Thursday 20 October 2011

Quick Quintet: Brand Power

I don't remember exactly when it was that everyone became obsessed with labels - sometime in the 80s I think, when it was all Lacoste this and Adidas that. I do remember if you didn't have the right trainers or sports bag, you were ridiculed at school.

Him Outdoors had a non-authentic action man when he was a kid. Apparently he had a squishy head and his hands fell off (the non-action man that is, not Him Outdoors). No one would let him play, somewhat unsurprisingly.

Now, I'm not what anyone would call a slave to fashion, but there are certain things that just have to be right; when imitations simply won't suffice.

5 Non-Negotiable Brands:
  1. Persil automatic - possibly mum's fault; I like the familiar smell, and I seem to get a rash from just about anything else
  2. McVities - no one else's digestives will do. And don't even get me started on Hobnobs...
  3. Jaguar - E-type in particular: if it's not a Jaguar; it's just a car
  4. Bombay Sapphire gin and Schwepps tonic - it's the perfect combination
  5. Waterstones/ Unity Books - I will travel miles for knowledgable service

3 comments:

Bex Taylor said...

1. Watties Baked Beans - just has to be or it doesn't taste right
2. Scwheppe's Tonic Water - the rest are fake - 'nough said
3. Purex Toilet Tissue - the brand a grew up with so I guess I can rely on it
4. Cadbury Roses - nostalgia
5. Pyrex - best cooking glassware ever! Mum said and I believe her

Anonymous said...

Hobnobs...you are saying food of the Gods, right? I like to munch them in the middle of the night, straight from the fridge. Discovering the joy of cold hobnobs from an open packet at 4am might be my gift to the world.

Robin

Kate Blackhurst said...

Bex - my mum said the same about Pyrex - I think it may have been the only cooking glassware at the time, but I still have grandma's custard bowl.

Robin - Hmmm, Hobnobs. There is only one brand of course: McVitie's. Because they have never allowed the sale of God's nourishment outside the UK and Ireland, there are many pale imitations. Pale, pale imitations... flapjacks by any other name.

Kate x