I always bring in a packed lunch in to work, a sarnie, some homemade soup maybe, packet of Roast Beef Monster Munch, bit of fruit, the usual thing. It saves me an absolute fortune and with a wedding to save up for I need all the spare cash I have.

The other day one of the guys commented on the fact that I was carrying an Asda carrier bag. “I had you down as more of a Sainsbury’s girl”. I wasn’t sure how to feel about this statement.

“Why do you think that”, I said.

“ Well, you’re not really an Asda shopper are you?”, he replied

“ Why, what does an Asda customer look like?”, I enquired, this was getting very interesting..

The ‘said’ person was now looking like he wished he’d never said anything “Eh, well a bit on the Chavvy side, you know what I mean”, he then made a hasty retreat.

But this really got me thinking. I suppose if I take into account my demographic group, I’m not really in the Asda target market but no matter where we live or what we earn everyone is cutting back.

But do Value brands need to consider this in the context of their brand and marketing communications? Surely I’m not the only one swapping a Sainsburys splurge for an Asda bargain?

Some brands clearly are taking this shift in demographic on board. Asda in particular have recently launched a ‘M&S’ food style ad campaign called ‘Chosen By You’. Ok so the quality doesn’t look quite on a par with M&S but it ain’t bad and I’m sure is helping to raise the demographic of their customer. It’s all about getting the right balance of messaging between price and product.

But the most obvious one is McDonalds. If I ever fancied a Big Mac hangover cure it would be a quick dash to the Drive Through. Never in a million years would I be seen dead in a McDonalds sitting on a plastic red chair surrounded by empty burger boxes and unwanted pickled gherkins. But with their new ‘restaurant’ refit, better customer service and brilliant Ad campaign I will now quite happily ‘eat in’. And they’re now even talking about putting calorie content on all their food. OK, so this might make me guilty for about 5 seconds but when the Big Mac calls you just can’t resist!

http://www.brandrepublic.com/news/1059846/McDonalds-put-calorie-count-menus/?DCMP=ILC-SEARCH

However, some brands clearly don’t feel they need too address their growing diversity of customer profile. Did anyone see the Mary Portas programme about Customer Service within Value retailers. She used Primark as an example of the lack of Customer Service that exists in this sector. Yet we appear to be happy to ‘put up’ with this in the quest to get a bargain. But for how much longer? With other Value retailers raising their game, these brands really need to take note.

I can honestly say that once upon a time I would have driven past two Asda’s to get to a Sainsbury’s. I did use to be a bit of a brand snob. However, now everyone, no matter what their salary or background, are being drawn to ‘Value’ brands by necessity as well as choice. But these brands really need to take note of this.

Brand snobbery has gone, we are now ‘proud to be prudent!’.

Today marks the 50 years since the fab four played their first gig at the famous Cavern Club in Matthew Street. An area now synonymous with the birth of popular music as we know it and one of the most famous bands of all time.

That could easily be one of the most famous brands of all time though, as 50 years on The Beatles are still at the forefront of creativity with the release of their LOVE app.

The app is a unique collaboration between Apple and Cirque Du Soleil celebrating the musical legacy of the band. Born from a personal friendship and mutual admiration between the late George Harrison and Cirque founder Guy Laliberté, LOVE brings the magic of Cirque du Soleil together with the spirit and passion behind the most beloved rock group of all time to create a vivid, intimate and powerful entertainment experience.

So, forty years after they split The Beatles brand lives on and thanks to the recently agreed deal with Apple iTunes to sell the back catalogue, you can expect to see even more from the fab four in the future.

And their brand only gets stronger. The instantly recognisable “drop-T” logo didn’t actually appear on any of their iconic record sleeves but in this brand-centric age has been adopted as the marque of the band. It’s origins are historical though. Based on an impromptu sketch by instrument retailer and designer Ivor Arbiter in 1963. The logo was first used on the front of Starr’s bass drum, which the band’s manager Brian Epstein and Starr purchased from Arbiter’s London shop.

The record sleeves themselves perfectly reflect the musical journey the band went on. From the raw simplicity of the uncomplicated With the Beatles through to the psychedelic ground breaking Peter Blake montage of Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band.

A personal favourite of mine is the 1966 classic Revolver. Heralding the start of the psychedelic era the artwork featured an illustration by German-born bassist and artist Klaus Voormann, one of the Beatles’ oldest friends from their days at the Star Club in Hamburg. Voormann’s illustration, part line drawing and part collage, included photographs by Robert Whitaker.

1969’s Abbey Road is arguably the most famous record sleeve ever. Designed by Apple Records creative director Kosh. It is the only original UK Beatles album sleeve to show neither the artist name nor the album title on its front cover. The front cover photograph of the group traversing a zebra crossing, was based on sketched ideas by McCartney and taken on 8 August 1969 outside EMI Studios on Abbey Road. At around 11:30 that morning, photographer Iain Macmillan was given only ten minutes to take the photo whilst he stood on a step-ladder and a policeman held up the traffic. The image has since become a classic and the crossing has since been given Grade II listed status and it’s own webcam www.abbeyroad.com/visit

You can download LOVE from iTunes.

Everybody loves to feel like they’re getting a bargain, and nobody likes to feel like they’re being taken for a ride. However, I recently found out that Ryanair can offer you both experiences, one straight after the other.

If you travel regularly you’ll know that the idea of dissecting a flight into it’s many different elements is commonplace, especially amongst budget airlines. If you’re a regular customer of Ryanair you’ll also know that they take it to a whole new level. I’m sure they would see it as simply offering the customer the ability to tailor their flight according to budget and preference, giving choice and flexibility. But in an increasingly competitive environment it’s vital that this approach doesn’t lead to a poor customer experience.

My recent exchange with Irelands number one airline went something like this:

www.ryanair.com – Two flights, from Liverpool to Derry, leaving on Saturday, returning on Sunday.

£50 you say!! For both including taxes!! Wow, bargain. ‘Quick, where’s my credit card? – before it realises it’s made a mistake’

‘Ok, proceed to ‘book cheap flights’…would I like to check-in online?’

‘I suppose so, as it’s the only option available’

‘That’ll be £20′

‘Would I like to take a case?’

‘Erm, yes I think I would’

‘£30!?’

‘I don’t want to buy a case, just take one I already have’

‘What about priority boarding?’

‘I think I can live without that’

‘Ok how about travel insurance, you really should have some of that’

‘How much?’

‘Just £7.00′

‘Erm, ok then – can I pay now?’

‘Of course, just a couple more travel essentials to consider – car hire?’

‘No’

‘Hotel?’

‘No, just the flights please’

‘…SMS text, just £1.00?’

‘No, no, no just let me pay for my flights’

‘Ah, you want to pay?’

‘Yes’

‘By credit card? Tut, tut. That’ll be £20′

‘Aaaaaarghhh….Is there nothing you won’t try and sell to me? Just tell me the total’

‘£127 sir’

‘Thanks but I think I’ll leave it’.

Maybe I’m just tight. Afterall, two flights to Ireland for a total cost of £127 isn’t bad. It’s just the booking process made it feel like daylight robbery. And that was without even taking a flight. God knows what they try and sell you when you’re onboard…