An Online Marketing Company's View On Dunkin's New Branding

By Paula Hess


Any online marketing company will tell you that rebranding comes with a level of risk. This is especially true for brands that have been around for decades, one of the most recognizable being Dunkin' Donuts. It, too, had gone through a noticeable rebranding cycle this past September. With the following information in mind, you'll have a better understanding of the change in question and the long-term impact that it could have.

For those that haven't been keeping up with the news, Dunkin' Donuts announced, in September, that it would be changing its iconic name. Since then, it had been referred to simply as "Dunkin'." For many people, this change is egregious, as they may not think that something so iconic should be changed. Others may regard it as a waste of time. However, it's a significant change, which the likes of fishbat.com will be able to attest.

For those that feel like Dunkin's name change was unneeded, keep in mind that it isn't solely a donut-focused company anymore. In fact, Dunkin' had become just as popular for its bevy of drinks as well. Everything from their coffees to their lattes to their hot chocolates are enjoyed by people around the world. Why should the name of the company be so closely associated with donuts when they offer much more?

Not only is Dunkin's name change reflective of its offerings, but the current landscape in the business world. To be more specific, it's important to note that the biggest brands in the world don't have overly long names. They are catchy, which makes them recognizable to people, regardless of their interests. A few examples of this would be Amazon, Apple and Target. These are names that people know, partially because of how easy they are to remember, so it would make sense for Dunkin' to follow suit.

As you can see, Dunkin's name change goes beyond surface level, especially when other aspects of their branding will remain intact. Do you think that this change would be so positively received if, for example, it changed its color scheme from the recognizable pink and orange tandem? What if the font itself was changed altogether? Dunkin' is a recognizable name, to say the least, but this change will help it remain more contemporary.




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