The following blog is sponsored by...Well, actually, there is no sponsor on this here blog. Yet it got me thinking about brands and brand name changes etc.
I recently purchased a Chevrolet automobile. Yes, you read correctly, here I am living in England and I bought a Chevrolet. Now the Chevrolet I bought used to be called a 'Daewoo'. I remember the commercial for Daewoo with the catchy slogan, 'that'll be the Daewoo'. Now the acquisition of the South Korean manufactured Daewoo by Chevrolet, which is part of the General Motors family, was of course, major, bordering on earth shattering news, here in Britain. The biggest news since we realised that Richard Branson had 'Virginised ' virtually ever conceivable product or convenience known to man.
I noted the name of my stereo system. It is a 'Daewoo'. So, I am now wondering if I can call my stereo a Chevrolet? And why not. After all, my colour television is a 'Mitsubishi'.
So brand names get changed. 'Datsun' becomes 'Nissan'. 'Kentucky Fried Chicken' now gets called 'KFC'. Banks change their names, but we still hate them. For example, 'National Westminster Bank' becomes 'NatWest' (some call it 'NatWorst'). Chocolate bars cause confusion. 'Marathon' bars get renamed 'Snickers' only to be renamed 'Marathon'. Thank goodness they have not thought of changing 'Mars' bars to the name of the planet that is between 'Saturn' and Neptune'.
The other day I was in my local 'Morrisons' supermarket, (which was once a 'Safeway' supermarket until Morrisons bought out British Safeway), to buy a tin of 'Campbell's' cream of chicken condensed soup. Well, it turns out that Campbell's is now called 'Bachelors', but nobody bothered to inform me. And speaking of supermarkets..the next thing you know someone will tell me something like 'Asda' has been purchased by 'Wal-Mart'. 'What? They have?'
You may be wondering why the 'wee folks' are in the photograph. I discovered them in my kitchen checking out my groceries. It's a shame I did not have a more fitting cereal for them to eat. Something like 'Lucky Charms'. You know, Lucky Charms, 'they're magically delicious!'
To end this blog in a somewhat commercial way that demonstrates how brand names have been incorporated into everyday language; I present the following. I decided to 'Hoover' the carpets. After 'hoovering', I had this urge to sneeze, so I grabbed some 'Kleenex' and wiped my nose. I then proceeded to the kitchen and rewarded myself with a bowl of 'Jello'. Now you may have reached this blog by 'Googling'.....
Oh yeah..before I go...'Cadbury's' chocolate has been purchased by 'Kraft'. What a thought. Chocolate flavoured Kraft macaroni dinners.....
