Rescuing and Reviving 007’s Car Brand

I am talking about Aston Martin, of course. Hard to imagine that the ultimate rescue vehicle for 007 is now itself in need of rescuing. I was quite surprised by the news that Aston Martin is in financial trouble and that its Q2 2026 earnings were very disappointing. I wonder why this should be, and… Continue reading Rescuing and Reviving 007’s Car Brand

The Strong Profits, Weak Investment Conundrum of the Private Sector

As corporate earnings stream in for Q1 FY27 they seem to be suggesting that revenue growth is good, albeit weakening, and that margins are under pressure. This is hardly surprising since most companies do not seem to have responded to rising prices of inputs and commodities with price increases. Therefore, margins are under pressure, though… Continue reading The Strong Profits, Weak Investment Conundrum of the Private Sector

Brands’ Connections with Companies Explained

Having written and shared my thoughts on several brands and companies on my blog for many years, and having embarked on a more focused Brandology exercise this year, I thought it’s perhaps time to share my thoughts on how brands are actually connected with companies and explain my thinking a little more. Brands and companies… Continue reading Brands’ Connections with Companies Explained

Getting “Stagnation Nation” to Grow Again

As I write this in Goa, India, Britain is experiencing political turmoil, the kind it hasn’t seen in decades. In fact, it is reported that with Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, stepping down as leader of the Labour Party, UK will soon have its seventh prime minister in ten years. Both the main political parties… Continue reading Getting “Stagnation Nation” to Grow Again

Imagining the AI Economy

“Open AI’s definition of AGI (artificial general intelligence): Highly autonomous systems that outperform humans at most economically valuable work.” “Computer science and AI community are gripped by an ideological vision that places AGI, meaning machines, that exceed all human capabilities, as its highest possible pursuit.” The statements above are from a research paper/essay by MIT… Continue reading Imagining the AI Economy

What We Can Learn from China’s Two Speed Economy

The world’s second largest economy has mostly been in the news for its slowing domestic consumption and for the overcapacity it has generated in high-tech industries which still keeps powering the economy through exports. While both these are true, it is perhaps time to explore the Chinese economy a little more in detail for it’s… Continue reading What We Can Learn from China’s Two Speed Economy

Protected: July Jaunt at The Whistle Library

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

Gap Clothing’s California Connection

In continuation of my Brandology thinking and work this year, especially that of exploring brands’ connections with companies, I thought I’d turn my mind to fashion brands. Actually, it occurred to me that I haven’t worked on American brands on my blog all these years, save for American Express and Pepsi, and therefore, I thought… Continue reading Gap Clothing’s California Connection

India Must Untie the Economic Knots It Has Tied Itself Up In

The Iran war is into its fourth month, when it was supposed to end in 4-6 weeks according to President Trump. And we are all aware of the dangers this prolonged conflict is posing to our economy here in India as well as around the world. India in particular is affected through the external sector,… Continue reading India Must Untie the Economic Knots It Has Tied Itself Up In

Brands’ Connections with Companies – Titan Wristwatches (Part 2)

In my previous blog post on how brands are connected with companies, I had shared my thoughts on a new brand strategy for Titan wristwatches that I recommend. This is to strengthen the Titan brand and to enable it to compete better with international competition as well as to explore international markets at a later… Continue reading Brands’ Connections with Companies – Titan Wristwatches (Part 2)