Win copies of the Superbrands book

This week on Brand Malaysia with Peter Pek, we are giving you the chance to win a copy of the Superbrands book, courtesy of Superbrands. We have 10 Superbrands books worth over RM200 each from various countries to giveaway. Be one of the lucky people to win!

The launch of a Superbrands book in Finland
For illustration purposes only. Books to be given away are from different countries

To enter, just send us an SMS. Type R24 BRAND followed by why you like listening to Brand Malaysia. And don't forget your name. Then, send your SMS to 32728. It's that easy!

EXAMPLE:

"R24 BRAND I like Brand Malaysia because... Johan."

Send to 32728

You can send as many entries as you like. This contest ends at midnight, 7 March 2008.

Superbrands and branding on television

In Week 9's episode of Brand Malaysia with Peter Pek, Peter talks to Mark Pointer, Regional Chief Executive Officer of Superbrands, and Anne Low, Partner and Producer of Popiah Pictures.

Superbrands is the world’s leading independent arbiter of brands, and also the largest, operating in more than 80 countries around the world. Its invitation-only programme promotes the world’s best and most valued brands, and provides brands with a marketing, PR and promotions platform. Members of Superbrands read like a who’s who of branding. They include some of the world’s most iconic brands like Coca-Cola, American Express, Sony, Nokia and McDonald's.

Under a completely new management team in Malaysia, Superbrands has put a revamped programme in place. In addition, Mark reveals exclusively to Brand Malaysia with Peter Pek, that Superbrands will be launching Superbrands TV for the very first time, and that Malaysia has been selected as the first country to run this extension programme. Superbrands TV is a 30-minute documentary and infotainment show which will feature two brands per episode. It will be broadcast on national television and is expected to have its worldwide première in the later part of 2008.

Popiah Pictures is one of Malaysia’s leading independent drama and TV production houses, and is the company behind some of Malaysia’s most dynamic, fresh and exciting drama series, from the glamorous ‘Getting Together’, to the sophisticated ‘Each Other’ and the award-winning ‘Table for Two’. Their maiden Malay-language production ‘Realiti’ was nominated for Best Drama Series for Anugerah Skrin 2007. The team at Popiah are also well-versed in handling other genres and formats, having also produced Soong Ai Ling’s lifestyle magazine show, ‘E-Life with Ai Ling’, ‘Mama dengan Neslac’, a child parenting show, and the hit reality shows ‘Nescafe Kickstart’ and ‘The Firm’. Its latest production, ‘Ghost’, starring Nazrudin Rahman, Cheryl Samad, Carmen Soo, Reefa and Razif Hashim, is currently airing on 8TV.

Popiah Pictures has also broken new ground in the field of partnering entertainment with brand names, creating not only good television, but paving an alternative way for brands and corporations to reach a wider audience through the compelling media of television. Past clients who have enjoyed a successful and fruitful partnership with Popiah include Sony, Nestlé, Unilever and Procter & Gamble.

Anne Low, Partner and Producer of Popiah Pictures, together with
Mark Pointer, Regional CEO of Superbrands, at Radio24's studios.

So, how exactly can a brand become a “super brand”? What exactly is Superbrands and what do they do? What is the selection criteria for Superbrands? How do brands benefit from the Superbrands programme, and why would they want to participate? If Superbrands is not an award as such, what is it? What is Superbrands TV all about? Superbrands itself has become a major brand around the world. What is Superbrands doing to build its own brand? How do brands get in touch with Superbrands?

Brands are always trying to find ways to create and build empathy with their markets. A growing trend is to use product placement in films and on television. How are brands doing this in Malaysia? How can you get your brand on TV? What costs should one expect to budget for? Who do brands see if they are interested in product placement? What is the quality of television production in Malaysia compared to other countries in the region? What are the trends for brands using TV as a medium of communication?

To find out the answers to all these burning questions, tune-in this week to Brand Malaysia with Peter Pek.

Tell us what you think

Do you listen to Brand Malaysia with Peter Pek? Why not take a moment to tell us what you think? Take part in our short survey and let us know your thoughts and opinions. Click here to go to the survey. Oh, and if you like our show, do let us know as well!

Radio24 Television Commercial

You may have seen the Radio24 commercial on TV. Here is the English version.

A stress-free ride to the airport and eventful events

This week on Brand Malaysia with Peter Pek, Peter talks to Chris Thiagarajah, Chief Executive Officer of SkyBus, and Andrew Ching, Managing Director of E-Plus Entertainment Productions.

SkyBus is a ground transportation company that provides a point-to-point shuttle service to and from KL Sentral to the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT). The branded transporter boasts a fleet of 40-seater air-conditioned coaches with adequate luggage space. A journey between KL Sentral and LCCT takes around 1 hour 15 minutes and currently costs just RM9 one-way.

E-Plus Entertainment Productions is a full service event management company, and one of the very few in town to be exporting their services overseas. With affiliates in Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and the United States, the company has produced and managed scores of world-class events both locally and abroad.

How does one build a land transportation brand that relies heavily on the volume of traffic? Low cost does not mean low standards of service, so what systems and measures have to be put in place to ensure that the brand delivers and lives up to its promises? What happens when something goes wrong or you would like to pay a compliment, and you want to speak to someone from the brand? What's new for this zippy brand?

Tengku Ngah Putra B Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, the Chairman of
SkyBus and our (silent) guest in the studio, together with Chris Thiagarajah.

Hundreds of events are being held around the country every single day. What should your brand look for when it comes to choosing the right event management company? Why brands are getting it wrong by limiting creativity by "playing it safe" or being too conservative? What are some of the key issues faced by the event management industry today? Is the difficulty in protecting intellectual property a self-inflicted disease? And finally, did you know that there are Malaysian companies who are now exporting their services overseas.

All is revealed in this week's show.

Valentine's Day Contest Winners

Congratulations to the following for winning a bouquet of hand-delivered roses for Valentine's Day from Blooming Florists. Wishing all of you a very Happy Valentine's!

1. Janan Goh 012 296 XXXX
2. Tan Kee Kung 012 258 XXXX
3. Ridzuan Ahmad 019 333 XXXX
4. Shareen Mansoor 016 239 XXXX
5. Faizal Nordin 012 309 XXXX
6. Richard Lang 016 276 XXXX
7. CL Tan 012 227 XXXX
8. Intan Shah 012 380 XXXX
9. Khrisna Kumar 019 447 XXXX
10. Raymond Chin 019 266 XXXX

Rental cars and how to maximize SMS for your business

In Episode 7, Peter talks to Prabu Krishnasamy, General Manager of Avis (Malaysia), and Azli Paat, Executive Vice President of DAPAT Vista, a mobile marketing company.

With over 4000 branch offices worldwide, Avis is one of the largest car rental agencies in the world. It is a provider to the commercial segment serving business travelers at major airports around the world, and to leisure travelers at off-airport locations. Avis Malaysia first opened its doors for business in 1972. Since then, the company has seen a slow but steady growth in the rental car market.

Service and delivery are at the core of a rental car brand like Avis. What are some of the challenges involved with building such a brand? How does a brand like Avis train their people to ensure that standards are at the highest levels? What happens when there is a breakdown in communication? How does Avis solve this?

DAPAT Vista was established in 2000 to serve the demand for mobile interactivity and to spearhead the development of innovative and dynamic mobile data services and products. Together with its parent company, Television Airtime Services, it offers comprehensive and creative mobile marketing and advertising tools to assist organizations in implementing interactivity into their communication with stakeholders.

DAPAT Vista’s user-friendly SMS short code, 32728, is the numerical equivalent of the word D-A-P-A-T on standard handphone keypads.

Why use SMS to build your brand? What are some of the uses of SMS in terms of brand building? How can a company like DAPAT help you to interact with your customers and enable your brand to have interactivity? Why would someone SMS the police? Find out all about mobile SMS in this week's show.

Win a bouquet of roses for Valentine's Day

WIN! WIN! WIN!

This week on Brand Malaysia with Peter Pek, we are giving you the chance to win a bouquet of roses, to be delivered to anywhere in the Klang Valley in time for Valentine's Day. Our friends at Blooming Florists have given us RM1,500 worth of flowers to giveaway. Be one of the 10 lucky people to win!

To enter, just send us an SMS. Type R24 BRAND followed by why you like listening to Brand Malaysia. And don't forget your name. Then, send your SMS to 32728. It's that easy!

EXAMPLE:
"R24 BRAND I like Brand Malaysia because... Johan."
Send to 32728

You can send as many entries as you like. If you win, we will contact you to ask where you want the roses to be sent. Good luck and Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Lunar New Year!

All of us at Brand Malaysia with Peter Pek would like to wish all our listeners and blog visitors a very happy and prosperous Chinese New Year as we welcome the year of the rat! Gong Xi Fa Chai!

Click the button to hear Peter's New Year greetingPeter Pek – Happy Chinese New Year

A blooming brand & magical ads that rise from the floor

With Valentine's Day just round the counter, Peter talks to Martin Cheah, Founder & Managing Director of Blooming Florists, and VK Sailendra (better known as Sai), Executive Director of MagiqADS.

(L-R) Sai and Martin in Radio24's studio.

Blooming Florist began its operations 27 years ago, and today has numerous retail outlets in Petaling Jaya, Kuala Lumpur. It is also networked with 75,000 florists worldwide through its membership in Interflora Pacific Unit Limited. It is also the first florist in Malaysia to embrance e-commerce. MagiqADS is believed to be the first company in the world to offer vertical illusionary advertising platforms in hypermarkets and other high-traffic areas.

What does it take to build a service brand that promises on-time delivery and what is required to develop and sustain a successful e-commerce brand? Why is MagicADS exciting brands that compete on supermarket shelves? Waht are 3D ads and what can they do when placed in supermarket ailes? Peter will get you the answers.

Catch Brand Malaysia with Peter Pek this week! Only on Radio24, 93.9FM.