Made in Britain

Posted By: Jo BritonJanuary 3rd, 2012

Recently I have noticed that products are using a British theme to market themselves.

Probably the most recent is the Garnier Nutrisse British Blonde collection hair dye; apparently British blondes are well known, I thought Swedish or Norwegian would have been a better choice. The box comes with a Union Jack style brand mark in the top corner. Is this to make us think it is made in Britain or has been developed for British hair? I’m unsure.

Then there is Rimmel and their ‘Get the London Look’ slogan. They often use variation of the Union Jack for their imagery, such as making the flag out of lipstick colours; and their new eye shadow range use the negative space of the flag contours for the packaging design. Apparently ‘beauty made in London is witty, edgy and streetwise’. I actually really like the imagery Rimmel uses and what they do with the ‘London Look’ branding and marketing. I like the play on colours, which represent the make up colour ranges.

A colleague recently visited The Clothes Show Live and encountered Coeur de Lion – ‘The True British Brand’. Their website states that they are on a crusade to bring you the very best of British designer menswear. This is a great idea but in which case why give yourself a French name?

If pushing British/Britain/London as a marketing campaign how far do you go? Only use British models? Only film adverts in Britain or London? Is the product even actually made in the UK?

Have you noticed any other goods or services that are pushing a British theme?

Tags: Advertising, brand, Branding, creative, Identity, marketing, popular culture
Posted in Business, Creative

Comments

Anonymous

The French name for a British brand is a classic, and does show that many people jump on the ‘British’ band wagon without depth and understanding. I also like some of the Rimmel marketing but think the eye shadow packaging in the picture could have better shapes to reflect the Union Jack.

To answer how far should a ‘British’ campaign go, I think all the way. Yes it should be 100% British, I feel we excel in everything so why not – A bit like why we should not have an Italian manager of our football team, or South African stowaways in our cricket team.

Rant over!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=538064602 Nerys Montana

I really like the Rimel London campaigns (as far as a bloke could do without having to ask one’s self some really searching questions) and am excited by just how far the union flag has come in pop culture.

For all too long the unwritten rule was “red white and blue” – I think the union flag as a shape is far more exciting than the three colours that have until recently defined it. Break-out and fly free you gorgeous design.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Sally-Hawkes/100001015647174 Sally Hawkes

Have you noticed that a lot of homewares like cushions, teapots, coasters, bunting etc all use the British theme of the union jack, sometimes used in a rugged/grunge way and sometimes in completely different, ‘country cottage’ styles… The Union Jack is always a hit!
Anonymous

I have done a bit of traveling and it amazed me how many times you see the union jack all over the world, at first I thought that they must be from the UK but the Union Flag has a life of it’s own and appears in the strangest of places.. It kind of makes me proud

As for ‘get the London look’ assuming that the people in side London have it, i think it’s a message meant for every one else.

Creative solutions we like

Made in Britain

Comments

Related blogs

100% British

In loving memory of ‘Where the Wild things are’ author

More words as pictures

Less words more impact

Mcdonalds lights the night