Pensonic BOLD FAN TV Commercial (Hokkien 1min)

Coke, Target Reveal See-Thru Marketing

Has Malaysia branded itself accurately...?

Regressive Branding - Ikano to IPC

While I do not usually comment about other people's 'branding' efforts, I can't help putting this one out.
The late IKANO was a favourite shopping hub of our family. Haircut, banking, post-office, meals, Cold Storage, Popular Book Store, Starbucks meetings, Dome breakfasts, deli sandwiches, and of course IKEA...
IKANO had a niche populace of grown-up shoppers doing all of the above.
It was with much dismay and disenchantment when the NEW Ikano was rebranded IPC.
While IPC are just 3 alphabetical characters that could be branded to mean a diverse range of meanings... the communication of the new IPC was a kiddish family place.
Here is where I do have bones to grind with. IKANO is not a kiddish place. The recent Toyrus, sand-art, character balloons, art classes are in actual fact fantastic distractions for the kids while the grown-ups do their things. These kids we talk about are below 12 years old mainly. Teenagers are catered for at The Curve, a walk across. The new Kidzania at the Curve Annexxe caters to the below 12 which IPC is positioning itself to be the 'HOME' to.
This current webpage of IPC demonstrates the off-ness of the positioning. 'A place to call home' was a useful tagline in the 80s and 90s when malls were much nicer than actual homes especially here in Malaysia. A happy shopping centre... how naive is the smiling plastic bag design.
It seems that the name change is to shorten the name to 7-syllable - IPC Shopping Centre. From IKANO Power Centre... which is also 7-syllable. What difference one may ask. No clear reason to disenchant its regular shoppers. 

Dieter Rams: ten principles for good design

Rebranded Bukit Puchong takes another bold move in the right direction.

In the past 3 days, even more BP:NEWTOWN shopoffices were snapped up by well-informed buyers, this amidst a retail space glut across the highway.

Buyer confidence is due to the master planning and staged release of the projects at Bukit Puchong, with residential units already settled in. In the early years, this was the back water of Puchong. But now with the developed frenzy at the front stretch of Puchong along the IOI Mall totally maximised, all eyes have now turned to this area - FREEHOLD and prime.

Bukit Hitam Development had already developed 600 acres earlier and now with another 600 acres to go.

BP:NEWTOWN will be the pivot of everything around this area... making it the new hotspot and pride of Puchong.

The international hypermarket will be operational in July 2012. Taylor's International School will be operational in 2014.

The EPIC SUITES @ NEWTOWN is geared toward the affordability of a very young and modern generation with expected pricing at 400psf for 600sf and 900sf units. (To be confirmed at launch). This does make it the best value in the prime area at units starting from RM240k...

More details at puchongnewtown.blogspot.com

Updated: RETIREMENT VILLAGE - THE NEW PROPERTY GAME IN MALAYSIA

Richard Lim of Zencare Lifestyles Australia remarked of being taken by surprise by the big increase in interest by Malaysian developers towards Retirement Villages and Age Care as a viable long term business.

If before, even 2 years ago, each trip to Malaysia will only see 2 or 3 meetings, this trip inFeb-March, more than 15 meetings with developers were had. A handful of which seems to be highly doable and progressive.

Why the sudden interest?

1. The years of sharing and telling about the RV business? BFM.MY and THE EDGE have good coverage on the topic as well.

2. An educated and exposed generation of Malaysians are aging gracefully and would look towards a gorgeous retirement lifestyle.

3. The realisation that the RV business increases yield even on a ten year scale.

4. Many developers have already made their money and are looking for viable and sustainable legacy business models.

Richard will be back come April-May window (tbc) for a day seminar/conference together with industry experts from Australia.

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RETIREMENT VILLAGES IN MALAYSIA & QUALITY AGE CARE: Retirement Villages (RV) in Malaysia? Ask Richard....: Mr Richard Lim will be in Malaysia 15th till 29th February for further dialogues and consultations with local partners and interested devel...

Another important element of the Obama brand - Caring down the line.

A good commercial rightly placed at the superbowl halftime.

In the midst of difficulties, lies opportunities...

London Looking Good

Looking Good - The Run Up to The London Games.