A glossary of brand terms.
Brand Terms
Abandonment:

The discontinuance of a brand.

See: Decline Stage

Accelerator Principle:

An increase or reduction in consumer demand will affect several layers of demand in related markets.

Acceptable Price Range:

Consumers expectation regarding the price of a product and/or category; consumers are unwilling to buy goods that are priced too low, for fear that the product will be inferior, or too high because the expected benefit is believed not to be worth the price.

Access Barriers:

Factors that reduce the size of a market by preventing potential customers from purchasing a particular product. (e.g., tariffs and legal restrictions)

Accessibility:

Ability for a brand to reach and adequately serve its target market.

Acculturation:

The process by which people in one culture or subculture learn to understand and adapt to the norms, values, lifestyles, and behaviors of people in another culture or subculture.

Acquisition Branding:

Branding efforts focused on acquiring new customers.

See: Retention Branding

Action Plan:

A plan detailing how major tasks will be managed and implemented, who will do them, and when.

Added Value:

Ability for a brand to add perceived and/or actual value to a product or service as a result of a particular activity. (e.g., quality, exclusivity, fashion)

Adoption:

Consumer decision to purchase one brand over another.

Aesthetic:

Underlying principles manifested by outward appearances of style—look and feel.

After-Sales Service:

The services received after the original goods or services have been paid for. Often, this service is provided as part of a warranty or guarantee.

See: Customer Relationship Management

Aspirational Brand:

A brand with whom a consumer desires to be associated with.

See: Aspirational Group

Aspirational Group:

A reference group that an individual consumer wants to join or be associated with.

See: Aspirational Brand

Atmospherics:

An environment, typically retail, designed to best express a brand and enhance the brand experience. The elements that contribute to atmospherics range from architectural layout, surface materials, and lighting to sound, temperature, and kinetics.

Attack Strategy:

Leveraging the same point of difference as a competitor in an attempt to overtake the position.

Attribute(s):

The tangible and intangible brand characteristics, measured in terms of strengths and weaknesses, facts and opinions.

Audience:

The target consumer segment who the brand message aims to address.

See: Demographics, Ethnographics, Psychographics

Authenticity:

Possessing attributes or characteristics that provide a consumer with a reason to believe that an offering is superior. These may include: Certifications (e.g.: Certified Organic), Country of Origin (e.g.: Made in Germany), Region (e.g.: champagne), Technology (e.g.: Gortex), Ritual (e.g.: Carona's slice of lime), Materials (e.g.: genuine leather), Process (e.g: Budwiser - "beach wood aged"), Heritage (e.g: hand made)…

See: Country of Origin

Automatic Selling:

The retail sale of goods or services by means of a vending machine.

Awareness Set:

The group of competitive brands of which a consumer is aware.

See: Competitive Set

Awareness Study:

A study of consumer's recognition and familiarity of a brand.

See: Prompted Awareness , Spontaneous Awareness