[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference 7.286::digital

Title:The Digital way of working
Moderator:QUARK::LIONELON
Created:Fri Feb 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5321
Total number of notes:139771

3090.0. "Marketing To Ourselves" by MIMS::SANDERS_J () Fri May 20 1994 15:29

    As an addendum to 3085.
    
    I recently came across a very nice multipage, color glossy piece of
    literature with foldouts titled "Building Brand Equity, Using Our
    Logo".  It explains in great detail everything you ever wanted to know
    about the Digital logo change.  Must have cost a pretty penny to
    produce and distibute.  It was dated 1994.  EE-C3016-50.
    
    The day after I saw this, I was watching the CNBC Financial Network. 
    They were talking about Digital.  Up on the screen, behind the
    newscaster was the Digital logo, the old blue one.
    
    This is a clear illustration of marketing to ourselves.  The PBS
    special does not mention ALPHA, Dan Rather says the PENTIUM is the
    fastest, and a major financial show uses our old logo.
    
    My question:  Does most Digital marketing messages and literature
    simply float around within the confines of the company?
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
3090.1MSBCS::BROWN_LFri May 20 1994 15:436
    yeah, I saw that nice glossy brochure to ourselves on the proper use
    of the new logo.  Isn't it ironic that all outside advertising (except
    for Sable and PC's) is canned, yet we spend money on this?  The final
    insult: somebody wrote into Business Week (and they printed it):
    "Thank you for your article on DEC.  Now I know why the company changed
    its colors from blue to red".  kb
3090.2were good at it.SWAM1::MEUSE_DAFri May 20 1994 16:046
    
    Sable is a car to most people I know.
    
    Like digital is to watches.
    
    
3090.3NOTIME::SACKSGerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085Fri May 20 1994 17:551
To the very wealthy, Sable is a coat.
3090.4SEND::PARODIJohn H. Parodi DTN 381-1640Fri May 20 1994 18:274
    
    To the medium-wealthy, sable is smoked fish.
    
    JP
3090.5OKFINE::KENAHEvery old sock meets an old shoe...Fri May 20 1994 19:061
    To an artist, sable is a type of brush.
3090.6ashes to ashes?BBRDGE::LOVELLFri May 20 1994 19:355
    Over here, "sable" means literally "sand" (hmmm - silicon connection?)
    
    /Chris 
    
    
3090.7CTHQ::DELUCOPremature GrandparentFri May 20 1994 19:443
    To telecommunications, "sable" is a wire...oh, wait, that's "cable".
    
    Jim
3090.8HYDRA::BECKPaul BeckFri May 20 1994 19:533
    It's also shorthand for the letter A, if there's static on the line:
    
    "ssSAblesssBakersssCharlie..."
3090.9CSOA1::LENNIGDave (N8JCX), MIG, @CYOFri May 20 1994 20:141
    "Say Bill, what we gonna call this thing?"
3090.10Sable Story...HLDE01::VUURBOOM_RRoelof Vuurboom @ APD, DTN 829 4066Sun May 22 1994 10:4217
    Apparently, one story goes that Bob was answering some
    questions from analysts...talking about the upcoming machine
    said...
    
    "A helluva machine, it's able...will make life tough for the
     competition."
    
    One anaylst apparently misinterpreted this and quoted in his press
    report:
    
    "A helluva machine...it, Sable, will make life tough for the
    competition".
    
    From this it started turning up in externally originated press
    reports under the name "Sable". Finally, internal marketing
    started using this name also and so Sable came into being.
                   
3090.11 Long live ALPHA! 8-) SUBURB::POWELLMNostalgia isn't what it used to be!Mon May 23 1994 08:489
    
    	Hey!  What gives here?  Able, Baker, Charlie ....
    
    	You must at least twenty years out of date there!!!
    
    	Doncha know it's ALPHA, BRAVO, Charlie .... now?
                         ^^^^^
    
    				Malcolm.
3090.12MUZICK::WARNERIt's only work if they make you do itMon May 23 1994 12:531
    Believe it or not, it's ALFA (international spelling)
3090.13What did it cost?VMSNET::M_MACIOLEKFour54 Camaro/Only way to flyMon May 23 1994 16:453
    How much did we spend on changing our logo.  Really.
    
    MadMike
3090.14AKOCOA::BBARRYLaudabamusne RexMon May 23 1994 16:533
    <- Too much, at any cost!
    
    /Bob
3090.15GIDDAY::SETHIBetter to ask a question than remain ignorantWed May 25 1994 05:3925
    Hi All,                                

    Well the latest is that Bob Palmer is going to cancel all ads. because
    we do not give a consistent image of the company when we do place ads.

    I must admit if this is true then it's the best thing that has
    happened.  What a shambles when it comes to placing ads. our image is
    non-existent.  To the world Digital stands for watches at best and at
    worse people don't know what we make.

    It also looks like we may have one company to do all our image building
    worldwide.  I believe this would be a wise move and part of the
    recovery must include an ad. campaign that fixes our image in the minds
    of our customers and potential customers.  Digital has to be seen as a
    solid, technically capable company if we are to gain new market share.

    We know internally we are capable but the world hasn't got a clue.  If
    we can start the ball rolling now in this area and go back to making a
    buck we will be well set.  A friend of mine said "What's the difference
    between Digital and WANG ?"  and the answer is "About 5 years", that
    sends a sudder up my spine, I hope not.
    
    Regards,

    Sunil
3090.16PERLE::glantzMike, Paris Research Lab, 776-2836Wed May 25 1994 10:557
>    It also looks like we may have one company to do all our image building
>    worldwide.  I believe this would be a wise move and part of the

This could be good or bad, depending on how it's done. US-based
companies don't often demonstrate much awareness of cultural
differences. They tend to believe that what works in the States works
everywhere. EuroDisney is a perfect example.
3090.17On the IBM front...TALLIS::PARADISThere's a feature in my soup!Wed May 25 1994 16:3810
    In a somewhat related development, I heard on the radio this morning
    that IBM is shifting all of their advertising to a single agency,
    dropping the 40-odd other agencies they're using now.  The stated reason 
    for this move is so that they can project a more consistent image
    worldwide...
    
    FWIW,
    
    --jim
    
3090.18GIDDAY::SETHIBetter to ask a question than remain ignorantThu May 26 1994 01:4631
    Hi All,
    
    Just to add prior to Digitals involvement in the educational sector in
    the UK I had never heard of Digital/DEC.  We were using an ICL 1900A at
    the University and I hated using this machine it waas so user
    unfriendly, this was back in 1981/2.
    
    Then DEC replaced the ICL 1900A and all us had one comment and that was
    "This is what computing ought to be" the operating system VAX/VMS was
    the best feature.  All of us wanted to join companies that were VAX
    sites as we found the OS of other vendors so inferior and user
    unfriendly.
    
    My question is why after my first contact with Digital 12 years back
    have we not made an impression in the minds of the public as a major IT
    company ?  The Digital brand name is not associated with this company
    but with watches !!!!
    
    We need to build our image and visibility in the market place there is
    no way of avoiding this.  This is a great company and we deserve as
    active works the best from our management and we are not getting it. 
    I am proud to be working for Digital but it's not nice having to
    explain to friends or people I meet socially that Digital is a major
    manufacturer of computers and a world leader in many fields.  My
    friends are suprised and ask the question why have we not heard of
    Digital.  They know of IBM, HP, SUN, Compac, MicroSoft, WordPerfect, Novel
    to name a few.
    
    Regards,
    
    Sunil 
3090.19 DIGITAL WHO ????????????TRUCKS::MILES_BExtinction is FOREVERThu May 26 1994 11:0712
    
    	Over this side of the pond ......
    	You may have heard the UK is about to (has just)launched its
    National Lottery.
    
    	According to the Login Message on our cluster DEC (whoops sorry
    DIGITAL) has won the computing portion of this and will be supplying
    VAX's etc to the prime contractor............ yet low and behold on the
    National news there's the guy receiving the contract stranding in front
    of a large advertising hoarding displaying ... not DIGITAL .... but ICL
    is the Computing partner
    ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
3090.20ARRODS::WHITEHEADJWayne's got blue eyes!Thu May 26 1994 11:571
    Read the last topic (I think) in ROCKS::UK_DIGITAL for more information.
3090.21PLAYER::BROWNLA-mazed on the info Highway!Thu May 26 1994 12:246
    RE: .18
    
    Your experience with VMS has been echoed a million times since.
    Unfortunately though, it's been with UNIX...
    
    Laurie.