Turk Marka

Orientalism strictly a bad thing?

2006-11-09T13:33:00.000-08:00

I was shocked to read very negative reviews of Crossing The Bridge written by Turks on IDMB.

The main point of criticism seems to be that Fatih Akin is stooping to "Orientalism". From Vikipedi (sic):

Orientalism

Orientalism

One, I don't see in what way the film is overly "orientalist." And two, I don't see anything wrong with that.

One should always redirect and use an opposing force to one's benefit. Yes, there are prejudiced and outmoded stereo-types of Turks that have existed in western culture for centuries. But instead of rejecting them wholeheartedly, they can be used to great advantage. There are also many stereo-types about French people. Yet the French derive a booming tourism industry from them. More people visit France than any other country.

Overall, Crossing The Bridge is a fun, exciting film that portrays Istanbul and Turkey in a fantastic light, and makes people want to go visit and see this happening music scene for themselves.

Crossing The Bridge

2006-11-09T13:09:00.000-08:00

I mentioned in a previous post that Istanbul has terrific brand equity. Well, perhaps no other film has contributed to that more this year than Crossing The Bridge (netflix, imdb). Crossing the Bridge follows Eisturzende Neubauten bassist Alexander Hacke as he explores the contemporary music scene in Istanbul. It is an absolutely amazing documentary - fun, gripping, enthralling, and great great music. I could watch it over and over again. It is the Buena Vista Social Club (imdb) of 2005.

Like the Cuban one, this film was made by a great director. In this case, Fatih Akin, who also directed Head On (netflix, imdb), another top top film.

Ozlem Suer

2006-11-09T13:03:00.000-08:00

I recently read somewhere about Özlem Süer, a Turkish fashion designer, who seems to be gaining some repute.

Here is her website
And a blog entry about her

Turkey Day

2006-11-09T12:52:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching. Thanksgiving in the US is informally called "Turkey Day." What a great marketing opportunity for Turkey, to use the buzz around Thanksgiving to get publicity and promotion using tongue-in-cheek humor, and displaying an understanding of informal American idioms.

I could imagine advertisements and promotions for vacation packages and flights to Turkey - fly to
"Turkey for Turkey day!"

I could also see stories in the media about Turkish food. Thanksgiving is all about food and feasts. What a wonderful time to also talk about the great Turkish culinary tradition, and wonderful art of fine Turkish dining, and long feasts around the dinner table.

This could be a great promotion for Turkish restaurants in the US. "Eat your Turkey at a restaurant from Turkey."

Turks have been in the past uncomfortable with the connection between the name of their country and the poultry. However, in true jujitsu style, they should instead co-opt, and take advantage of this fact.

Istanbul

2006-11-01T19:11:00.000-08:00

This blog is perhaps badly named. Istanbul has a much better and distinct brand image.

Istanbul stands for a cosmopolitan centre with a history stretching back to Byaznatium and beyond. It is also an exciting metropolis today that attracts people from around the world.

Turkish clothing in Africa

2006-11-01T18:50:00.000-08:00

I was in Kenya this summer, and heard from locals there that Turkish clothes were highly regarded, as they were much more stylish than imports from China. Interesting.

Turkish Shoes

2005-12-15T18:51:00.000-08:00

Leather goods in general a large export for Turkey. When people think of handmade shoes they think of Italy, or England's Church's. It is worth thinking of Turkey's shoemakers and their position. One starting point is to look at the players.

Ceko -- make slippers, flip-flops, "terliks"
Hotic -- similar to Camper, or to a Zara of shoes.
Mahmut -- tiny store in Beyoglu, no web presence, hand-made and custom-fitted shoes since ages.

Turkish Leather Goods

2005-12-15T18:50:00.000-08:00

Derimod
Desa

Turkish Clothing Brands

2005-12-15T18:48:00.000-08:00

Textile and clothing are one of Turkey's largest exports. Let's look at some of the Turkish brands, and what they have accomplished, and how they have done it. Mavi Jeans has been quite successful abroad. Their approach was to focus on the trend-setters in Manhattan.

Jeans
Mavi Jeans
Nawara Jeans -- http://www.nawarajeans.com/

General Apparel
Damat/Tween
Network
Beymen
Yargici
Mudo

Hamam - Turkish bath

2005-12-15T18:38:00.000-08:00

Brand association - Turkey is known for Hamams, and the Turkish bath

Turkish Processed Food

2005-12-15T18:33:00.000-08:00

Gonen -- http://www.gonenkuruyemis.com/
Gozunaydin -- http://www.gozunaydin.com/

Rugs

2005-12-15T18:17:00.000-08:00

Kirkit Hali -- http://www.cande.com.tr/english/kirkithali/index.htm

Restaurants in Turkey

2005-12-15T18:06:00.000-08:00

Kardelen Club, Istanbul -- http://www.kardelenclub.com/

Turkish Hotels

2005-12-15T17:44:00.000-08:00

When we talk about Turkey as a brand abroad, tourism is an important aspect of how foreigners interact with Turkey.

Associations
Izmir area hotels and tourism companies association - http://www.turob.com/

A sampling of random turkish hotel web sites:

Zinos, Sinop
Anna Apart Hotel, Fethiye
Adonis Hotel, Antalya
Akay Garden Resort, Izmir
Sirene Golf Hotel and Ski Resort, Antalya -- http://www.cande.com.tr/english/manastir/index.htm
Cesar Hotel, Bodrum -- http://www.cande.com.tr/english/cesars/index.htm
Zeus of Sirince, Izmir -- http://www.zeusofsirince.com/
Kuzuluk thermal springs hotel, Sakarya -- http://www.ihlaskuzuluk.com
Oriental Palace, Alanya -- http://www.orientpalace.com.tr/
Village Cave House, Goreme, Capadoccia -- http://www.villagecavehouse.com/
Ada Otel, Sinop -- http://www.sinopadaotel.net/
Estime, Bodrum -- http://www.esitime.com/
Hotel Irmak, Marmaris -- http://www.hotelirmak.com/
Turkuaz Camp Site, Sile -- http://www.turkuazkamp.com/

Turkish Home Textile companies

2005-12-15T17:35:00.000-08:00

Gungor Tekstil -- http://www.gungortekstil.com/gungor/index.htm
Hoca Mefrusat -- http://hocamefrusat.sitemynet.com
Pilsa Perde -- http://www.pilsaperde.com
Anmen Tekstil -- http://www.cande.com.tr/english/anmen/index.htm

White on White

2005-12-15T16:24:00.000-08:00

I also recently ran across this story: Karazona Cinar, who emigrated from Tunceli, Turkey to New York, worked as a bike messenger, a cab driver, founded Stingi Lulu's east village diner, a bar, and now runs White on White furniture which produces beautiful replica designer pieces.

Turkish Web Design

2005-12-15T16:07:00.000-08:00

We may be straying from the heart of the discussion here, but web design is connected to Turkish brand identity. After all, for many, the first interaction people will have with a Turkish company may now be through the internet. The quality of the web sites of Turkish companies will have an effect on the overall perception of those companies' brands, and thus on the brand identity of Turkey and Turkish businesses as a whole.

Here are some links related to Turkish web design. I will try to edit this post to update and add to it as time goes on. Please add to it in the comments.

Web design tips -- http://www.webdersleri.com/index.asp

Turkish online culture -- http://www.ismailk.net/e/default.asp

Monofactor -- http://www.monofactor.com/

Sibername -- http://www.sibername.com.tr/

Turkish artist profile - Kerem Beyit

2005-12-15T15:58:00.000-08:00

Computer graphics illustrator Kerem Beyit interviewed in CGChannel.com

Read the article here.

Turkish Advertising Agencies

2005-12-15T15:05:00.000-08:00

Of course, when we talk about Brand Identity, we are heavily in the world of advertising agencies.

Turkish advertising agencies strike me as being of quite high quality, and being relatively far down the experience curve. I think they follow in the line of French advertising agencies, or Dutch and Scandinavian agencies, in their use of creativity and humor -- rather than the US line.

Turkish advertising agencies have the benefit of a market with an incredibly large number of TV stations for a number of years now, thus giving them a lot of opportunity in making TV advertising. Additionally, there are at least 22 daily newspapers in Turkey with a lot of ad space in them.

I don't have a full list of Turkish ad agencies, and I don't know who the big players are. Watch this space as it fills out. If you read this, please post a comment with any info you have on Turkish ad agencies.

Trafo -- http://www.trafo.com.tr/
Celsius Brand Team -- http://www.celsiusbt.com/
Gelisim Ajans -- http://www.gelisimajans.net/
Prizma Advertising -- http://www.prizmareklam.com.tr/
Mavi Klaket -- http://www.maviklaket.com/
Selajans -- http://selajans.net/

Turkish Design - Industrial, and furniture

2005-12-15T14:45:00.000-08:00

Links regarding Turkish design talent, designers, and design firms:

Turkish Design World -- http://www.trdw.net/

Derin Design -- http://www.derindesign.com/

B&T Plus -- http://www.bt-plus.com/

Autoban -- http://www.autoban212.com/

Ayse Birsel of Birsel+Seck -- http://www.birselplusseck.com/

UB - Studio -- http://www.ub-studio.com/

Endüstriyel Tasarımcılar Meslek Kuruluşu -- http://www.webdersleri.com/index.asp

Other Turkish Furniture companies:

Delta Mobilya -- http://www.deltamobilya.com.tr/
Kelebek Mobilya -- http://www.kelebek.com.tr/
Okto -- http://www.okto.com.tr/
Cevsan -- http://www.cevsanmobilya.net/
Sonteks -- http://www.sonteks.com/
Turkhan Aksesuar -- http://www.turhanaksesuar.com/

Turqualilty

2005-12-15T14:41:00.000-08:00

A year ago, in 2004, Turkey's Foreign Trade Department launched the Turquality program. It accredits companies that meet certain criteria with the Turquality label.

What are the goals of this program, does it acheive them, and what impact does it have?

Prior Art

2005-12-15T14:25:00.000-08:00

Take a look at:

Turk Marks (http://www.turkmarks.com/)
The site lists the logos of some famous brands in Turkey, such as Arçelik, Akbank, or Desa. They are not all Turkish brands, as international brands that are well known in Turkey are also included, such as Bosch. In that sense turkmarks.com is in a different space. Here, I am not as interested in talking about brand identity in Turkey, as I am interested in talking about Turkish brand identity abroad.

Welcome

2005-12-15T14:19:00.000-08:00

I have set up this blog as a place for discussion about Turkey's brand identity.

Turkey has excellent craftsmanship, artists, designers, engineers, chefs, architects, musicians, agronomers, etc. However, when one thinks of great food, great design, great art countries that spring more to mind are Italy, Denmark, Sweden or France.

What is Turkey's brand identity?

This is an issue culturally and politically, as well as busines-wise. But here, I am more interested in the business angle. What does Turkey stand for, when you think of a Turkish business. What should it stand for? What do we want it to stand for? What would we like it to stand for? What can we do to help it get there? What are the factors, the steps along the way? There are many questions and I think it is a fascinating topic.

Right now I'm using the Blog format because it's easy and free to set up quickly. Over time, this could transform into a Wiki, or some other more interactive forum. For now, please go ahead and use the comments feature to participate.

And do participate. This is intended to be a free open interactive forum, where together we can help forge and advance Turkish brand identity.

Hosça kal.