Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with brands

Does anyone recognize this logo?

dagnyscott — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 08:11:46 -0800

This is the logo. I want to know what brand or company it corresponds to. It's on a pair of pants. That's about all I know since it's not mine.

Does anyone make mass-produced but unusual hooded sweatshirts?

Subspace — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 19:11:54 -0800

Are there any companies making unusual mass-produced hoodies for screenprinting? My employer wants to have hoodies screenprinted, but we all agree that we want something more than the basic Champion/AA/Hanes hoodie. Ideally we would like something with a large Nazgul-type hood, but any other unique details would be good too.

Lots of internet searching has turned up nothing but bespoke pieces, which is cool, but we want 50-100 sweatshirts.

Any ideas?

Riding intercity trains, dressed in European grey.

Nomyte — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 18:39:13 -0800

How and where can I shop for neat and tasteful men's clothing while staying within a responsible budget? Me: male, late 20s, 5′8″, 165 lbs, short skinny torso, longish arms, big head. Most of my weight is in the lower half of my body.

I dress pretty mundanely in cold weather: long-sleeve shirts, knitted vests, sweaters and zip-ups, dark-wash jeans, peacoat and wool scarf in winter. However, I wouldn't mind being just a bit more grown-up, dressier, and more creative with my clothing choices. I also value versatility and work in a very casual environment.

I end up shopping for clothes almost exclusively at the Gap and Banana Republic stores: their sweaters (etc.) come in small and are affordably priced. The downside is that their clothes lose their shape quickly, and their woollen items are very prone to pilling. Also, I end up looking like everyone else who's wearing this year's argyle sweater.

For years, Nordstrom Rack was my secret weapon, but in the last few years they've turned into a more expensive Marshall's. I went this weekend and couldn't find any warm clothes in small, tended to "swim" in whatever clothes I tried on. Pretty much everything was in silly plaid and polka dot patterns or just general teenage fashions (printed tees, waffle thermals, and so on).

Occasional visits to stores selling second-hand clothes reveal piles of jeans and golf shirts, but not much else. I live near a big state school in a not particularly wealthy area, so the selection is naturally limited.

I've looked at discount online retailers like the Sierra Trading Post, but apart from basics like tees, everything seems very expensive. For instance, browsing for men's sweaters, the majority of items are between $175 and $300 in price. I know that MeFi users often recommend paying for quality, but if I bought everything in my wardrobe at $175 an item, I'd go broke. Also, my specific build means that shopping for clothes online has a distinct element of trial and error.

It doesn't help that men's clothing selection at most stores is very limited and does not tend to get discounted as readily or as deeply as women's clothing.

How do I get away from the two stores where I always seem to shop? Which brick-and-mortar retailers, besides Gap brands, should I explore?
What general tips can you offer for shopping for men's clothes with character on a relatively basic budget?
What tips can you offer for clothes shopping in my specific area (northeast DC suburbs and areas reachable by car, including Annapolis and Baltimore)?
Which blogs/sites should I be reading on the topic of "timeless" men's styles for budget-conscious shoppers?

Many thanks.

Best clothing brands for men in their 20's

Parh6512 — Mon, 21 May 2012 02:54:51 -0800

What are some good clothing brands for young men in their 20's? I'm in college right now and about to enter the working world soon. My closet is filled with Abercrombie, Hollister, and other preppy clothes. Want to get rid of all those and shop for new clothes that are more appropriate for my age (22). What are some good brands that I can look into that will not break my wallet?

Non-logo identifiers

ichomp — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 21:14:58 -0800

What are brand identifiers that are not logos? such as Starbuck's green straw and Apple's white earphones This question can include infinite things, but I'm mainly looking for things that identify a brand but are not:
-functional/ an inherent part of the product
-a quality difference (ex: Nikon cameras stand out b/c they're superior)
-non-verbal-- no words, an illiterate/ foreign person would be able to identify that it's a different brand than others

Even the ringtone from AT&T's "Can you hear me now?" would count. The type of thing I'm looking for is a red bottle cap, a square where the thing is usually round, etc.

Basically, they are gimmicks that don't contribute to the use of the object besides standing out and acting as a sort of logo.

Cool brands/products for youth that are no longer cool?

red_rabbit — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 16:35:25 -0800

Help me think of examples of brands/products that used to be cool, connected & sought after by youth (let's say 17-25) around the world, but have fallen out of favor. I'm preparing a project as part of an interview for a marketing job, and my task will be to build a marketing plan to bring this brand/product back to its glory days. No small task! For this reason, I'm looking for things that have some potential for resurrection, rather than brands/products that died for a good reason.

Half of dinnertime conversation is about brands. Or is it?

andromache — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 07:53:48 -0800

Help me find the statistic, the radio program on which I first heard it, or the source of the unsettling claim that 50% of family conversations are about corporations/brands/companies. About 6 months ago, I was listening to NPR affiliate WNYC and I heard an astounding (appalling) stat: half of conversations that families have around the dinner table are in some way about brands. At least, that's how I remember it. It might have been higher or lower than half, but the takeaway is that a substantial chunk of our family time is basically spent shilling for private companies. Since I heard the interview, I notice how often I'm talking with my girlfriend, -- or my Zen Buddhist mother, for crying out loud -- and somehow or another, we wind up discussing Apple or JetBlue or some god-damn company that really has no place at our dinner table (or at least it deserves a much smaller seat there! Maybe a high chair.)

I don't recall the program it was on, or if it was a WNYC show or an NPR one. I remember it was an interview with a scholar who'd written a book with a title that sounded like "The United States of America" (The United Brands of America? But cleverer than that). He had, as I recall, a Western European accent... Dutch? German? Ack, embarrassing how little I remember of this fascinating interview.

In any case, I'd love to know the title of the book, the source of the statistic, or the show that the interview was on so I can re-listen to it (and casually drop that figure in conversation when the discussion turns -- as it so often does! -- to talk of companies).

Thanks, everyone. And a good Pepsi Ford Viacom to you all!

Basic apparel of the highest quality

Foci for Analysis — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:21:50 -0800

Businesses that make basic apparel (underwear, t-shirts, socks, etc) of the highest quality and where you largely pay for the quality and not the marketing/branding - can you name a few?

What's the name of the "Life is Good" cat?

ivey — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 08:41:02 -0800

What's the name of the cat in the "Life is Good" merchandise? I know the guy is Jake and the dog is Rocket but I can't find the name of the cat.

How to spot a knock-off with the real brand attached?

tracicle — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 12:44:04 -0800

What are examples of big-name brands who separately manufacture cheaper/shoddier lines and put their labels onto them? I was reading this link (in this AskMe post) about the Snapper mower brand and how Walmart asked them to consider creating a separately-manufactured cheap line with the Snapper label. The article cites Levi Strauss as an example of this. So I wondered what other big names do this: how often have I thought I'd gotten a cheap deal on something when it was actually an inferior product? Is there a handy list out there of these manufacturers and where they sell to, or a way to tell the difference between the "actual" branded product and the outsourced product? (For added bonus points, which of these are sold in New Zealand?)

white person problems

janelikes — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:08:08 -0800

Desperately Seeking Sweater My husband is in need of some new sweaters. We have looked for new sweaters (shouldn't be hard, right?) but have been disapointed in the lackluster quality of a large range of what I consider to be well-regarded brands (Ralph Lauren, The Gap, Banana Republic). The problem is simply that they are too thin - My man wants a dense, heavy sweater that you can't see through when you hold it up to the light. He likes pretty standard styles such as this. Where do you get your favorite sweater? I would love to hear about catalog shops such as Lands End or others where I can't physically feel em up but may be good. Thanks for your help in this dire matter.

Too many fashion brands, a few demographic

facehugger — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:25:15 -0800

What's the difference between Uniqlo, Zara, H&M, United Colors of Benneton, Topshop, Gap, Old Navy, J. Crew, Madewell, Espirit, and Forever 21? I'm wondering as to the difference in terms of their target audience, price range, and type/quality of clothes.

I know that it's a long list, so it's fine if you just compare a few brands.

Help name my Coffee Bean Business

roastermarv — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 07:08:58 -0800

Help name my coffee bean company. I'm very excited about this new venture that I just embarked on. I have all the logistics in place, but I'm still missing a Big piece of the puzzle, the name of the company. My choice for the name was " Una Voce "(one voice), because part of this venture will be to give back to the communities that produce the finest Coffee Beans in the world. These communities still lack some fundamental basics, like clean drinkable water, medical facilities, schooling for both children and adults. I will be funneling back some of the profits to improve the lives of our fellow humans. Two other names that I was thinking about were "One World" or "Human Beans". None of the names I have liked have received positive feedback, so I turn to you. I will keep everyone here posted on my decision and Thanks in Advance.

Customized Deals/Coupons Alerts, Does It Exist?

gramcracker — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 13:50:21 -0800

Are there any sites that offer customized deal/coupon alerts/emails/RSS feeds based on categories or stores/brands that I like? FatWallet has some email alerts which kind of work, but I'd love to be able to enter which stores/items I'm looking for, and get a daily/weekly update on what deals are out there. For example, if I really like, say, Ben Sherman, it'd be great not to miss a big sale, or a Friends and Family coupon. If I'm looking for a new external hard drive, wherever someone finds a deal on them, I'd like to be in the loop.

Comperable Brands?

fightoplankton — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 08:47:24 -0800

I'm trying to do a social media analysis of SiriusXM Satellite Radio. I would like to compare similar type brands. What do think would be some good brands to compare it to. I'm thinking about HBO or MTV? What do you think? Others? Thanks, Paul

Brands getting desparate?

Marzipan — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 03:08:31 -0800

In London, Barclays Bank has sponsored the public cycle hire scheme. Any other recent examples of a big brand sponsoring something seemingly unrelated? If you think about it, you can make a case for Barclays Bank in this case thus being aligned with ease/efficiency/openness whatever, but it's not an obvious connection - like, say, Adidas sponsoring football.
Any other examples (from anywhere around the world)?

What are some ubiquitous indie grocery items?

quarterframer — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:55:05 -0800

I just saw the Dr. Bronner's Magic Soapbox documentary (great stuff!) and was amazed that they haven't been bought out by a conglomeratated foodstuffs megacorp. I was wondering what else I might find on my shelves with an origin like Dr. Bronner's. A big company to be sure, but independent and focused on a single brand. I looked in the pantry and also found Tabasco, which appears to be independently produced.

The question is: What else is there in the grocery category like this that is easily found on the shelves of many large supermarkets throughout the US?

NOT looking for regional specialties, fresh foods/produce, or faux indie stuff like Ben and Jerry's (they may still be in VT but are owned by a giant conglomerate).

Are surfing The Google with iPad?

tmcw — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 13:50:32 -0800

What's the term for the use of a product name as a singular noun (like iPod), and why do companies do this? This has been bugging me, but I'd like to understand it or know how to refer to it better. The most obvious instance is Apple, and the word iPod. For instance, on one page:

Use iTunes to fill up iPod shuffle with your favorite songs, organize your music, manage playlists, and shop for even more.

(iPod Shuffle is a singular, ala God, etc)

Get new features that make iPod touch even more fun.

(again)

Feed your iPod classic.

(now it's a specific iPod)

The new iPod nano. Now rocking a video camera, a polished anodized aluminum finish, and a larger screen. Also making its debut: FM radio with Live Pause.

(Now a specific singular; they never refer to it as 'The iPod Nano' with an adjective like 'new')

At this point I think you've all identified me as a crazy nitpicker, proceed.

It appears like this kind of marketing is trying to make 'iPod' into a brand and not a device, and just has rather inconsistent lines between when we are referring to the physical object and when to the idea of iPod.

Note that there's also a restriction between two ways of referring to websites; everyone mocks GWB, etc., for referring to "The Google" but how is this less accurate than "Google"? What is the grammatical term for this shift? And how, of course, The Facebook became Facebook.

Makeup mavens - your help is needed!

watercarrier — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:54:40 -0800

Choosing the right makeup and brands is really confusing for me. So many companies - so many colors and combinations. I need help choosing lipsticks, pencils and eye shadows that will look good and feel good. What are some really excellent brands to go with that are cost effective? Colors that I'm looking for golds, creamy browns, tawny pink - soft and muted. Extra points for classy and luxurious though I'm out of the Chanel, Dior and Bobbi Brown league. I'd say low to middle range in price. Thanks!

Brand names used for generic products.

backseatpilot — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:01:53 -0800

I'm curious about world-wide use of brand names to refer to the generic product. It seems very common in the United States to refer to generic things by their major brands - Kleenex, Xerox, etc. The only example I know of from outside America is Hoover in the United Kingdom - what about elsewhere?

Roommate negotiations... ugh...

Anonymous — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:45:18 -0800

So, I have a roommate. We were friends before living together, and for the most part we get along fine. We've had some arguments, but we seem to have gotten past them. Now I'm just feeling frustrated by some nit-picky things she does and I want to know if I should address them at all, and how not to be insulting or irritating. Little things, like washing the dishes but neglecting to ring out the sponge (which breeds mildew and is unsanitary as well as completely disgusting-- I had been wondering why the dishes always smelled funky after she washed them) and then I find I buy replacement sponges once every two weeks. It's getting expensive and irksome, and even though I've asked her to ring them out she still leaves them and lets them rot.

She also has a tendency to stay at her boyfriend's house for days at a time, which wouldn't bother me except that it then falls to me to feed her cat. She doesn't really clean up after the poor thing either, which is simply not something I'm willing to do. Period. If I wanted a pet I would have gotten one, and when we moved in I established clearly that the pet-related messes would not be my problem.

And most recently the most irritating of all is that she eats my food. And I swear I'm not a stingy person, I actually don't mind at all that she shares food with me provided that she replaces any food that she eats the majority-- i.e. sure, make a sandwich or two with my bread, no problem, but if I buy a loaf and 3/4 of it are gone before I eat even one slice, replace it. This is not to say that she never replaces my food, and to that extent I acknowledge that she's trying to make things even, but here's where I sound like a big time female dog...

When it comes to clothing, cleaning supplies, and household stuff I don't care about namebrands. Whatever works will work for me, but when it comes to my food I am incredibly particular. I work hard to afford the brands that I choose because they taste better. She then replaces my expensive brandname food with crappy Kroger generics. I wouldn't buy those because I prefer the better brands and I'm willing to pay more for them. Clearly, she feels differently, so I end up with the short end of the stick-- paying more for the better brands but eating the crappy ones.

I've considered many things, not the least of which is letting it go-- we have only 6 months left on our lease and we know we won't be living together again after that. But is it really fair for me to put up with this for all that time? I feel like it's more and more money out of my pocket. I try to keep my special food that I really care about in one of the veggie crispers, but she still pilfers it from time to time. How can I express my frustration politely (in the form of a note preferably, as talking to her face to face has usually led to arguments in the past) without sounding like I've got a stick up my bum?

Independent Organic Products?

pleasantries — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:05:30 -0800

List of organic brands (Food/Cosmetics/Cleaning products) that are not subsidiaries of major corporations? Examples: Nature's Gate, EarthBalance. Have already used this and this.

Experts say Brand X is now significantly less distinguishable from name brands!

goodnewsfortheinsane — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 11:40:11 -0800

For which products or services is it worth it to buy name brand instead of generic brand? When will brand X do just as well, or even better?

How to find a catolog of "dead brands?"

mtstover — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 08:41:07 -0800

I'm interested in buying / resuscitating a "dead brand". Something fairly old, but that would be interesting to consumers. Think Barbasol, or something like that. Any ideas on where to find a good catalog of expired consumer products that have been forgotten?

Name That Photog

id girl — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 12:40:08 -0800

I am looking for the name or a link to a photographer who shoots pictures of store shelves filled with products, and then photoshops out all the branding / logos etc. so that the shelves appear to be filled with blank products. [+] I'm fairly certain I once saw it linked off of MetaFilter, but it would have been over a year ago. Searches of MeFi archives and googling terms like 'blank products' and various iterations have turned up nothing; I'm hoping someone here either bookmarked it or can point me in the right direction.