The last time Americans saw mass shortages of multiple products at retailers was World War II, when U.S. manufacturers concentrated on munitions and war production. Consumers saw the result of a command economy firsthand, as ration books became the second currency of the land. The idea of having nothing toMORE HERE
WINONA, Minn. – There are few products more quintessentially American, and rural, than the galvanized washtub or bucket. A key maker of these products is Behrens, founded in 1911. Today, the metalmaker offers a wide variety of pails, washbuckets, and watering cans, all with the distinctive feel of a vintageMORE HERE
In the last decade, the owners of the Nabisco brand have played with the idea of taking the familiar red corner off of their packaging. This is unfortunate, as the Nabisco name is one of the nation’s best known, and best-trusted grocery brands. And the red corner is as wellMORE HERE
Goodbye, frozen vegetable brick. In spite of the recent explosion in frozen foods, changing consumer habits have meant the loss of one of the best known types of frozen food, the frozen food block. In the photo above, the sole remaining frozen vegetable brick at a Super Target is spinach,MORE HERE
Kraft Old English spread is one of a number of jarred, shelf stable cheese products sold by Kraft. Other varieties include pimento and roka.MORE HERE
SIMPSONVILLE, KENTUCKY – There were once dozens of regional sausage brands. One standout among the independents still remaining is the Old Folks brand, founded in 1944. Old Folks is actually the nickname for founder F. B. Purnell. Their archived website has a history of the brand: Old Folks was accustomedMORE HERE
Bed Bath & Beyond is now beyond boring. The state of the company cannot be blamed on China shipments, post-covid retail shoppers, or fickle consumers. Bed Bath and Beyond, where the stock price has collapsed to less than $9 a share from over $44, is a disaster the company hasMORE HERE
Retailers need to have surprise if they want customers back. Top-down merchandise selections are not the answer. Look for suprises, like Stanley Marcus. Consider store autonomy and local merchandising.MORE HERE
For generations, the Mennen brand, now part of Colgate-Palmolive, was synonymous with mens’ and babies’ products, from baby oil to Speed Stick, Afta to Skin Bracer. Today, as the Colgate-Palmolive board meets for its annual meeting, it would do well to reconsider the value of the Mennen brand and companyMORE HERE
There is a class of basic home remedies, still around, that one could have found at a Main Street independent pharmacy a century ago. One of those classics, often forgotten, is the drawing salve Smile’s Prid. Prid, which dates from 1947, treats blisters and boils, and other noxious conditions oneMORE HERE