! Haslams…survive because they are a Lovemark."

"San Francisco, which everyone loves even if they've not been there, and Burma - no one knows it's been re-named, but they all get the picture of the misty valley, full of temples, whenever they hear the name."
     
"The Haka (the fierce challenge performed by the Maori of New Zealand). Why? What other symbol is so owned and ownable?"

"You might not believe it, but Pennsylvania is a big rodeo state. Yes, I said rodeo. The cowboy, cowgirl, horses and bulls type of rodeo. There are probably 40 rodeos a year, all over New England, and approximately 10,000 people involved in some way. I might be biased, but my Lovemark is rodeo and, especially, the horse. So much so that I am currently studying…in order to build my own rodeo arena to do something I love and give the general population the thrill and enjoyment of watching "American History, Alive!""
   

"Just one Lovemark! Forget it ... if you are only passionate about one thing, you aren't passionate at all! Lovemarks: New York's sister Lovemark city, London (is there another city that inspires so much love and hate in equal measures?). Kylie Minogue (not Madonna). Pret a Manger (not Starbucks). Charlotte Street Hotel (not The Sanderson). Time Out. The Union Jack. Selfridges. Sony. Tate Modern. London Eye. The Jagger family. Glamour Magazine. Black cabs. Paul Smith. Portobello Road. Andrex (people are in love with that puppy). Carphone Warehouse (does anyone buy their phone anywhere else?) Easyjet (they are in love with Stelios taking on the world). Habitat / Ikea (people are still in love with what they create from them for their personal house space)."

Check out worldwide nominations at www.lovemarks.com
 
  


 

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