Branding Fails: Lessons from Failed Companies
Here’s a breakdown of the text provided, focusing on the key points about the Eircom/Eir rebrand:
Main Points:
Eircom’s rebrand to Eir (2015): This was described as the most expensive rebrand in Irish corporate history.
Extensive Rollout: The rebrand involved a massive overhaul: new uniforms, vehicles, stores, and a huge advertising campaign (TV, radio, posters).
Logo Issues: The new cursive, lowercase logo clashed with standard media style guides (capitalizing proper nouns), causing friction with media outlets.
Meaningless Name: The author finds the name “Eir” to be bland and lacking in meaning.
Eircom’s Original Name: “Eircom” (1999) was considered a clever combination of “Telecom Éireann” and the “dot.com” trend.
Negative Association with Eircom: The original name became tarnished due to a share price collapse, multiple ownership changes, debt, and examinership.
Fast Rebrand: The entire rebranding process was remarkably quick, completed in just 16 weeks.
Comparison to X (formerly Twitter): The article draws a parallel to the current situation with X,noting that the new name still requires qualification with its former identity,suggesting a lack of brand recognition or appeal.
In essence, the article presents a critical view of the Eir rebrand, arguing that while the old name had become problematic, the new name failed to resonate and was implemented too quickly without sufficient consideration for its impact.
