Let’s brand together
Business leaders from across the county were invited recently to raise cash for a marketing campaign to define Reading’s identity. The goal is to attract more businesses to the town.
The Reading Chronicle spoke to a number of people across the country to find out what Britain thinks of Reading. Respondents felt that Reading was just another place down south and close to London. The town’s shopping was mentioned, as were cultural institutions such as the Reading Festival and Reading Football Club. Others highlighted the affluence of Reading residents, the university and hi-tech businesses.Â
Amusingly, one interviewee stated
What Reading should consider doing is sponsoring a large piece of art like the Angel of the North to provide a different image. If you could put it somewhere that is visible from the M4 that would be quite neat.
Amusing, because we have a 2 megawatt wind turbine visible from the M4 that is seen by 60 million people per year, equal to the population of the UK. 2. el jeneratör villa kapisiNot only does the turbine look fab (in my opinion), it is also functional, generating electricity. What does the Angel of the North do? It can’t even flap its wings.
Personally, I’ve heard mainly positive comments about Reading. The observation that irked me the most, however, came from a university friend who said (more than once) that Reading was a mere satellite town of London. Wrong, pal. Sa?l?kl? vücut
Readers, what do you think? What does Reading mean to you? Are we just a commuter town with easy access to London or a buzzing metropolis with great shopping and studying opportunities? Does Reading have an identity problem? If so, how can we improve our brand image?
March 3rd, 2006 at 3:19 am
I’ve been to Reading…Just the once!
I had an experience with a final year student. I won’t be going back. Also, I won’t be going back to the town!
April 28th, 2006 at 1:36 pm
Alright Matt, hope you’re good.
However, I don’t appreciate the slagging off of the Angel of the North. The thing’s a masterpiece! I don’t think Reading should invest in something like that though, it’s been done now – and I know Reading is a leader not a follower!
The regeneration of Newcastle and Gateshead is an example for what can be acheived in city centres. Lucky they are so far away from London and so have stayed just about the right size.
May 7th, 2006 at 9:00 pm
I thought reading was just a gerund noun.