RICHMOND — Original neon signs from two well-known Virginia retailers have been restored to original working condition and are on display at the Valentine Richmond History Center. The exterior sign from the former Mill End Shop in Richmond ‘s Carytown and a mid-century A&N Store sign join the History Center’sMORE HERE
MARTINSVILLE – While it is High Point (and North Carolina) that is associated with the American furniture industry, it is the southern part of Virginia that is the hub for traditional American furniture. The region is home to a cluster of old-school, middle class brands including Stanley, Hooker, Pulaski, RoweMORE HERE
PETERSBURG – It’s the greatest pen sign ever. It’s the Remmie Arnold Pen of Petersburg, Virginia. The company was founded by Remmie Arnold, who ran for governor of Virginia, but lost. He won at the pen game, and for a time Remmie Arnold was one of the world’s largest penMORE HERE
Each little region of the United States has its own brand names. These brand names are the most fragile of brands, as even a great (and successful) 75-year-old local retail company can shut down because of real estate, family issues, changing demographics or a myriad of other things. These brandsMORE HERE
There is something great about a brand that does not stick to its brand. Particularly industrial companies that go into the business of resorts. Modern management theory HATES this sort of thing, but they are wrong. Brands that do not stick to their brands are MORE interesting. They have depth.MORE HERE
Part of what makes a brand authentic is where it is made, what company makes it and what other things the company does. Budweiser is one of those brands. Not only is Budweiser about beer, it is about American culture. It is about family time. It is about conservation andMORE HERE
Morton’s (though the packaging said Morton) was encyclopedic in its frozen grocery offerings, and each package, at least in the 70s, was stylish. (Pictured above is an old Look magazine ad from 1969, before a 70s super-graphic redesign.) There were Morton Pot Pies, Morton Creme Pies, Morton Cinnamon Rolls. Morton Honey Buns came four to a package, and there was so much sugar on each that when you pulled the buns out, the sugar frosting was all over the package and the four came out like a brick. MORE HERE
Like John Deere, most everyday farm folks know the name Royster, which has roots in the Royster Guano company, born in 1885. Why would a company dump that brand equity? MORE HERE
In April of 2006, Bank of America announced that it would consider dumping Visa in favor of its own credit card network named BankAmericard. The announcement isn’t all to the story. Because actually, Bank of Americard sort of brought the cards back in the summer of 2005, albeit as a co-branded Visa. The offering read: “In 1958, before there was Visa, Bank of America introduced the first credit card to the world–the BankAmericard.” MORE HERE