BBC World Service Online

The Why Factor

Documentaries

Factual

The extraordinary and hidden histories behind everyday objects and actions

The Why Factor: Brands

Brands

10/10/2014

BBC World Service - The Why Factor, Brands

Why do we place so much trust in brands? And who benefits from them?

The world as a whole has long had a love affair with brands, but how has this relationship come about? Mike Williams asks why we believe in them so much.

Walk down any street in any town or city anywhere in the world and you’ll be bombarded by brands screaming out to be noticed.  It’s the way businesses get us to believe in their product, and to ultimately sell us stuff, but where does this concept of brands and branding originate from, and why do we place such trust in belief in what they stand for?

Look at every product these days and you’ll see how branding works. From those double golden arches, to that little green fruit, to the small tick that urges us to just do it, everything now is designed in such a way that makes us believe in the power of the product, but why?

Journeying through the history of brands and branding, moving right the way through to the modern day, Mike Williams talks to those involved in branding. Is it an art? Is it a science? Is it a fair relationship, or do marketers have consumers at a disadvantage when it comes to getting us to believe in their product?

Produced by Johny Cassidy

(Image: A man looks at a shop window display as he passes by a clothing store. Photo credit: Tim Boyle/Getty Images)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Why Factor

Brands

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Online

About BBC World Service