I noticed this display of jungle-themed mice recently. I don't think there's any cachet anymore in bragging about your mouse, unless you have something exceptionally cool. So if you don't have a drawing tablet, or something like that, then maybe you want something colorful and fun.
Mostly, we define ourselves by our stuff. That's what it means to be a consumer culture.
Check out this image below of colorful briefcases. This is a high-end stationery store that sells mostly pens, planners and portfolios. Their displays used to have nothing more radical than oxblood in the midst of a black and brown sea. Two years ago, when I bought my last briefcase, I searched high and low to find one in a nice color. This year, they are everywhere, even in Staples.
I don't think this is just about color. This is about defining your personal style in things that used to be uniform. In particular, women don't want to look like imitation business-MEN any more. They are a lot more comfortable being feminine, regardless of the role.
My take: consider how you can give your consumers/customers room to define their style within the confines of your brand. Your brand doesn't just have to stand for a color. You can give people a choice of colors, and still be distinctive.
Chanel, Nike, Volkswagen all use distinctive colors and looks, within a well defined brand. A large percentage of the Mini-Coopers are customized, but you'd still never mistake one for something else. Customers love it when it's all about THEM, not all about YOU.Just as much as the customer defines the brand, the brand also defines the customer.
Great brands are great because they help consumers reach for something they want. It's all about them. Is your brand saying that?
