After walking through the Arndale Centre at lunchtime today, I saw this. I stood and looked for a while, and then I smiled. It’s Manchester’s Love Wall and it is part of a campaign launched by Manchester Arndale and Marketing Manchester in defiance of last month’s riots.

This sea of post it notes reminded me of a favourite Michael Eisner quote; about building a pointillist style picture with each coloured point, representing positive actions on the brand, eventually building up a bright, colourful image & leading to success. This is what Manchester needs to do to counteract the negativity of the riots, though a slow process it will be…point by point, post it by post it…

We all saw the effects of the rioting ricocheting around the world in hours and it proves how in today's modern world, stories of negative experiences caused by the minority can travel fast, doing more damage than any brick thrown the evening of the riots could ever do. But what I saw today was Manchester's heart starting to beat again. Before me, wasn't just a wall of post it notes, it was so much more than that. It was a pink and yellow wall of strength, and perhaps the start of what our city must do to right the wrongs of the devastation and get Manchester back on track; back to its best and back on brand. This small gesture has made a big impression, stirring up support and feelings of love that money can’t buy and HR departments can't train.

The people of Manchester's emotional response to the riots is testament to how the people make a city, and the residents of Manchester are the biggest advocates of the brand. After all, we choose to live, work and socialise here. We represent what Manchester stands for, undeterred by mindless thugs. Unlike our shop windows, today our Manchester spirit cannot be broken.

Perhaps, this city should not pride itself on it's shopping, or its football teams but it's togetherness. The response to the riots should trigger people to think of not Wayne Rooney when Manchester is mentioned, but team work, pulling together and a closeness that comes from the people of Manchester's undoubted love for their city.

But how can this unity continue? How can Manchester become known as The City With The Biggest Love? Will this sense of community we've seen of late continue and keep momentum, or will it fizzle out, just as the trustworthy Manchester rain fizzled out the riots? Building a brand, especially around a city, that’s image has been literally torched, takes commitment, time and patience. Rome wasn't built in a day. And neither was Manchester.