NEW YORK – In an ever saturated market, with companies jostling to differentiate, the appeal to associate brand with ‘heritage’ continues to increase. Virtues of timeless legacy, quality & tradition become lighthouses of authenticity in ever volatile, albeit, undifferentiated waters. That said, when companies artificially manufacture such authenticity, do consumersMORE HERE
CANAJOHARIE, N.Y. – Classic kitchen staples that have not changed over the years are getting rarer and rarer. One of those mostly unchanged brands is Gravy Master, made by Richardson Brands. Richardson makes other classic niche brands, including Beechies, Dryden & Palmer Rock Candy and Richardson Mints, those tiny mint-candyMORE HERE
NASHVILLE – RCA’s Studio A, an important legacy in American country music history, is under the threat of demolition for a condo project. However, the music industry (and the National Trust) is taking note, hoping this great artifact can be saved, and in turn becoming a keystone in the musicMORE HERE
WATERFORD, IRELAND – When I converse with anyone about an old, deceased brand, the conversation often comes to the point where we wonder about the brand’s value, especially if I am the only person who knows of the brand name. I came across a perfect situation while reviewing a MarchMORE HERE
MARINA DEL REY – There are thousands of family businesses in the U.S. that were once considerable enterprises, so it is refreshing to see some of them come back, even if they are but modest start-ups. To wit, Cohen & Sons Apparel. I don’t know much about the original, butMORE HERE
LOS ANGELES – For fans of cars and Formula One, the Ron Howard film Rush is a feast. The film details the epic rivalry between the 1976 Formula One racers James Hunt of the U.K. and Austrian Niki Lauda. Released last fall, it is just out on DVD. Sports withMORE HERE
PETERSBURG, Va. – For those who love writing instruments, the restoration of the identity of a pen company is welcome. In Petersburg, Virginia, right on the main drag, the Remmie Arnold pen sign has been a key landmark in that historic Virginia city. I have a personal interest in it,MORE HERE
Ball Mason jars are one of the great American brand names that define a particular category. It is so much so, that most could not even name any other brands that competed against it, though if you think hard, Libby and Kerr come to mind. This year, the company celebratedMORE HERE
DETROIT – When General Motors was bailed out, the Pontiac brand died. General Motors customers, dealers and employees were stunned. The decision cost money, and Pontiac was well on its way to a revival. Sales just disappeared, and they were not replaced by other brands that were preserved, such asMORE HERE
MONTVALE, N.J. – Eight O’ Clock, the nation’s greatest coffee brand, has modified its logo with a second redesign that appeared in coupon mailers this week. The design is an update of a failed 2010 design, an improvement but not that much. The packaging debuted in August. In a pressMORE HERE