How Susan G. Komen For The Cure Torpedoed Its Brand Susan B. Komen For The Cure's decision to pull funding from Planned Parenthood, and its reaction to the backlash that followed, were a public relations disaster and a classic example of what not to do.
Updated Fri Feb 3, 2012
"Lumia" Means "Prostitute"? For Product Names, Sometimes Other Meanings Don't Matter When Nokia announced its Lumia product family, there was a big fuss when someone pointed out that "lumia" supposedly meant "prostitute" in Spanish. But does it matter?
Updated Tue Jan 31, 2012
It's Not Natural, It's Just Simple: Food Branding Co-Opts Another Meaningless Word What do you call foods which aren't organic, which may not be natural, and which might not even be good for you? It's simple.
Updated Fri Jul 29, 2011
No Boom, No Rush, No Difference: The .com Domain Will Still Rule Vanity top-level domains will soon be available for those with $185k to spend. Will it change the domain landscape?
Updated Wed Jul 27, 2011
Salad Makes You Fat: It's Not What It's Called, It's What It's Made Of Salads are supposed to be good for you and make you feel virtuous for eating them. But does the word "salad" mean what we think it means?
Updated Mon Jun 6, 2011
Going Really Green: The Nissan Leaf Hybrid And Other Electric Cars Do the names of electric cars tell us about what we have or what we want? And where are the flying cars they promised us?
Updated Wed May 4, 2011
Do-It-Yourself Naming: 5 Must-Read Tips Need to name your company or product? Here are 5 must-read tips to help you find the right name.
Updated Mon May 2, 2011
CalFresh Is Totally Better Than Food Stamps: Rebranding Government Programs Food Stamps in California have been rebranded to CalFresh. What other state programs should get a new, fresh name?
Updated Wed Mar 2, 2011
But It Won't Help Them Win Games: ARCO Arena Is Now Power Balance Pavilion Sacramento's Power Balance Pavilion isn't the first stadium that wishes it had another name.
Updated Thu Feb 24, 2011
Your New Victrola iPod: Do Brand Name Auctions Make Sense? Recently a number of classic brand names were auctioned off. Is it really possible to invest new meaning--and new products--into old brands?
Updated Mon Jan 31, 2011
Just Like Grouper Fish: Coupon Sites Devour Everything If you've signed up for a coupon site, you're hooked. Just like everyone else.
Updated Wed Jan 19, 2011
Names We Loved - and Loved to Hate - in 2010 Like all good bloggers, I have a professional obligation to look back at the year that was and summarize the highs and lows of my particular area of expertise--that is, naming. So, my colleagues at Catchword and I put together a rundown of names that made the headlines in 2010.
Updated Mon Jan 10, 2011
Have Cowl, Will Travel Around the World: Batman Incorporated (Part 2) With plans in the current DC storyline to have Batman Inc. go worldwide, I thought we'd see if this is really feasible--that is, do bats have the same connotations around the world as they do in the U.S.? And if the bat isn't the right symbol in, say, China, what animal might serve?
Updated Wed Jan 5, 2011
Have Cowl, Will Travel Around the World: Batman Incorporated (Part 1) DC Comics has just introduced the idea that Batman may go global (within the DC world, of course). What would truly international Batmen look like?
Updated Mon Dec 6, 2010
More Must Be Better: High Definition Invades a Product Near You HDTV is awesome, but do we really need HD dentistry?
Posted Tue Nov 9, 2010
Positive to Negative to Positive: Rebranding California Food Stamps Can a new name remove some of the stigma from California's food stamp program?
Posted Tue Nov 2, 2010
Brand Vigilante: Someone Stole My Name on Twitter Your name is your brand online. Don't let someone steal your personal equity!
Posted Tue Oct 26, 2010
Windows Phone 7: This Name Does Not Sing to Me Windows Phone 7 asks: Are operating system names going to steal the cell phone spotlight?
Posted Tue Oct 19, 2010
I Cannot Lie: Levi's and Old Navy Got Back Denim for women is all about the fit--how it fits your butt. How do two very different companies sell the same idea?
Posted Mon Oct 11, 2010
Don't Bogart That Name: Medical Marijuana Trademarks With the possible legalization of marijuana in California, will we be inundated with branding, or will Acapulco Gold stay in the public domain?
Posted Thu Aug 5, 2010
