Lester Marshall from the Coffin Bay Oyster Farm is a truly interesting character. Two years ago he was a passionate Oyster Farmer in the majestic waters of Coffin Bay, near Port Lincoln, South Australia. Today he is an astute master of branding. He has had a paradigm shift that is transforming his business. He has set in play a strategy that is moving his small business from simply selling his succulent oysters unbranded in hessian bags to one that markets a portfolio of premium branded oysters. His awakening to the power of branding has also seen him become an inspirational speaker and educator on how to build premium regional food brands.

Lester Marshall went from operating his business under the name of ‘Marshell’ Aquaculture (yes a crazy little play on the name Marshall) to seizing the brand name Coffin Bay Oyster Farm. And I say seizing, because over many years Coffin Bay had created very strong brand equity with oyster lovers, as a region of oyster farmers producing superb oysters. Quality restaurants throughout Australia regularly highlighted Coffin Bay oysters on their menus and in one very bold move Lester was able to directly leverage this equity into his own business – he became the Coffin Bay Oyster Farm. He was able to claim this latent equity simply because none of his fellow oyster farmers operated with a brand mindset. They simply saw themselves as oyster produces, whereas Lester’s awakening meant that he saw himself as a creator of branded oysters.

But that was only the beginning. He then set about establishing a portfolio of sub-brands that would allow him to produce different oysters for different occasions and importantly different price points. Take the Cupids for example, a small (40-50 millimeters) oyster that is ‘sweet, delicate and petite’. While they may be smaller than a standard oyster, they are twice as expensive. They are for the oyster eater seeking quality over quantity. Lester’s brand mindset has moved him away from thinking that he is dealing in commodities, that an oyster is an oyster. Different consumers, different eating occasions and different branded Coffin Bay Oyster Farm products to meet these needs – it is the oyster world through a brand lens.

And for Lester his brand journey has taken him far from the blue waters of Coffin Bay. He applied for and was successful in being awarded a Nuffield scholarship to travel overseas and study the marketing of regional food brands. His travels took him to China, Europe, South Africa and Japan where he has been able to explore an amazing array of premium food brands and their pathways to success. He has literally eaten his way around the world, piecing together a framework for the creation of powerful regional food brands.

This rather exhilarating brand journey all commenced because Lester was open to new ideas. All in all, a shucking good effort! Bring on the Cupids.

Happy Marketing from the Chief.
Logo Designer Extraordinaire and Marketing Guru to small businesses everywhere.

If you would like to hear Lester in full voice on Radio National Melbourne then listen here.
Lester on Radio National