Marketers such as Howard Schultz of Starbucks, Richard Branson of Virgin, and Steve Jobs of
Apple, apply more emotional approach to their companies. Starbucks’ concept of “third place for
drinking coffee”, Virgin’s “unconventional marketing”, and Apple “creative imagination” are the
implementations of emotionally relevant marketing. These aimed at our emotional hearts which
bear feelings.
The concept will need to evolve once more to embrace the spirit of the consumers. Marketers should discover the anxieties and desires of the consumers and do what Stephen Covey calls “unlocking the soul’s code” in order to stay relevant.
This does not mean that companies should only target the spirit of the consumers. Companies should target consumer as a whole human who consists of mind, heart, and spirit. The point is not to overlook the spirit.
The Meaning of Marketing
Marketing should be redefined to its root as a triangle of Positioning, Differentiation, and Brand.
A brand should be clearly positioned in the consumer’s mind to give it a clear Brand Identity. To
give Brand Integrity to your positioning, it must be supported by strong differentiation.
Positioning supported by strong differentiation will in turn lead to strong Brand Image (Figure
2.1).13