Deborah Gilbert-Rogers*
Creating a name for your company or brand isn’t easy. And keeping it can be even harder. 24/7 Wall St., which offers insight analysis and commentary for U.S. and global equity investors, recently released its annual list of brands that could be no more in the very near future. According to this article posted on Yahoo! Finance, predictions for 2010 proved to be rather accurate, with brands such as T-Mobile USA, Blockbuster, Pontiac, and House & Garden, disappearing or merging with other companies, as others (think Dollar Thrifty car rental) still negotiate for buyouts.
However, Kia, Moody’s, BP, and Zale – all brands that made the list last year – seem to be faring better since then.
Personally, I am not surprised by some of the brands that made the list this year – particularly the brands who have been fighting for relevancy for years. Sears and MySpace come to mind. In fact, just the other day it was announced that Specific Media bought MySpace and that Justin Timberlake would be taking a stake in the former social media giant.
Still, I think the list of disappearing brands may be a little flawed. Sure the movie industry has taken a hit with the recession and all, not to mention the increase in streaming video services, like Netflix. But I seriously think that a brand like Sony Pictures will be able to pull through and come out stronger than ever. After all, people aren’t going to stop going to the movies and I am sure that Sony Pictures will find innovative ways to give people the content that they desire and remain ahead of the entertainment curve, all while bolstering its revenue stream.
I would also hate to think that the A&W diner, which has long been a fixture on one of my local street corners since the 1940’s, and others like it, may go the way of many other iconic New Jersey diners… Come to think of it, I haven’t seen anyone in that building in a long time, so they may be closed already.
What brands would you like to see stick around next year? Are there any brands you think should be added to list? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Bio: After graduating from Rider University, where she received a B.A. in English-writing and minor degrees in Gender Studies and French, Deborah joined the BurrellesLuce Marketing team in 2007. As a marketing specialist she continues to help develop the company’s thought leadership and social media efforts, including the copywriting and editing of day-to-day marketing initiatives and management of the BurrellesLuce Fresh Ideas blog. Facebook: BurrellesLuce Twitter: @BurrellesLuce LinkedIn: dgrogers