Except for the success of discounters like Wal-Mart Stores (WMT), BJ’s Wholesale Club (BJ), Dollar Tree (DLTR), Family Dollar Stores (FDO) and Dollar General, it feels like 1932. That being said, not all retailers will go the way of Circuit City and Linens-n-Things. So the question becomes what retailers canMORE HERE

They brought Barnum to the stage at the Asolo Rep in Sarasota, Florida last fall. Why not bring spin-off Barnum and bring it back as a carnival sideshow? Want to read more about circus brands? See our post on our main BrandlandUSA.com website. BrandlandUSA.com is the website of business andMORE HERE

BrandlandUSA.com is the website of business and travel writer and editor Garland Pollard. Read about “circus brands” in his post called, QUITE AMAZINGLY, Circus Brands! You’ll do flips.MORE HERE

A great Brooklyn brand, and a cool package from Graphic Explosions. Zetov is King of the Kosher Snacks, and Matamin is one of their brands. BrandlandUSA.com is the website of business and travel writer and editor Garland Pollard. Contact him about freelance writing and editing; his personal website is atMORE HERE

CHARLOTTESVILLE – Any person who lived in Virginia in the 1970s would know these regional bank jingles. “F&M’s free banking puts you and your checkbook … a jump ahead.” “Virginia National is the way Virginia Banks today.” The two banks merged, and became Sovran. Something was lost. Little was gained.MORE HERE

SARASOTA – Today is no longer the era of the circus. But regional and some national circus troupes survive as of 2009. Below are some of the organizations: Clyde Beatty Circus Founded in 1956, it’s one of the traditional tent circuses, and amazing it is still around. Ringling Brothers andMORE HERE

The folks at General Motors are apparently giving Pontiac short attention during press events this week. Bad omen for a great American brand, says Byron Hurd on the site SpeedSportLife.com. Writes Hurd: In fact, due to Pontiac’s location near the loading area, their floor space was practically eliminated during GM’sMORE HERE

LOS ANGELES – We’ll miss the man of the Corinthian leather! Great obit on him on Bloomberg.com. The ads said that the Chrysler Cordoba commercial had “tastefulness of its appearance” and the “thickly cushioned luxury of seats available even in soft Corinthian leather.” According to Bloomberg, the phrase “Corinthian leather”MORE HERE

It’s one of the largest problems facing online publishers. Almost all (around 95 percent) of brand advertising is not on the web. The online site Brand.net is attempting to find a solution to the problem , billing itself as the first online advertising network focused exclusively on brand advertising. It’sMORE HERE