The most basic manner to define a brand is, that a brand is a proper Noun. It’s not just the word in a literate sense but also the things it personifies that make up the brand. For e.g. PHILADELPHIA is the name of a place and in itself has a certain meaning about its culture and attributes, which in short make the PHILADELPHIA brand. On the other hand PHILADELPHIA is also a brand of clothes. Similarly SHELL, APPLE, GILETTE, COKE etc. 

All are proper nouns are Brands. Even I’m a brand and so are You.

 

Ok, in the simplest sense a Brand is proper Noun, but then what does it mean and what does it convey? A brand, apart from begin a Proper Noun is a representation of something. At times it can be a thought, a feeling, a promise, an experience or a description.

 

 

 

The word which is represented by this proper noun refers to some associated meaning which is communicated through it.The Dictionary of Business and Management defines a brand as, “a name, sign or symbol used to identify items or services of the seller(s) and to differentiate them from goods of competitors."

 

This brings us to a little expansion in our basic definition of the brand, now apart from proper nouns it also includes sounds and symbols. But the primary motive remains the same, to impart some reference.

 

Since a brand is a snapshot into the description, promise, feeling or experience that it refers to. These aspects which make up a brand also help in making it stand out from others. Thereby a Brand not only represents something but also does it uniquely.