The Unified Brand - Branding Podcast

Elements Brand Management
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Marketing
  • Updated Weekly

The Unified Brand, a branding podcast that touches on brand building and brand strategy to help directors, founders, owners, marketers and entrepreneurs to unlock their brand's potential so they can stand out from the competition and create impact. Discover and uncover your businesses often neglected superpower and how you can harness this and use it to create an impact in a way that delights and enriches your customers. The biggest and fastest-growing brands in the world understand branding, they make sure every brand touchpoint is unified and on-brand and is fuelled by purpose and clear brand vision. Join Chris Outlaw as he demystifies and simplifies this often misunderstood practice. Chris is also occasionally joined by expert branding guests who will give you a wider understanding of the topic.

  1. 2d ago

    How to Create a Category Your Brand Can Own

    What if the best way to beat your competition… was to stop competing with them altogether? In this episode of The Unified Brand Podcast, Chris Outlaw explores category design, the strategy of creating and owning a new market category rather than fighting for attention in an existing one. Category-leading brands don’t simply differentiate themselves. They redefine the problem, change how customers think about the market, and position their brand as the obvious solution. Chris breaks down the principles behind category design, including the Magic Triangle of product, company, and narrative, and explains how brands can build a category that customers understand, remember, and associate with them. You’ll discover: • What category design actually means — and why it goes far beyond rebranding• Why category leaders can escape traditional feature and price comparisons• How to define the problem your new category exists to solve• The Magic Triangle of product design, company design, and category narrative• How brands like Salesforce, HubSpot, Tesla, and Oatly changed how their markets were perceived• Six practical steps for becoming a category leader• Why educating the market is critical when introducing a new category• How to name and frame your category so customers understand it• Why internal alignment matters just as much as external marketing• The danger of diversifying before you truly own your position If your business operates in a crowded market and differentiation alone isn’t getting you noticed, category design could give you another way to think about positioning. Define the category. Tell the story. And build a position your brand can own. ----- Whether you’re a founder, marketing director, or business leader managing a growing brand across multiple teams or regions, this episode will help you identify the hidden friction points holding your brand back. Take the Brand Power Assessment: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BrandPowerScore.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Book a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Brand Discovery Call:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe for more episodes focused on building stronger, smarter, and more unified brands. Watch podcast clips & deep dives on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elements Brand Management⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    How to Create a Category Your Brand Can Own

  2. Sep 24

    When Should You Rebrand? Building a Brand That Lasts with Christy Madden

    When does a brand need to change, and when does it need the conviction to keep building on what already works? Chris Outlaw is joined by Christy Madden, Strategy Director at Ragged Edge, to explore how brands create lasting value through a clear idea, meaningful difference and consistent execution. Drawing on work with Wise, Monzo and Granola, Christy explains how to recognise existing brand equity, make strategy simple enough for an entire organisation to use, and resist change driven by novelty alone. In this episode, they discuss: How to decide what to preserve during a rebrandWhy a brand idea needs time to build recognitionHow Granola found a distinctive position in a crowded AI categoryWhy brand strategy should guide product, messaging and marketing decisionsHow to stand out even when your business has no unique product featureFor founders and marketing leaders weighing up a rebrand, this conversation offers a practical question to start with: what is already working, and what idea are you prepared to commit to? Explore Ragged Edge’s work: raggededge.com Ragged Edge Instagram Ragged Edge Linkedin Connect with Christy Madden --------------------------------------------------------------- Do Feel like your brand could use improving but not sure where to start? Or are you looking to build upon and grow your existing brand to create more impact? Or are you seeking an impactful, iconic and memorable logo and brand identity system? Schedule a brand discovery consultation call here - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.elementsbrandmanagement.o.uk/schedule-a-call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    When Should You Rebrand? Building a Brand That Lasts with Christy Madden

  3. Sep 17

    Why Great Brands Need Permission to Play — Paul Blackburn, Founder of Studio Blackburn

    What if brand consistency is actually holding your brand back? In this episode of The Unified Brand Podcast, Chris Outlaw sits down with Paul Blackburn, founder and CEO of Studio Blackburn, to explore why the strongest brands need more than rigid rules — they need permission to play. Drawing on more than 25 years in design and branding, Paul shares how creativity, strategy and experimentation can work together to build brands with greater clarity and character. They explore why measurement can sometimes suffocate great creative ideas, whether consistency is really the virtue brands assume it is, and why traditional brand guidelines may no longer suit the way modern brands need to behave. Paul also explains the idea of “brand stretch”: treating a brand less like a fixed identity and more like a set of ingredients that can be combined in different ways without losing what makes the brand recognizable. You’ll discover: • Why brands need permission to play• The tension between consistency and creativity• Why traditional brand guidelines may be becoming outdated• How to escape your industry’s “sector vernacular”• Why brands can’t communicate everything — and shouldn’t try• How to identify the 1% of your brand that people actually need to hear• Why great brand strategy is as much about what you leave out as what you include• How creative teams can produce better ideas without fear of getting things wrong• Why pitching great creative work is about more than the work itself• What LEGO, Airbnb and the Olympic brand can teach us about brand stretch If your brand has become too controlled, too predictable or too similar to everyone else in your category, this conversation will challenge the way you think about consistency. 🎙️ The Unified Brand Podcast — helping founders and marketers build brands that stand out, connect and grow. Paul Blackburn – LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/blackburnpaulStudio Blackburn – Website: studioblackburn.comStudio Blackburn – Instagram: instagram.com/studioblackburnStudio Blackburn – LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/studioblackburn --------------------------------------------------------------- Do Feel like your brand could use improving but not sure where to start? Or are you looking to build upon and grow your existing brand to create more impact? Or are you seeking an impactful, iconic and memorable logo and brand identity system? Schedule a brand discovery consultation call here - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.elementsbrandmanagement.o.uk/schedule-a-call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Why Great Brands Need Permission to Play — Paul Blackburn, Founder of Studio Blackburn

  4. Sep 10

    Personal Branding Isn’t About You: How to Become Valuable & Visible with Vanessa Errecarte

    What if everything you’ve been told about personal branding is backwards? In this episode of The Unified Brand Podcast, Chris Outlaw is joined by marketing strategist, bestselling author and founder of Marketing Simplified, Vanessa Errecarte, to explore why the strongest personal brands aren’t built through constant self-promotion — they’re built by being useful. Vanessa shares her service-first approach to personal branding and explains how founders, marketers and professionals can turn their knowledge and experience into distinctive thought leadership that people actually remember. You’ll discover how to develop a counterintuitive point of view, why being different matters more than simply being visible, and how Vanessa’s TRUTH framework can help you transform expertise into memorable content. Chris and Vanessa also explore how AI is changing online discovery, why distinctive ideas could become increasingly important in AI-powered search, and why imperfect, human content can often create more trust than highly polished content. In this episode: • Why personal branding isn’t really about you• How to find your distinctive, counterintuitive point of view• Vanessa’s TRUTH framework for developing thought leadership• Why memorability should come before growth• The biggest personal branding mistakes professionals make• How to test ideas before doubling down on them• Why consistency matters more than constantly creating content• How AI is changing search and online visibility• Why imperfection can actually strengthen trust• How to turn expertise into speaking and career opportunities• The thinking behind Vanessa’s book, Valuable & Visible If you want to build a personal brand that creates credibility and opportunities without becoming an influencer or constantly talking about yourself, this episode is for you. CONNECT WITH VANESSA ERRECARTE Website:https://vanessaerrecarte.com/ LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-errecarte Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/vanessaerrecarte/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/vanessa.errecarte/ Marketing Simplified:https://marketingsimplified.com/ GET THE BOOK Valuable & Visible: Redefining Personal Branding by Leading with Impact Over Image Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Valuable-Visible-Redefining-Personal-Branding/dp/1394395000 Take our free 4-minute Brand Power Assessment → ⁠BrandPowerScore.co.uk⁠ Catch visual brand tips on our ⁠YouTube channel⁠ ------------------------- If you're a founder or marketer looking to build a brand people genuinely care about, this is a must-listen. 🎧 Take the free Brand Power Score assessment: ⁠⁠⁠brandpowerscore.co.uk⁠⁠⁠ --------------------------------------------------------------- Do Feel like your brand could use improving but not sure where to start? Or are you looking to build upon and grow your existing brand to create more impact? Or are you seeking an impactful, iconic and memorable logo and brand identity system? Schedule a brand discovery consultation call here - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.elementsbrandmanagement.o.uk/schedule-a-call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Personal Branding Isn’t About You: How to Become Valuable & Visible with Vanessa Errecarte

  5. Sep 3

    How Lego Rebuilt an Iconic Brand: A Masterclass in Strategic Reinvention

    In the early 2000s, Lego was spiraling toward bankruptcy. Today? It's a cultural juggernaut across movies, video games, theme parks, and beyond. In this episode of The Unified Brand Podcast, we break down how Lego saved itself from collapse through brand clarity, community building, and strategic reinvention. Learn how they returned to their core identity, leveraged global collaborations, and created an ecosystem far beyond the brick. You’ll discover: Why Lego lost its way—and how it got back on track The power of staying true to your brand DNA How embracing pop culture transformed Lego into a global force What your business can learn from Lego's bold brand moves Whether you're a founder, marketer, or brand strategist, this is your blueprint for turning struggle into brand strength. Take our free 4-minute Brand Power Assessment → BrandPowerScore.co.uk Catch visual brand tips on our YouTube channel ------------------------- If you're a founder or marketer looking to build a brand people genuinely care about, this is a must-listen. 🎧 Take the free Brand Power Score assessment: ⁠⁠brandpowerscore.co.uk⁠⁠ --------------------------------------------------------------- Do Feel like your brand could use improving but not sure where to start? Or are you looking to build upon and grow your existing brand to create more impact? Or are you seeking an impactful, iconic and memorable logo and brand identity system? Schedule a brand discovery consultation call here - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.elementsbrandmanagement.o.uk/schedule-a-call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    How Lego Rebuilt an Iconic Brand: A Masterclass in Strategic Reinvention

  6. Aug 27

    Stop Reinventing Your Brand: Find the Truth That Makes You Different | Meghan Labot

    Why do some brands become genuinely loved while others are simply bought? In this episode of The Unified Brand Podcast, Chris Outlaw sits down with Meghan Labot, Managing Director for North America at LOVE, to explore how brands can uncover what makes them distinctive, remain culturally relevant, and build deeper connections with their audiences. Meghan explains why great brand strategy isn't necessarily about inventing something new. Instead, it starts by uncovering an undeniable brand truth—something authentic to your history, identity, and purpose—and using it as the foundation for everything that follows. They explore why brands need to think beyond traditional product categories and start competing for moments in people's lives, how cultural shifts create new opportunities, why chasing trends can make brands lose their identity, and how heritage brands can evolve without abandoning the equity that made them successful. Meghan also shares the thinking behind LOVE's work with Back to Nature and Moët Ice Impérial, including how an unexpectedly simple observation about a champagne bottle helped inspire a distinctive creative idea. Plus, Meghan reveals why certainty creates confidence—and how finding something your brand can be certain about can give leaders the courage to make braver creative decisions. If you're a founder, marketer, strategist, or business leader trying to build a brand people don't just recognize but genuinely care about, this episode is for you.  In this episode: Why the strongest brands transcend their productsHow to uncover your brand's undeniable truthWhy cultural relevance shouldn't mean chasing trendsHow to compete for moments instead of categoriesWhy heritage brands should evolve rather than reinventHow looking outside your category can reveal cultural opportunitiesWhy great creative ideas often feel obvious in hindsightHow certainty can give brands the confidence to be brave Meghan Labot — LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/meghanlabot LOVE — Website: lovecreative.com LOVE — LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/love- LOVE — Blog / News & Insights: lovecreative.com/blog ----- Whether you’re a founder, marketing director, or business leader managing a growing brand across multiple teams or regions, this episode will help you identify the hidden friction points holding your brand back. Take the Brand Power Assessment: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BrandPowerScore.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Book a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Brand Discovery Call:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe for more episodes focused on building stronger, smarter, and more unified brands. Watch podcast clips & deep dives on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elements Brand Management⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Stop Reinventing Your Brand: Find the Truth That Makes You Different | Meghan Labot

  7. Aug 14

    How Athletes Are Becoming Global Brands | Joe Pattison, EMW Global

    Athletes are no longer just competing on the pitch — they’re becoming powerful global brands, media platforms and commercial assets in their own right. In this episode of The Unified Brand Podcast, Chris is joined by Joe Pattison, VP of Marketing at EMW Global, a global sports marketing agency specialising in talent representation, brand partnerships, activation and content. Joe breaks down insights from EMW Global and x+y Market Intelligence’s Athlete Brand Economy Report and explores how social media, personal branding and changing fan behaviour are transforming sports marketing and athlete sponsorship. We discuss why younger fans are increasingly following individual athletes rather than clubs, how major sporting moments can rapidly increase an athlete’s visibility and commercial value, and why authenticity is critical when building successful athlete-brand partnerships. Joe also explains how athletes are using data to better understand their commercial value, why personal brands are being built earlier in athletes’ careers, and how agencies and brands can turn global attention into long-term commercial opportunities. In this episode, we cover: • The rise of the athlete brand economy• How social media has changed sports marketing• Athlete personal branding and commercial value• Why authenticity matters in athlete sponsorships• How brands choose the right athlete partnerships• The shift from club loyalty to athlete-led fandom• How data can measure athlete influence and marketability• Building athlete brands beyond their playing careers• Global sports marketing and localisation• The future of sports sponsorship and brand partnerships If you're a founder, marketer, brand strategist or sports marketing professional interested in personal branding, sponsorship, social media and the changing economics of sport, this episode offers a fascinating look at where athlete marketing is heading next. Listen now to discover why the future of sports marketing may increasingly belong to the athletes themselves. Joe Pattison — LinkedIn: Joe Pattison on LinkedIn. EMW Global: EMW Global official websitex+y Market Intelligence: x+y Market Intelligence official website.  The Athlete Brand Economy Report: Read the Athlete Brand Economy Report onlineDirect PDF: Download the Athlete Brand Economy Report PDF ----- Whether you’re a founder, marketing director, or business leader managing a growing brand across multiple teams or regions, this episode will help you identify the hidden friction points holding your brand back. Take the Brand Power Assessment: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BrandPowerScore.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Book a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Brand Discovery Call:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe for more episodes focused on building stronger, smarter, and more unified brands. Watch podcast clips & deep dives on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elements Brand Management⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    How Athletes Are Becoming Global Brands | Joe Pattison, EMW Global

  8. Aug 6

    IKEA's Secret Brand Strategy: Why Flat-Pack Furniture Was Never About Saving Money

    Everyone thinks IKEA's success comes down to affordable furniture, flat-pack boxes, and Swedish meatballs. They're wrong. Behind every IKEA decision—from the flat-pack design and product names to the store layout and restaurant—is one powerful brand philosophy that has remained remarkably consistent for over 70 years. In this episode of The Unified Brand Podcast, we unpack one of the greatest examples of unified branding ever created and reveal why IKEA isn't just selling furniture—it's expressing a belief through every customer touchpoint. You'll discover: Why flat-pack furniture is a brand strategy—not just a logistics solution.The hidden purpose behind IKEA's famous Swedish product names.How the store layout, restaurant, pricing model, and catalogue all reinforce the same core promise.Why the strongest brand signals often come from operational decisions, not marketing campaigns.How any business can turn everyday processes into powerful brand differentiators.If you want to build a brand that's memorable, consistent, and impossible to copy, this episode is packed with practical insights you can apply immediately. 🎧 Subscribe for weekly episodes helping founders, marketers, and business leaders build brands smarter, not harder. ----- Whether you’re a founder, marketing director, or business leader managing a growing brand across multiple teams or regions, this episode will help you identify the hidden friction points holding your brand back. Take the Brand Power Assessment: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BrandPowerScore.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Book a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Brand Discovery Call:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe for more episodes focused on building stronger, smarter, and more unified brands. Watch podcast clips & deep dives on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elements Brand Management⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    IKEA's Secret Brand Strategy: Why Flat-Pack Furniture Was Never About Saving Money
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About

The Unified Brand, a branding podcast that touches on brand building and brand strategy to help directors, founders, owners, marketers and entrepreneurs to unlock their brand's potential so they can stand out from the competition and create impact. Discover and uncover your businesses often neglected superpower and how you can harness this and use it to create an impact in a way that delights and enriches your customers. The biggest and fastest-growing brands in the world understand branding, they make sure every brand touchpoint is unified and on-brand and is fuelled by purpose and clear brand vision. Join Chris Outlaw as he demystifies and simplifies this often misunderstood practice. Chris is also occasionally joined by expert branding guests who will give you a wider understanding of the topic.

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