Killing Giants: 10 Strategies to Topple the Goliath in Your Industry

Everyone thought Eric Ryan and Adam Lowry were crazy to start Method, a new cleaning products company. The category had long been dominated by P&amp;G, Unilever, and Colgate-Palmolive. Those giants had so much clout with the retail chains that their soaps had barely needed updating for decades. But by taking advantage of its underdog position, Method carved out a very profitable niche: environmentally sound products in stylish, innovative packaging. Despite having a far smaller marketing budget than their competitors, Method connected with a substantial minority of people who wanted to "buy green" but who also wanted high-quality products. Marketing expert Stephen Denny argues that, like Method, any brand can directly challenge the giant of its category and not only survive, but thrive. While it's inconvenient to be the little guy, it can also be a blessing in disguise. Giant- killers can afford to shake things up and take bold steps. They can be faster and nimbler than giants who are too slow and hidebound to make the painful but necessary changes to stay competitive. By the time they notice that slingshot, they're already keeling over. During his two decades in the trenches, Denny has taken on quite a few giants. And he has interviewed more than seventy other giant-killers across industries- from software to cosmetics to aviation-for their most powerful techniques. Our need to work smarter, with fewer resources, isn't dependent on the state of the economy or on any sense of stability you think you have in your industry. Denny's ten powerful strategies will help you overcome stale business thinking and bureaucracy. They include: ?Win in the last three feet. Leverage someone else's investment-just be there the moment the customer grabs their wallet. ?Create "thin ice" arguments. Shift the conversation to places where the competition can't-or won't-go. ?Fight unfairly. Learn how the underdog can turn the tables. From the hypercompetitive world of social media to high-stakes business-to- business sales to the trenches of retail, Killing Giants is The Art of War for a new era. It proves that size does matter-the size of the fight in the dog.

Business & Money

Denny, Stephen

Management & Leadership

Portfolio

Marketing expert Stephen Denny argues that any brand can directly challenge the giant of its category and not only survive, but thrive. While it’s inconvenient to be the little guy, it can also be a blessing in disguise. Giant-killers can afford to shake things up and take bold steps. They can be faster and nimbler than giants who are too slow and hidebound to make painful but necessary changes.
During his two decades in the trenches, Denny has taken on quite a few giants. And he has interviewed more than seventy other giant-killers across industries—from software to cosmetics to aviation—for their most powerful techniques. His ten powerful strategies will help readers overcome stale business thinking and bureaucracy in good times or bad.
From the hypercompetitive world of social media to high-stakes b-to-b sales to the trenches of retail, Killing Giants is The Art of War for a new era.

Biography & History

Everyone thought Eric Ryan and Adam Lowry were crazy to start Method, a new cleaning products company. The category had long been dominated by P&G, Unilever, and Colgate-Palmolive. Those giants had so much clout with the retail chains that their soaps had barely needed updating for decades. But by taking advantage of its underdog position, Method carved out a very profitable niche: environmentally sound products in stylish, innovative packaging. Despite having a far smaller marketing budget than their competitors, Method connected with a substantial minority of people who wanted to "buy green" but who also wanted high-quality products. Marketing expert Stephen Denny argues that, like Method, any brand can directly challenge the giant of its category and not only survive, but thrive. While it's inconvenient to be the little guy, it can also be a blessing in disguise. Giant-killers can afford to shake things up and take bold steps. They can be faster and nimbler than giants who are too slow and hidebound to make the painful but necessary changes to stay competitive. By the time they notice that slingshot, they're already keeling over. During his two decades in the trenches, Denny has taken on quite a few giants. And he has interviewed more than seventy other giant-killers across industries- from software to cosmetics to aviation-for their most powerful techniques. Our need to work smarter, with fewer resources, isn't dependent on the state of the economy or on any sense of stability you think you have in your industry. Denny's ten powerful strategies will help you overcome stale business thinking and bureaucracy. They include: � Win in the last three feet. Leverage someone else's investment-just be there the moment the customer grabs their wallet. � Create "thin ice" arguments. Shift the conversation to places where the competition can't-or won't-go. � Fight unfairly. Learn how the underdog can turn the tables. From the hypercompetitive world of social media to high-stakes business-to- business sales to the trenches of retail, Killing Giants is The Art of War for a new era. It proves that size does matter-the size of the fight in the dog.

Gildan Media

"An innovative, highly compelling study of how CEOs and managers can effectively plan to achieve customer loyalty and trust."--Library Journal Unfiltered Marketing's big ideas apply to business strategy, marketing, and the future of the brand/consumer relationship. It is a playbook for managers and for anyone interested in the ever-changing interaction between technology and culture. "Denny and Leinberger capture the profound truths and deep realities of leading and marketing in a rapidly evolving world of digital platforms." --Blake Irving, former CEO of GoDaddy You can fake authenticity. But in this digitally saturated age, your customers will see through any misdirection. As we are constantly on our electronic devices, we have come to distrust curated media and traditional PR. Stephen Denny and Paul Leinberger have found that people now want to make their own decisions based on raw footage, real-time updates, and unfiltered livestreams. How, then, do marketing executives and others gain consumer trust? These Fortune 500 consultants present the answer in Unfiltered Marketing. Drawing on four years of global research, authors Denny and Leinberger have developed a comprehensive five-step process for successfully rehumanizing the digital brand experience and gaining customer loyalty. To follow it, companies must understand that consumers are (1) seeking control in an out-of-control world; and executives must rework their brand to be (2) unscripted, (3) in-process, and (4) in-context, in order to master (5) heroic credibility (brands standing by their philosophy and values). Abiding by these rules, businesses follow in the successful footsteps of brands like Patagonia, T-Mobile, adidas, GoDaddy, and others.

Unfiltered Marketing: 5 Rules to Win Back Trust, Credibility, and Customers in a Digitally Distracted World

Leinberger, Paul

Job Hunting & Careers

Career Press

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Denny, Stephen. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Denny, Stephen

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Denny, Stephen. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Killing Giants: 10 Strategies to Topple the Goliath in Your Industry

Killing Giants: 10 Strategies to Topple the Goliath in Your Industry

Killing Giants: 10 Strategies to Topple the Goliath in Your Industry

Unfiltered Marketing: 5 Rules to Win Back Trust, Credibility, and Customers in a Digitally Distracted World