NOTES FROM THE BRAND STAND: Industry & Reader Acclaim

ACCLAIM

“Every chapter in Notes from the Brand Stand is insightful and inspirational. I quote from it all the time. It’s full of little gems we can use with our executives and customers around the world.”

—Michael Traub,
CEO, Stihl AG

“Outstanding! A masterclass in building trust with team members and consumers. It takes ‘heart’ to build brands, build long-term relationships, and build market share. This book is the inside track on how to accomplish all of this.”

—Melanie Huet,
President, Home & Commercial at Newell Brands

“I have known Warren for over 25 years and have had the privilege of watching him build emotional loyalty firsthand at Toys “R” Us. He brought the Toys “R” Us brand back to life for customers and associates by building genuine human connections. I applaud Warren for making the effort to share his vision on how purpose, trust, and consistency can help other brands connect authentically with their customers.“

—Joel Anderson,
CEO, Petco

“Great brands aren’t built on logos or slogans; they’re built on feeling. Warren Kornblum, the former chief marketing officer of Toys ‘R’ Us, spent a career proving that the strongest brands earn a ‘Share of Heart™’ before they ever earn a share of wallet. In this collection of 28 short, punchy chapters, he lays out his philosophy of emotional branding: the idea that purpose, trust, and consistency are what turn a product into something people love. Kornblum introduces memorable concepts like the ‘Brand Stand’ and the ‘Promise Problem,’ and sprinkles in the ‘Warrenisms’ that colleagues have quoted for years. Praised by CEOs and CMOs from Petco to Newell Brands, the book is a warm, human masterclass in forging authentic connection in a crowded market. For anyone trying to build a brand people actually believe in, this is the inside track.

—Ladys Patino,
Contributing Editor, BRAINZ. Magazine

“At the heart of every great company and its wealth are its brands. This amazing book reveals the formulas that elevate a product into a brand.”

—Rishad Tobaccowala
Former Chief Strategist and Growth Officer, Publicis Groupe

“Smart leaders know that in today’s global, hyper-competitive markets, they need a way for their products and services to stand out. Here Warren Kornblum provides it by showing you how you to forge an emotional connection with your customers.”

—Paul B. Brown,
Co-author of the international best-seller Customers for Life

“About time Warren wrote a branding book—he’s been the master, the visionary walking the branding walk for many decades.”

—Peter Samuelson,
Philanthropist, film producer and author

“Like Russell Crowe in A Beautiful Mind, Warren brings an innate ability to quickly decipher the opportunities and challenges facing today’s brands and cleverly distill them down to thought provoking ideas that will enable business leaders to unlock their brand’s potential. Brands are about heart, as is Warren, and through his deep insights CEOs and CMOs will discover the heart of their own brand and how to best share it with the world. Done right, brands make a difference, influencing opinions, creating change, motivating action, and yes, driving sales. As I read this book, I could hear Warren’s voice like the Obi Wan Kenobi of branding, ‘Luke…always remember, branding is always personal’ (I just HAD to get a toy reference in here!). Every great brand starts and ends with purpose, both personally and corporately, and connecting people to that purpose in a meaningful way. If this is your goal, this book is for you.”

—Greg Ahearn,
President and CEO, The Toy Association

“Notes from the Brand Stand captures Warren’s incredible wisdom and instincts when it comes to consumers. His reflections are a reminder of his deep understanding about what it takes for a brand to forge authentic and lasting connection in today’s world. The book embodies emotional branding in a refreshingly human way that will resonate with anyone striving to build or grow a brand that its audience can truly believe in.”

—Onney Crawley
CMO, Goodwill Industries International

“Building emotional connections and helping brands achieve SHARE OF HEART is not only Warren’s passion, but it’s also the legacy of his incredible career.”

—Myca Lee, Founder/CEO, Enrich 360

BRANDING WITH BACKBONE

“Notes from the Brand Stand is a quick, generous read for CEOs, CMOs, founders, and students alike — anyone who suspects their brand has been optimizing everything except the thing that matters. Its message is disarmingly simple: you don’t have to be the loudest, biggest, or most perfect to earn loyalty. You just have to genuinely care — and prove it.”

—Nicole Killian, Columnist, MobYorkCity.com

Reader Reviews

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 26 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Amazon  
   
   Diane Volgyesi 
 
 
 
 Verified An Insiders Look at the Big Business of Branding What a great read! I've always been intrigued by what it takes to create a great product and turn it into a world-class brand in a world of cut-throat competition. Mr. Kornblum, a seasoned veteran of the branding business, takes us behind the scenes and shows us the importance of developing and sustaining an authentic, caring relationship with the customer. No detail is too small if a business wants to earn the enduring loyalty of its purchasers. It's not simply about a superior product, a clever advertising campaign or throwing gobs of money at a problem. He takes us through case by case and gives real-world examples of success and failures - almost like attending Harvard business school - but much more entertaining. Novices and professionals will great nuggets of wisdom in this book. Highly recommended!
  
 
      Posted on Amazon  
   
   Evan Lazarus 
 
 
 
 Verified Brand building words to live by! Warren is an inspiration. If you are a marketer, business owner or have any interest in how brands are built, read this book for words to live by.
  
 
      Posted on Amazon  
   
   Sandra London 
 
 
 
 Verified Importance of Branding This book offers the reader a great opportunity to learn how to think about branding in a way that the individual can then be creative and thoughtful and successful. Sandy London, Atlanta, Ga
  
 
      Posted on Amazon  
   
   tenspeeder 
 
 
 
 Verified A marketing book that actually makes sense. honestly didn’t expect to fly through this as fast as I did. Most branding books are so full of corporate buzzwords that they’re a total chore to read, but Notes From The Brand Stand feels like you’re just grabbing a drink with someone who actually knows what they’re talking about.What really clicked for me was how the author focuses on the human side of business. It’s not just about selling stuff; it’s about having a spine and actually standing for something. The chapters are short and punchy, so you don't have to dig through 300 pages of fluff to find the good stuff. It’s straight to the point and actually made me rethink how I’m looking at my own projects.If you want a common-sense guide to building a brand that people actually care about, just get it. It’s a breath of fresh air.
  
 
      Posted on Amazon  
   
   Doug Porter 
 
 
 
 Verified Outstanding Insights backed by the Truths Great collection of marketing “truthisms”. Extremely valuable for someone just getting started in the marketing field or a 40 year veteran CMO or CEO. A complete roadmap to making your brand standout and building loyal advocates for the long haul!
  
 
      Posted on Amazon  
   
   Mariann 
 
 
 
 Verified What truly makes a sustainable brand The author provides an honest, behind the scenes explanation on how to truly create a brand that stands for something. Highlighting the sometimes difficult tradeoffs necessary to be true to your convictions.A must read.
  
 
      Posted on Amazon  
   
   Brad Davis 
 
 
 
 Verified A Vivid Blueprint! Warren Kornblum had a front-row seat to the evolution of modern branding, and in this book he distills the view from the top.His writing shoots like an arrow through the heart of an uncomfortable truth: most companies want to stand out, but very few are willing to stand for something.This is a book about what it actually takes for a company to matter.
  
 
      Posted on Amazon  
   
   Amazon Customer 
 
 
 
 Verified Great product Warren is a fantastic and interesting speaker and it shows in his book. Especially liked thoughts on emotional branding and customer relationships. I also enjoyed topics like listening and understanding your customer to be very important. I recommend this book.
  
 
      Posted on Amazon  
   
   DG 
 
 
 
 Verified Insightful and Highly Practical Read Over the years, I’ve seen how brand clarity shapes growth and strengthens leadership impact. In Notes from the Brand Stand, Warren Kornblum offers a clear, practical framework for defining what makes a brand distinctive and communicating it with confidence. Warren has a thoughtful way of making complex marketing principles accessible and actionable. This book is a valuable guide for anyone serious about elevating their message and presence.
  
 
      Posted on Amazon  
   
   Jackback 
 
 
 
 Verified MUST read to truly understand brand success This is a must read for anyone wanting to understand that marketing is about building a relationship with the customer. Every college marketing major needs to read this book to understand why brands succeed.