Abstract

Brands play a critical role in a firm's international marketing strategy. A coherent international brand architecture is a key component of the firm's overall international marketing strategy as it provides a framework to leverage strong brands into other markets, assimilate acquired brands, and rationalize the firm's international branding strategy. This paper looks at the various components of international brand architecture and the different types of architecture found among a sample of large international consumer goods companies. Based on these initial insights, some key issues that need further research are identified.
Introduction
Branding is a key element of a firm’s marketing strategy. Strong brands help establish the firm's identity in the market place, and develop a solid customer franchise (Aaker, 1996; Kapferer, 1997; Keller, 1998). Owning the number one or two brand in the product category provides manufacturers withas well as providing a weapon to counter growing retailer power (Barwise and Robertson, 1992). A strong brand name Theycan also provide the basis for brand extensions, which further strengthen the firm's position in the marketplace as well as potentially enhancing the brand’s value (Aaker and Keller, 1990). As firms move into international markets, branding plays an important role in its marketing strategy. In particular, a cautious branding strategy provides a means to enhance the firm’s visibility and integrate strategy across national markets (see Khermouch, Holmes and Ihlwan, 2001). In markets outside the U.S., the concept of building strong brands in order to establish market position is relatively recent (Court et al. 1997). Markets are often fragmented, characterized by small-scale distribution, and lack the potential or size to warrant the use of heavy mass media advertising needed to develop strong