When we started BrandlandUSA, we were sure that there were some brands that were so niche and strange that they could never be revived, even if there were a few odd people who wanted them. In particular, there were two shampoo brands that we thought would never be back. First,MORE HERE
The big question on Bill Bennett’s Morning in America radio program today was “Do they still make those lemon juice squeezers that are shaped like lemons?” It appeared that Seth Liebsohn, who is Bennett’s on air foil (and executive producer) could not find them. Apparently, they weren’t in most Washington,MORE HERE
One of the great forgotten American brands is Coca-Cola’s Tab. While it is still sold, and has a sort of cult following, products like Tab are always at risk of being shut down. After all, who would have thought that there would be no more Polaroid film after this year?MORE HERE
What’s returning? The House of the Future at Disneyland. No longer sponsored by Monsanto, a company perhaps too busy with corn licensing to find anything amusing about it, will re-open in May in Tomorowland. Knight Rider. NBC is bringing it back, without David Hasslehoff. What’s disappeared? Polaroid. The company willMORE HERE
NEW YORK – The demolition of New York’s Hotel Pennsylvania looks a bit less likely with troubles on Wall Street, though it is still not safe. Merrill Lynch, the investment firm that would have occupied an office tower on the location, has other things to worry about. There is notMORE HERE
One of the zippiest little Fords of all time will return to the U.S. market. It’s the Fiesta. The folks at Ford didn’t bring it back to please America. If that were the case, Ford would be bringing back the Country Squire, Galaxie 500 and Model A. No, the FiestaMORE HERE
It is always a good idea to remember the lessons of brand-killing mistakes. While most know the case of New Coke, there are other products that have returned because of consumer pressure. One fan sites relating to a bad decision is Bovril. In 2004, Unilever removed beef from the productMORE HERE
QUEENS – Egad. This is weird territory, but kind of fascinating. There was an elderly Brooklyn man who, in the 1980s, driving in a Mercedes coupe on the Grand Central Parkway, crashed and turned upside down. His distraction? He spied the Unisphere of the Queens World’s Fair, and was soMORE HERE
If it’s Lego’s 50th birthday, there is a reason. They came up with a good thing. They stick to it. Oh, they might add a Star Wars line. But the basic product remains. BrandlandUSA Rule: If it’s good, stick with it. Add some new things, but don’t muck with theMORE HERE
Reader (and Quebec native) Mark Shainblum has alerted us to some revivals in the comic book field, and other dead comic book brands that need to be revived. Thrilling Wonder Stories was one of the first science fiction pulp magazines, founded in 1930 by Hugo Gernsback. Gernsback originally created theMORE HERE