Experiential event concept Tiger Story

5 May, 2010

Brand Balance has launched a new event concept service TIGER STORY with co-operation of real event marketing experts Leningrad Cowboys Ltd. and JAMMIN ' Creations Oy. We help you to create an experiential and emotional event where you can motivate and inspire your audience in a memorable way. Tiger Story is ready to meet and exceed all your event needs around the world!

India, The Business Bollywood

5 May, 2010

India, The Business Bollywood -event was held on 5th May 2010 in Helsinki. Over 100 participants benefited enlightening business information on India. Afterward, the audience enjoyed Indian Bollywood dances as well as delicious Indian food. The event was described as “entertaining and informative”. Mirja Ekholm won the Finnair’s flight to Delhi.

Book a key-note speaker to inspire, challenge and motivate your audience!

March 29, 2010

Challenge your audience and take a tiger jump with Annamari. Annamari Lammassaari is one of the most inspirational speakers in Finland. She has the ability to combine facts and theory with a deep sense of what is essential in cultures, marketing and communications and the people working with them. Her talent is to combine future orientation to your strategies and organizational spirit.

Many companies, academic organizations and networks have benefited from Annamari’s inspirational speeches including London Business School, Helsinki School of Business, Design University TAIK, Infor Oy, Design Management Institute etc.

Brand Balance´s customer, Canton Fair visited

March 4, 2010

The Delegation of Canton Fair led by Mr. Wang Runsheng visited Helsinki 4th March 2010. Held every April and October Canton Fair is China's biggest export fair with a complete product range of commodities. About 20,000 Chinese enterprises are selected from hundreds of thousands of Chinese enterprises representing the highest industry level.

Image: Vice President Wang Runsheng, Photographer Mari Niemi

Since 2007, fairs have welcomed over 2000 foreign enterprises from more than 50 countries. The Canton Fair collects over 150,000 products and offers a great opportunity for face-to-face communications with various suppliers and buyers.

Year of the Tiger Party

FEB 11, 2010

Brand Balance's new services, cross-culture training and coaching services, were launched in a big client event together with our event partner Leningrad Cowboys. The party was a success and as one guest described “it was an exceptionally enjoyable event”. See our video and join 150 guests at Virgin Oil on February 11th 2010.

Minna Saastamoinen Executive Vice President and Partner

FEB 11, 2010

Minna Saastamoinen has been invited to Brand Balance Pte. Ltd. as Executive Vice President and Partner. Her responsibilities include training services, client relations as well as corporate finance. In her prior positions she has specialized in training business development and training management for wide range of various clients.
Mrs. Saastamoinen is also skilled communication trainer and advisor herself.

Jani Kaulo Corporate Lawyer

FEB 11, 2010

Jani Kaulo has been invited as the Corporate Lawyer of Brandbalance Pte. Ltd. He is located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Mr. Kaulo is working as our Brand Protection Specialist internationally. Jani has worked in the field of business law in front row law firms for several years. He has gained solid experience in protection of intellectual property rights, especially trademarks and brand names. Jani has also previously studied Chinese law and business culture and worked in the People's Republic of China.

Tekes seminar

NOV 11, 2009

Annamari Lammassaari was invited to speak about international brand management for 300 Tekes employees at their annual seminar in Helsinki on November 11th, 2009. Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation, is the main public funding organization for research, development and innovation in Finland.

Kites symposium

OCT 8, 2009

Annamari Lammassaari talked about brand management in China at a Kites symposium on October 8th, 2009. Companies face challenges in getting their message through in large China market. Without localized communications strategy and careful selection of target groups and communications channels, the investment can be wasted. Kites is an association for multilingual communication and content management. It develops and promotes multilingual communication, multicultural interaction, and technical content management.

New services for international companies operating in APAC

APR 21, 2009

Brand Balance is launching new services for the companies operating in the APAC area. A new multicultural team will assist and help guide your corporate marketing and branding needs in Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Vietnam, India and China. We have the experience and branding skills to localize your planning and implementation in these culturally challenging markets.

Sharing Mind Concepts with a Localized Approach:

Employer Branding for China and APAC

How to keep in touch with the best talent? And keep your best employees after the New Year´s bonuses in February as well!

Localizing your Corporate Brand for China and APAC

How to speed up the implementation locally? How to understand the behavioral patterns and hidden rules of communication to strengthen your Asian – European team.

Implementing new brand strategy with your Asian team

How to create ownership among local teams and grow the brand content understanding together.

Digital media strategy for APAC

How to utilize the word-of-mouth culture of the Asian markets as a basis for the social media and other digital media in order to promote and increase awareness and interest in your brand.

Shanghai Expo 2010 – a Vehicle for your Demand Creation in Asia

APR 21, 2009

Speed up your planning NOW!

China does not wait. The awareness building has to start now and not in 2010 when everybody else is fighting for the same space in the media and the mindshare of the customers.

Training and mentoring you or your teams to face the unique challenges in communications and marketing in China.

“What all communications professionals should know about China”- sessions can be organized at your company premises or as a part of your planning seminars. It is time to increase your team’s understanding of the most important growing economy in the world. This popular lecture helps you to plan and budget your communications actions for China and Apac for 2010.

Contact: annamari.lammassaari(a)brandbalance.fi

New opportunity to entertain your Asian guests!

Harmony Trail:

Bring your Chinese visitors to Helsinki to enjoy a memorable experience in the Finnish nature and countryside. Harmony Trail –excursions are tailor-made for Chinese travelers and business guests. The concept has been tested and highly recommended by Chinese media representatives.

Nature as the driver for the Finnish innovation and creativity

Many companies struggle with the question: “What could we do to show our Chinese guest respect?” We know from experience that giving a true and genuine experience means more than hundred Power Point presentations. We try to show respect to our guests by offering something special.

Brand Balance has created an easy to join concept. We combine the experience with knowledge. Our hosts take your guests to the Finnish countryside to enjoy our natural Nordic beauty, with visits to Finnish homes, strengthening the link between business and environment. Themes include “Where the Finnish creativity originates” and “Nature as the source of innovation,”

Feedback: “The most memorable part of our media visit to Finland was visiting a farm” -- China Daily in 2007.

Harmony Trail program

Transportation from the hotel (Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa)

Location: 45 minutes from Helsinki at Lohja´s countryside Mynterlä

Languages: English and Mandarin

Content:

Optional: Visiting a Finnish country home
- Horseback riding or horse carriage
- Finnish forest walk
- Lunch with a Finnish family
- Theme: discussion on the creativity, nature as the driver for the innovation

or

Camp fire, picking mushrooms and berries in the forest,
Sauna by the lake


Schedule: Saturday, Sunday

Other working days by request

Recommendation: maximum 6 people

More information annamari.lammassaari(a)brandbalance.fi

New services for Chinese companies entering Nordic and European markets

Brand Balance has developed new services for Chinese companies entering the Nordic market and Europe. We are a member of the China consultant network of the Ministry of Employment and Economy.

Our consultants have longstanding relationships with the Chinese media and authorities.

Brand Balance has a Representative Office in Shanghai and we are accessible also in Beijing. Please contact our Senior Advisor Jussi Zheng in Beijing at jussi.zheng(a)brandbalance.fi.

Our Services for Chinese Companies

Employer Branding in Nordic Countries

• Without local employees it’s not easy to deal effectively in the cultures of Nordic markets. We can help our Chinese customers to create trust among future Nordic employees by communicating your company profile and story in a manner which Nordic and European stakeholders would readily assimilate and understand.
• Marketing Communications Planning for Market Entry Phase European consumers and decision makers have communications preferences that differ somewhat from the Chinese.
  We help you build a readily understandable and workable plan for your company launch in the countries that you select.
• Cultural differences in Corporate Communications – consulting help you to understand the unique, major requirements of your future stakeholders.
• Localization of your brand for Nordic/Eurpean markets. Visual messages and content have to be localized for the Nordic markets. But this does not mean that the essential character of your brand has to be changed. We help you develop a sure-fire way of communicating your heritage that resonates with Nordic customers and other important stakeholders.

Please contact: Wu Yenjie for more information at wu.yenjie(a)brandbalance.fi

Annamari Lammassaari has been invited to the Board of the Finland - Noarth East Asia Trade Association

APR 4, 2009

The Finland - Noarth East Asia Trade Association promotes Finnish trade and economic interests in Northeast Asia – a region covering Japan and the Korean peninsula, the north eastern parts of China, the Russian Far East and Mongolia.

Brand Balance China service office opens

FEB 8, 2009

Brand Balance China office is situated in Shanghai in an historic architectural relic of the Treaty Port days – The Mansion, built in 1919.

A leading Hungarian architect, Ladislaus Edward Hudec, built The Mansion for Sir Robert Hu, a successful businessman from Hong Kong.

Image: Brand Balance China office is situated in an old Mansion in Shanghai

Much of the architecture, including the design and building characteristics, are typically neoclassical, giving the mansion – and Brand Balance, China – a real sense of character and elegance.

Location

The mansion is located on the corner of Shanxi North Road and Beijing West Road in the heart of the Jing An CBD of Shanghai. Plaza 66, the Portman Ritz Carlton Hotel and the Nanjing West Road and Jing An metro stations are all within a short walk.

The address is 457 Shan Xi Road North Block 1 –Shanghai 200040.

Image: The old Mansion and its 3,000 square meter garden in Shanghai

An elegant, historical location for your customer events

The Mansion’s meeting and conference rooms, combined with its 3,000 square meter garden, offer a unique event space in the centre of Shanghai.

Brand Balance together with The Mansion’s staff can provide a fascinating setting for client functions that will add color and a glimpse of times past to your company brand experience:

• Cocktail receptions
• Networking events
• Formal dinners
• Teambuilding activities
• Award ceremonies
• BBQ

For more information please contact info(a)brandbalance.fi

New services for B2B companies

FEB 8, 2009

Brand development for Industrial and Technology companies

Commodities business or innovative technology? Whatever your business field, brand communications might be a key factor distinguishing you from your competition. Products are getting similar. We have entered the era of Market of the Mind. Perception is everything. The bigger the investment the more important is the trust. Trust is something intangible. Brand building equals trust building.
Contact for more info at info(a)brandbalance.fi

Brand Maintenance Contract™

Maintaining international brands need close attention, determination and fresh ideas. Printed Brand Books get dated, online instructions archived by users, new initiatives sprout like mushrooms in different countries.

Brand Maintenance Contract is a yearly agreement with Brand Balance and includes monitoring and remote control of your brand touch points in all your markets. It provides feedback and ideas on inconsistencies and helps you make educated decisions on whether and/or when to conduct preventive or corrective actions on your brand or its localizations.
Contact for more info at info(a)brandbalance.fi

Chinese Lantern Festival

OCT 30, 2008

Brand Balance celebrated its 2 years history and the Chinese Lantern festival with its customers, members of the Nice2B -Women Network at its premises in Helsinki.

Lantern festival is one of the most important festivals of the year. In China it is celebrated in early September.

Brand Balance staff is very thankful that in spite of the heavy rain outside and the phenomenal traffic jams ALL guests made it to the party.

Images: Wu Yanjie´s calligraphy and Chen Wang´s dancing brought the old Chinese culture in live. Chen Wang conducted a Tea Ceremonie .

Strategic Partnership with Voice of China Media Group

Sep 11, 2008

In September 2008 Brand Balance and Voice of China Media Group signed an agreement for a Strategic Partnership.

The China consultant team for media relations: Mao Zhao, Annamari Lammassaari, Jaana Mansisto-Haartweit and Jussi Zheng.

Our two CEO´s Mr Mao Zhao and Annamari Lammassaari have joined forces in order to offer advanced media services to international customers. Voice of China Media Group´s 2000 employers and the high level journalism background of its project leaders gurantees the most relevant coverage in the most important media in China. For instance just one of VOC´s portals has daily more than 30 million visitors.

Brand Balance´s Reference
filming tour

Oct 7, 2008

We are on the road filming references and interviewing top management in Europe and in China. Read more about our filming tours and get on board now for the next tour!

Brand Balance will open a new service office in Shanghai in 2009

OCT 7, 2008

Brand Balance is strengthening its China mainland operations by opening a service office in Shanghai in 2009. We are happy to announce a new service becoming available for Nordic companies in the near future.

Support the disabled children in the Wenchuan area

Oct 7, 2008

Our Happy Day –project is gets under way in February 2009. Download a brochure to read more about this great way which you can support children who were disabled in 2008 earthquake in the Wenchuan area of Sichuan province.