Gem of the day

The commentary continues:

"For BP to survive now in the US – it might mean no more than a name change. BP is still facing pressure from many in the US to rename its American service stations or provide those who sell BP brand items with tools to counter the loss of customer loyalty."

And here's the branding expert analysis of how BP can forge this superficial route forward (AIG, anyone?):

"“Some things definitely need to go. … So here’s an idea that just might work. Bring back the Amoco name. You purchased the brand some years ago, and ultimately shuttered it. It may be ready for a new look and a comeback,” said Jamey Boiter, a brand strategist at BOLTgroup, in a FastCompany report."

Thanks for that insight, Jamey. But wait! It gets even better:

"There are even some analysts who argue that BP will come out of this disaster “reinvigorated”."

I need more coffee.

Bonus bonus gem

The crisis management experts are still getting calls to interpret BP's experience in the aftermath of the disaster. Incredible stuff, really--especially now that the House Committee on Energy and Commerce has demanded BP provide a quote for how much the company has spent on advertising since April. Word to the wise: it's looking to be around a cool $1 million weekly. Magically enough, here's Gene Grabowski, senior vice president and chair of the crisis and litigation practice at Levick Strategic Communications, on why that figure shouldn't raise any eyebrows:

"A million dollars a week is nothing. I don't know how much they're spending, but it's probably less than they would have spent on a global ad campaign to advertise the benefits of what they generally do."

So what kind of advertising is this apparently well-spent money going towards?

"In a crisis, issue-based advertising is essential. You have a relationship with your customers, and implied in that relationship in the 21st century is a conversation."

Incredible. But it still gets better. Here's the subsequent summary of Grabowski's commentary provided by CNN Money:

"Grabowski says there's a critical moment in advertising after a crisis when people are still tuned in to the product, but aren't anxious anymore. This is when companies start to release more product promotion ads to regain trust. BP isn't there yet by a long shot."

Isn't there yet? So hopefully the crisis aftermath will dissolve quietly soon, so that BP can get back to selling its core product: oil. And continue the veneer of 'doing the right thing' for consumers.

To cap it off--sorry I couldn't resist--here's what Grabowski has to say about Congressional demand for the numbers from BP:

"I'm frankly surprised that Congress would do this," Grabowski says. "I think that for executives at BP and throughout the oil industry, this might appear to be piling on."

Gem of the day

I'll be clear: fashion is the last industry I would ever expect to deliver an appropriate--let alone any--response to the BP disaster. But deliver a response they have, and it looks like this. Plus, here's a highlight of their explanation:

"In the face of this dramatic, catastrophic stalling, the images of Steven Meisel make up a precious reportage that delivers an artistic impact. Unforgettable images, created purposely to unnerve the viewer, capture the reality of the situation."

In a phrase: oh no they didn't. Thanks, Vogue Italy. It's unreal.

Bonus bonus gem

 More revelations of corporate attempts to 'brand the planet' and associated terminology today. Prepare yourself for this one, it's a whopper: cement industry heavyweight LaFarge copywrites 'Sustainable'. Yep, that's right: SustainableTM.

I have to say, this initiative is second only to Bank of America's 'Commitment to Sustainable Business', which superimposes the bank's logo over an image of--ah yes--the planet.