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Branding Moments: Lost In Translation in Beverly Hills!

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Napa Consultants DRE00893924

When it comes to branding strategy, creating a mystery can sometimes work and be a point of attraction for one's target market.  Here is an example of a new brand we saw, that created a mystery for us. No doubt, plenty of creative thinking went into this, however for us (who live and breathe branding), this was lost in translation!

 

This past Tuesday, we drove down to Beverly Hills for our monthly visit. After enjoying a cappuccino, we decided to scope out the other side of the Golden Triangle to see what was new and interesting. 

 

Pictured above is a new large corner store painted dark gray. Was the dark gray mimicking the granite walls of El Capitan at Yosemite National Park? Is that why the store is named Y/OSEMITE?

We parked on Brighton Way side to get a closer look. Here is the Brighton Way side continuation Y/OSEMITE side of the store.  The fire engine red building with the black awning reveals the answer with an actual store front and a door to come in (pictured below). Now that red could not possibly refer to our National Park. 

It was hard to read what to expect within.  Pictured below is the answer to what Y/OSEMITE is selling.

Y/OSEMITE

JAMES PERSE PERFORMANCE BRAND

Jame Perse's new performance brand is what is being sold in this store.  Or simply put this is another name for a luxury athletic clothing brand!  We solved one mystery!  And if we were not students of brands, we would have simply moved on and not given a hoot about this store. 

 

We knew we would be leaving Beverly Hills before the store would open, so we checked out the website.  The clothing was nice comparable to Lululemon, and AloYoga in pricing.

 

When it comes to clothing, we both prefer window shopping, rather than walking into the dark unknown.  Although we both are fond of the mystery genre when it comes to books and movies, this approach left us cold.  We still don't know why Yosemite was chosen as a name.  And why was the letter Y separated with a forward slash from the rest of the word? 

 

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Comments(21)

Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good morning, Ron and Alexandra Seigel (A).... this is what happens, more often than not, when professional guidance is not used when creating a logo....

Jun 06, 2019 04:32 AM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Alexandra. Not sure this would be a draw for me! I am an in and out shopper. If I don't get the message, I pass. Enjoy your day!

Jun 06, 2019 05:51 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Good morning, Alexandra and Ron - I was trying to guess what might be found in this building.  Thank you for uncovering the mystery. 


Jun 06, 2019 05:56 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

Branding should definitely fit the target audience and hopefully, they target the right audience.

Jun 06, 2019 06:53 AM
Janelle Ancillotti

Obviously Ron and Alexandra, as well as the rest of us here, are  not the brand's target market!

Jun 07, 2019 05:57 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Alexandra. I agree with you. I would not stop and figuring it out is too much work.

Jun 06, 2019 07:17 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Brian England they sell tennis clothes.  You are potentially one of their audience. And they lost you before you even knew this.  A

Jun 06, 2019 07:25 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thanks for sharing this interesting experience and your photographs.

Jun 06, 2019 07:44 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

I can see that brand working for mountain climbing equipment and excursions.  The forward slash after the inital "Y" seems odd at first, but it kind of indicates an upward movement like mountain climbing would be.  It would be interesting to see if the brand takes off, or has any staying power.

Jun 06, 2019 07:48 AM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

I'm a big fan of James Perse women's slub panel shirts - I now have 5 of them in different colors. (https://www.jamesperse.com/womens-sheer-slub-side-panel-shirt-wua3042)  This however is lost in translation...wonder how well the line will sell?  I did like a couple of the yoga style leggings, but I can do better with pricing at Athleta. 

Jun 06, 2019 08:26 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel

Debb Janes EcoBroker and Bernie Stea JD I see James Perse on Gilt for the regular line, and I will watch for the performance brand also. A

Jun 06, 2019 08:57 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Debb Janes EcoBroker and Bernie Stea JD I know the shirt you mean and I do like them also.  I agree with you about the leggings, and there are better prices.  This is not a hit for me as I am a customer for yoga, hiking and tennis...they lost me.

Jun 06, 2019 08:55 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Myrl Jeffcoat from a creative standpoint, the Y/ slash is interesting.  Why do that to Yosemite?  It is one of top parks that those who visit the US rush to as well as Vegas...thank goodness Vegas has not created Yosemite!.  A

Jun 06, 2019 08:58 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Sheila Anderson The prices are quite high compared to other luxury brands.  If he can get it, all the more power to him.  But, I have a feeling they will be discounted somewhere along the line. A

Jun 06, 2019 08:59 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Michael Jacobs My curiosity keeps life interesting, and full of discovery.  LOL A

Jun 06, 2019 09:00 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Barbara Todaro I think that the James Perse company hired someone who did not understand your slogan, "The Eye Buys".  Both in retail and real estate and many other categories this applies.  This is a case of creation to wow, but who did they wow?  And will they buy?  A

Jun 06, 2019 09:03 AM
Barbara Todaro

that's even worse now, knowing they hired a company to create that!!!!! Ron and Alexandra Seigel (A)

Jun 06, 2019 09:05 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

As they say, Alexandra, whoever thought up this campaign was "too clever by half." 

Jun 06, 2019 10:35 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Nina Hollander I had forgotten the expression "too clever by half!"  Thank you for bringing that back up to my consciousness.

Jun 06, 2019 11:35 AM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Morning Alexandra.

I can see why they named it the way they did.  I'll make a bet you and Ron will figure it out.

Jun 07, 2019 03:21 AM
John Wiley
Fort Myers, FL
Lee County, FL, ECO Broker, GRI, SRES,GREEN,PSA

Thanks for sharing the mystery. I saw the photo and did not understand what it was from any angle.

I am reminded of some great commercials, the ones that stick with you, but you do not know what they are marketing.

It is a mystery to their detriment.

Jun 07, 2019 12:07 PM