A brand is a voice and a product is a souvenir.

The aphorism contrasts two layers of modern commerce. A “brand” is not merely a logo but an ongoing act of communication—tone, promises, and the relationship a company sustains with people over time. A “product,” by contrast, is framed as a keepsake: a tangible reminder of that relationship and the experience the brand creates. The implication is that competitive advantage comes less from the object itself (which can be copied) and more from the distinctive voice—trust, identity, and meaning—that customers recognize and choose to affiliate with.