EveryJoe » JK-Rowling

Harry Potter Mini-Film Coming to Universal’s Harry Potter Theme Park

Susan Gunelius — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:39:05 +0000

According to The Sunday Mirror of London, a Harry Potter mini-movie is currently being filmed with Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson of the immensely successful Harry Potter movie franchise. The Harry Potter mini-movie will play a part in the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park scheduled to open at the Universal Studios theme park in Orlando, Florida in 2009 or 2010.

Universal isn’t confirming anything yet, but the rumor also says that J.K. Rowling wrote the story that will be used for the new Harry Potter mini-movie, which would make it yet another authentic brand extension from the Harry Potter brand that is destined for success. It’s the brand that never stops!

You can read more about the marketing behind the Harry Potter brand in my book, Harry Potter: The Story of a Global Business Phenomenon, available now in the U.K. and for pre-order in the U.S. (to be released in the U.S. and other parts of the world in August).

Image: UniversalOrlando.com

Post from: EveryJoe

Vote for Time Magazine’s Person of the Year

Susan Gunelius — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 04:14:12 +0000

Time magazine is giving people the chance to vote for Time’s Person of the Year although Time states that their editors reserve the right to disagree with the people’s vote. Of course, nothing gives a personal brand a boost quite like being named Time’s Person of the Year does.

I guess we can assume the ten people that are listed for users to vote for on Time’s website must be the magazine’s short list for the actual Person of the Year for 2007. The votes so far put the ten candidates for Person of the Year in the following order:

J.K. Rowling
Al Gore
Barack Obama
Steve Jobs
Hillary Clinton
General David Petraeus
Condoleezza Rice
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Hu Jintao
Vladimir Putin

I certainly haven’t always agreed with Time Magazine’s Person of the Year selection in the past, and this short list leaves me dissatisfied, too. Is this really the best they could do? Can you think of any other people who are noticeably absent from this list of candidates for Time’s Person of the Year?

Post from: EveryJoe

Harry Potter: A Case Study in Excellent Branding

Susan Gunelius — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 00:59:58 +0000

The Harry Potter brand is a worldwide phenomenon. With the seventh and final book in the popular series (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) being released today, and the fifth movie in the cinema franchise (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) currently breaking records at the box office, the Harry Potter brand is stronger than ever.

It seems like everywhere you turn people are talking about JK Rowling and Harry Potter. Even E!’s The Soup poked fun at the Harry Potter buzz with a chart similar to the one below.

This got me to thinking of how the Harry Potter brand has creeped into so many aspects of everyday life. From the books and movies to video games, clothes, toys, a theme park and so much more. Throughout the rise of the Harry Potter brand, it has always communicated a consistent message that has attracted people from a myriad of demographic profiles across the globe.

I can see Harry Potter becoming a case study in a college marketing class or the subject for a thesis or even the subject of a book on marketing and branding. It’s not often that a brand comes along that touches so many people and that so many people are sad to see come to an end (at least as far as new books are concerned – or so we’re told).

That’s all for today. Now I have to start reading my new copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Post from: EveryJoe