How much is that brand in the window?...

My final semester has begun! In less than 16 weeks, I will be walking across the IU Auditorium stage, graduate diploma in hand...well, sort of. I think they mail it to you a few weeks later, making sure you've settled all parking tickets, schedule change fees, and library borrowings. I am in a slew of great classes, including Pricing, Negotiations, Crisis Management, Legal Issues in the Arts (combined with the Masters of Arts Admin students), and Brand Asset Management. I was particularly struck in Brand Asset Management yesterday, thinking about how much a "brand" should actually be worth. My first instinct was, "Coke is so over-valued". But then, Neil Morgan pointed out that a "brand" relates back to a "maker's mark" (no, not that one...but yum). So I began thinking, if it truly is like a "maker's mark" then it is no different than what gives value to a Picasso painting or a Puccini opera. It is all about who made it. So how can Evian charge a 400% premium for its water when compared to the commodity? Surely, it is in some way related to the reason that Van Gogh's "The Doctor" sold for over $80 million.

Drum roll, please...

For those who have been holding their breath to find out where I'll be heading post-graduation (those who are not on LinkedIn, anyway), you'll be glad to know that I'll be back at The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company as an Assistant Brand Manager.

Just before the holidays, I notified the Scotts team that I accepted my full-time offer and will be returning post-graduation.  The news was well-received and I got many congratulations emails and phone calls from the IU recruiting team.  I also talked with HR regarding the official on-boarding process and relocation.  At this point, it looks like I will have a starting date sometime in the month of June.  This will allow for ample time post-graduation (May) to visit friends and family, and perhaps take a brief vacation with my lovely girlfriend, Susan.  She's been itching to see what my cruise war stories are all about, and I'd absolutely love to be back aboard a ship!  Arrrgh.  Wonder if I could summon the members of the world-traveled group "Grand Central" (a four-member a cappella group I sang with for seven months aboard Celebrity Cruises) for a reunion voyage. 

At this point, I have no idea what brand team I will be working on.  "Growing Media" (soils, mulches) was a blast over the summer, and I truly enjoyed learning about and experiencing gardening for the first time.  "Lawns" also shows promise with a strong Kelley contingent.  "Wild Bird Food" is the new entrant, currently being slung by Kelley alum, Patrick Kaiser along with a great team.  Controls, "RoundUp" and "Ortho", show some great opportunity, as well, and would give some good exposure to promotions.  Lastly and surely not least, my personal top choice is "Global Naturals".  I worked on an Organic Choice innovations product during my internship and am personally passionate about natural and organic products - making this team that oversees Organic Choice, Ecosense, and others a great fit.  Placement is determined by business need, so I won't have much say in the matter - but I feel that any team is going to give me great opportunities and experience.  I will obviously make a post when I find out sometime this spring.

Photo above is from wikipedia, and shows the beautiful campus and headquarters building.  Nearly every day this summer, I had the chance to sit on the back patio (barely visible stone wall in left center of picture) for lunch, overlooking the beautiful pond.  Of course, the lawn is immaculate, as well as the landscaping, gardens, and natural bird habitat.  I would expect no less.