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The 100-Year Brand

Lately, I've been asking our customers about what they really mean when they ask for help in revamping their brand. I’m looking for a more specific outcome they seek via a rebrand or redesign or barnd shift. Most of them said they're looking for a strong brand that can stand the test of time and cross borders. The rest? They just want their brand to be around for ages.

That's what got me thinking about crafting a 100-year brand.

So, I started wondering, "Isn’t this something we’d want for ourselves?" Especially since we’ve just celebrated 45 years of being part of the business world as a global strategic brand consultancy. Turns out, after having involved several of my colleagues, the answer is yes!

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It’s an ambitious goal, but with some long-term strategic planning, resilience, and flexibility, we agreed that we’re well on our way. Here’s what we’re focusing on as we craft a 100-year brand for ourselves:

Purpose: We’ve got an exciting roadmap for our future. Our vision is clear on what we're about and where we’re headed. Our mission keeps us focused and on track every day.

Core values: Our values really show what the MetaDesign brand stands for. They guide our actions and shape who we are.

Quality and consistency: We aim to deliver top-quality in everything we do. Whether it’s our people, products, technology, or services, or just how we interact with others, we’re all about consistency and excellence.

Adaptability and innovation: We encourage fresh thinking and stay flexible with changes and we’re ready to switch things up when needed.

Strong customer relationships: We’ve built solid bonds with our customers by delivering excellent brand strategy and creative expression, and staying really plugged into our community. We take in feedback and tweak things to stay in tune with what people need.

Authenticity and trust: Trust is at the heart of what we do, and we keep it through transparency and staying real.

Measuring and evolving: We’re always watching market trends and how our customers feel, making sure we’re learning and changing as we go.

Sustainability and responsibility: We're committed to being socially responsible. It helps our image in a world where these issues matter more every day.

Effective leadership: Our leadership champions our brand’s vision and values. We’re making every effort to set ourselves up for strong leadership now and in the future.

Brand heritage and storytelling: We tap into our rich history and share stories that build a sense of tradition. These stories help us connect with our audience on a deeper level.

Global perspective with local relevance: We respect local culture while keeping our brand’s global identity consistent.

Financial stability: We’ve on top of our finances, supporting ongoing growth and steering us through any economic bumps.

Now you might wonder—do we really do all this? Sure, there might be some doubters, but I’m confident we do. Maybe not as perfectly as we hope just yet, but we take on a lot, and we do it well.

I believe we've got what it takes to become a 100-year brand. Everything we’ve been doing thus far for our customers has been leading us towards just that. This means we’re more than ready to help others do the same.

Reach out to us in the new year, and we can work together to make it happen for you.

Rupali is Managing Director of MetaDesign US and Chief Growth Officer at MetaDesign Germany. Contact her at rupali.steinmeyer@metadesign.com.