New Branding, New Experience

Two brands that I happen to "walk by" on almost a daily basis have just undergone a new branding identity -- Duane Reade and Holiday Inn. If you are not from NY, then you may not know that Duane Reade is a local drug store chain. Think CVS with a Brooklyn accent. And of course Holiday Inn is that hotel we all stayed at on family vacations as kids.

Both with bold new logos that are strikingly contemporary. I won't comment on if I like the logos or not, because that's not the point that I'm trying to make.

With a new brand identity, comes the expectation that the brand experience will also be updated. At least in consumers' minds. So if Duane Reade and Holiday Inn are going to make their identities more bold and more contemporary, then so too should be their brand experience.

I've noticed that in some of the Duane Reade locations this is becoming true, and in some not so much. Not sure about Holiday Inn, although I could easily take an educated guess :)

What's your experience? Jim.