Tartan Week

Tartan Day (today, 6 April) is part of what is now Tartan Week, the annual branding excercise undertaken by the Scottish Executive together with VisitScotland. It is an attempt to improve the image and alter the perception that Americans have of Scotland.

Whether it works or is the right image is another matter all together!

Branding

Branding is about the perceptions that are linked to products, places, town and cities.

Because your worth it, I love NY, Glasgow's miles Better, Dundee, City of Discovery and even My Future's in Falkirk. And there are many more...

Brands can develop organically or can be manufactured for many reasons; to improve the image of a place or for marketing purposes to improve the opportunity of future sales.

City Brands

Many cities have a higher brand profile than the country where they exist eg Paris, Prague, New York, London, Edinburgh. Many more people will have a perception of these cities which bears no relationship to or been derived from the country they're in.

Bo'ness the Brand

The headline on BmB homepage 2000 years of history could be seen as the start of a branding excercise.

Although the term could be true of other towns, areas or villages, if used enough, it could become synonomous with Bo'ness and stick.

It could also form the basis for other mini-branding opportunities eg

Start of the Antonine Wall - Bo'ness
Kinneil, Seat of Kings - Bo'ness
On the Antonine Wall - Bo'ness
etc, etc

Branding would go a long way to raising the profile and image of Bo'ness as a visitor attraction.