Richmond,Va.-based branding guru Kelly O’Keefe has put together his Hall of Shame for 2007. Many of the shamed brands were picked by his students in the Virginia Commonwealth University Adcenter program. On the list were jetBlue, Nordstrom and Facebook, all kind of “hot” brands that didn’t do everything right. HereMORE HERE
While its a smidge too late to affect the decision now, Northrup Grumman ought to use the Grumman name to sell its new tanker program to the Pentagon. Here is the issue in a nutshell. Boeing and the Pentagon got together to put together a deal to refit the BoeingMORE HERE
CHATTANOOGA – Got an itch for Gold Bond? Jim Cramer does. CNBC Mad Money host Cramer likes the maker of Gold Bond powder, the ever-growing consumer products company Chattem, or CHTT. Chattem, founded in 1879 by Zeboim Cartter Patten, takes nearly dead brands or declining brands and rebuilds them. ChattemMORE HERE
Perhaps the most famous revived brand in the U.S. is Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF). The company was once an old-line sporting goods company selling guns and tents to presidents and such. Today, American mall-goers are so mesmerized by the half-naked teens of today’s Abercrombie that we forget that it wasMORE HERE
Hang Ten is back. Hang Ten was founded in 1960 in Seal Beach, California by Doris Moore and Duke Boyd, as a maker of surfing apparel. Through the 1970s, it was the original surf brand, a precursor to Ocean Pacific and Quicksilver, and other surf and skateboard fashion companies. ItMORE HERE
Canadian writer Mark Shainblum, an Ottawa, Ontario journalist and editor, is best known as a science fiction and comic book writer. He sends us his his top favorite missing Canadian brands. The cartoonist was quite stunned to hear that Crosley Radios is back, and found our site that way. HereMORE HERE
The news that Sears wants to buy Restoration Hardware shows that the venerable retailer is in desperate search of growth after its merger with Kmart. While merging the two retailers might not be a bad idea, the reality is that Sears Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: SHLD) needs its current crop ofMORE HERE
It was a great year for old brand names. Dying brands were revived, and completely dead brands were brought back to life. Here are a few. 1. Greyhound. The company has spent millions spiffing up terminals, buses and such. It is beginning a new advertising campaign that will promote howMORE HERE
Iconix Brand Group Inc. is hiring four to lead development at the intellectual property, licensing and fashion company. Most interesting potential is Carolyn D’Angelo, who will have the opportunity to oversee Fieldcrest, Cannon and Royal Velvet brands. BrandlandUSA wrote up their purchased of Fieldcrest, the former Marshall Field’s subsidiary, justMORE HERE
Whatever happened to Carroll Reed? It’s a question many East Coast folks have been asking since the ski-focused clothing chain shut down. At one time, there were 54 stores. The Carroll Reed Ski Shops Inc. was started, not by some matronly woman, but by Carroll Purinton Reed, a clever entrepreneurMORE HERE