Smith's point is that this is another "new way for private dollars to help make possible a program with important public benefits."

Will parks and museums be the next to see privatization? Millions of people visit these places each year, and let's face it, it's hard to shock a New Yorker.

The bottom line, according to Smith, is that "Public services are expensive. Taxpayers are stretched. Let companies be part of the solution."

Let's also recall that New York is considering the move towards making parking meters a private business, and this of course would lead to ads and branding meters.

The problem is that once you privatize a space (like a parking space, or a library or a park), the state may still need to be able to move that space, or convert it to something else, should the need arise. And the company that sponsors it now gets a say.

Corporate naming in schools is also tricky, according to a very recent New York Times opinion piece by Tom Friedman.

Friedman argues that "When public schools are plastered with commercial advertising, they teach students to be consumers rather than citizens."

OK, sure. But schools already use so many brand name products that it seems silly to ban brand naming from, say, the sides of buses or the gym. To reword Smith, the cost of education is expensive. Parents are stretched. Let companies be part of the solution.

A public park may get the nod from a brand, but as Meghan Dunn argued a few years ago in the LA Times, I don't think the Grand Canyon will be renamed Gap Gulch anytime soon.

Technorati Tags: Citi Bikes, Corporate Branding, Corporate Sponsorship, Brand Naming, Branding

It seems a company from down under called Wyngle found that their name really wasn't trusted all that much by Americans as it sounds too much like "wangle." So they are now named Wynbox.com.

The article, Five business rebrands that got lost in translation, mentions four other notorious failures, including Peugeot's ill-fated attempt to move into the Chinese market - the Chinese translation of Peugeot is "Biao zhi," which sounds like the Chinese slang term for "prostitute."

Other notable faux pas include Pepsi's slogan "Come alive with the Pepsi Generation" which in Taiwanese translates to "Pepsi will bring your ancestors back from the dead." And in China the KFC mantra "finger licking good" translates to "eat your fingers off."

But of course the world is littered with terrible names, and they just keep coming. Vauxhall's new car will be called "Adam," leading one source to wonder "Couldn't Vauxhall have done better?"

And don't forget about the Netflix, SyFy, iSnack 2.0 and AOL naming debacles.

Let's just hope companies learn from these brand naming faux pas.

We have compiled a list of brand naming faux pas you may find helpful.

Technorati Tags: Naming, Branding, Faux Pas, Translation

Their focus will be on the brands Juicy Coutre, Lucky Brand and kate spade, thus officially saying "goodbye to the iconic Liz Claiborne name."

The company name change news has been public since January when the Liz Claiborne name was sold to JC Penney Co..

This strategic move was made to accommodate their three lifestyle brands, and the name change took official effect yesterday.

The company name itself is an obvious reference to both California and New York, making the name far more inclusive than the Liz Claiborne name.

In a recent video about the name change, CEO Bill McComb points out that that the new name "telegraphs who we are" to both American and, importantly, European and Asian consumers.

McComb also pointed out that "we wanted a name that came out of the consumer vernacular, not one that sounded like a re-coined or invented word."

The name had to encompass the three flagship brands as "Juicy was built bicoastally, Lucky was always an LA brand, and kate spade is a quintessentially New York brand." More than that, they "didn't want it to sound like a hedge fund, a Silicon Valley high-tech company or a law firm."

He points out that there is a great deal riding on the name, as "our focus is on growing domestically and tapping the shores of Asia and Europe in a big way. This name change doesn't impact those moves because we've already been making them, but Fifth & Pacific sounds and feels like a lifestyle company, which is what we are."

I like the thinking behind this name.

The move towards being a "lifestyle brand" explains why the Liz Claiborne name had to go. So, it's adieu to Liz Claiborne and hello Fifth & Pacific.

Technorati Tags: Liz Claiborne, Fifth and Pacific, Company Naming, Company Name Change, Branding

This effort to de-emphasize the name is fairly radical as Ford has aways been very straightforward about its brand name (the F series truck is the best selling vehicle in the U.S. and of course "F" stands for "Ford").

Ford is trying to "overcome negative perceptions" about its name and get people to pay attention to the cars and the marketing. One Ford executive says, "As soon as people see the badges they jump to conclusions about the brand."

As a response to consumer research that showed people liking the products more when they did not know where they came from, Ford unveiled a week of nameless advertising starting April 30. These nameless ads generated 3.4 million consumer views online.

Despite consumer intrigue, Ford reintroduced the name and logo in its advertising a week later.

The new "Go Further" advertising will target the "skeptics" who see Ford as a less than stellar brand when it comes to quality and fuel consumption, areas where Toyota and Honda dominate.

They are not creating a "new reality" for the company, says another executive, but instead are documenting the "goodness in the company already."

The idea is that Ford is so well known - but so misrepresented - that the brand can now quietly reposition itself. Will this happen without constant reminders to consumers about who they are? Time will tell.

Technorati Tags: Ford, Go Further, Ford Naming, Ford Branding, Naming, Branding, Advertising

The problem?

The carriers in Australia aren't capable of a 4G quality network for the new iPad. The new iPad with 4G LTE only seems to properly function in the U.S. and Canada on a total of five carriers.

The new naming isn't for Australia alone, but also for the U.S., Canada, UAE, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, New Zealand, Malaysia, Ireland and Hong Kong. The iPad 2 will stay with the name iPad 2 WiFi + 3G.

Apple recently posted this message on the Australian online store:

This product supports very fast cellular networks. It is not compatible with current Australian 4G LTE networks and WiMAX networks. For service from a wireless carrier, sign up for a simple, month-by-month plan on your iPad and cancel anytime without penalty.

And "for the sake of absolute clarity" Apple is placing notices at points of sale in their retail stores as well.

The reaction across the blogosphere has been mixed, but I was interested to see that iTWire was willing to say, "Apple has certainly had some boneheads to deal with in its time, but none more so that those who were unable to read the 4G iPad marketing materials, and those in government power deciding they could 'do something about it.'"

iTWire goes on to say that the threatened lawsuit against Apple is "ridiculous."

I think Apple probably figured that if they went to court in Australia, they would lose.

It doesn't seem reasonable to suggest to people they buy a certain product with a certain service that they will not even be able to use. Apple's willingness to change the name in the U.S. is indicative of that - because only a couple carriers here support 4G.

The name change represents a move towards accuracy in marketing. And that is not something I would call "ridiculous."

Technorati Tags: Apple, iPad, Product Naming, iPad Naming, Branding, Electronics Product Naming, Electronics Brand Name

One tweeter wrote, "I didn't know Vidal Sassoon (RIP) was a real person, I thought the companies Vidal and Sassoon had merged once years ago."

This led Karen Tumulty, national political advisor for the Washington Post, to wonder "How much overlap is there between people who didn't know Vidal Sassoon was a real person, and ones who thought the Titanic was just a movie?"

Vidal Sassoon was a highly driven hair stylist, who allowed women to break out of the shaped, beehive, sculpted look to real cuts that emphasized their face.

His career blossomed in the U.S. when Mia Farrow mentioned Sassoon in the Polanski horror film Rosemary's Baby, where her hair was famously cropped: "It's a Vidal Sassoon, it's terribly in."

Sassoon sold his brand in 1983 to P&G but stayed on as its pitchman, giving us the famous tagline "If you don't look good, we don't look good."

He was one of the first celebrity "hair gods," and was known to brag that he was the first hair stylist to put his name on a bottle of hair care product.

For future reference, Johnnie Walker, Toyota, Colonel Sanders, Famous Amos, Adidas, and Chef Boyardee were all real people as well.

Technorati Tags: Vidal Sassoon, Shampoo, Conditioner, hair care, P&G, Procter & Gamble

Yes, you read that correctly, Tyler Gold thought his name didn't have quite the resonance as that of the famous carnivorous dinosaur. With the approval of a judge, he changed his name to Tyrannosaurus Rex Jospeh Gold.

He had to assure everyone he wasn't changing his name to avoid creditors or the police. He simply wanted potential clients to remember his name.

As one blogger points out, "Whether prospective clients will see him as a valuable business partner - rather than a complete fool - remains to be seen."

He will refer to himself as "T-Rex" because he says it's "cooler" and "more recognizable" than just Tyler.

Now, while this may not be a smart move it is actually a sad example of the poor guy's desire for name recognition being eclipsed by his need to build meaning into his personal brand.

The world is actually full of ridiculous brand names that drew howls of derision across the blogosphere when they were introduced. Here I am thinking of Wii and iPad. Both names are eye catching and even a little ridiculous, yet the names are now ubiquitous.

The difference is that both the Wii and iPad names lend meaning to their products. "We" are brought together to play the Wii video game system, while the iPad name is descriptive of the tablet and follows Apple's naming convention.

But what if he was an exceptionally aggressive lawyer? Or a professional wrestler? The name change would still be ridiculous, but fraught with meaning. Nobody states what our friend in Nebraska actually does, so while people will remember his new name, it may evoke the wrong impression.

Think about the real law firm called "Payne & Fears." Surely they would have room on their staff for a guy named T-Rex?

I don't know about you, but that sounds like a great name for a divorce lawyer.

Technorati Tags: Branding, Naming, T-Rex, Nebraska, Payne & Fears

Additionally, the new slogan is "Greater Palm Springs Oasis: A Brand New Day."

Another part of the destination rebranding initiative is the commercial which offers a collection of experiences from golf to music and film festivals.

The new logo is an "oasis infinity" featuring nine loops that symbolize the valley's nine cities and nine "brand pillars."

The nine brand pillars are:

Sanctuary: Spacious places of escape, from historic to quaint to modern and resort.
Seductive: Enticing the senses and passions.
Sensory: Not just a place, but a collection of experiences that engage all the senses.
Serene: An oasis of calm and quality relaxation.
Spectrum: Alive with color, light, discovery, from sunrise to sunset.
Spirit: Enriching, nourishing, rewarding and connects.
Sport: A mecca for outdoor adventure and activity.
Style: Timeless, chic, unique lifestyle, architecture, art, fashion and music.
Sunny: The 360 days of clear blue skies changes your outlook and warms your heart.

The metaphor of an oasis, a peaceful relaxed area, in the desert should draw more attention and visitors to Palm Springs with its new name, The Greater Palm Springs Oasis.

Technorati Tags: Palm Springs, Oasis, tourism

Will it be "The iPhone" or "The Next iPhone" or how about the "iPhone 5"? There are a few good reasons why we might see an iPhone 5, because Apple has filed a claim with the World Intellectual Property Office for iPhone5.com.

Says Ross Newman of Business 2 Community:

Interestingly, Apple didn't get full control of the domain iPhone4.com until nearly a year after that device launched. And guess what happened with iPhone4S.com? Apple gained full control two weeks after the release of the iPhone 4S because that domain was forwarding visitors to pornography sites! Talk about a wrong turn.

iPhone 5 is an easier name than whatever might follow iPhone 4S, and the new iPhone will be revamped enough - thinner with a taller display - to warrant a new name, he adds.

Even business analysts are looking at this preemptive move for the domain name as proof that the iPhone 5 name is coming out.

Still, this just might be Apple trying to take control of the phone's name in the "virtual world" as well as gain SEO ranking. Apple does not want that iPhone5.com site to come up when people search for the new phone... unless they own it.

The new iPhone 5 launch will be huge, no matter what, but it is just too early to say if the company is going to drop the nomenclature for the iPhone brand name the way they have with the iPad.

Given the obsession Apple has with brand congruence, I would not be surprised if we did see the introduction of a device called The New iPhone.

Apple is just too secretive about its brand naming to let the cat out of the bag by grabbing this site long in advance.

But maybe not.

Technorati Tags: Branding, Naming, iPhone 5, The New iPhone, Apple

But a little research by TorrentFreak shows that the trademarks for the mysterious entity Gyre are identical to BitTorrent and Gyre was also used in the "Terms of Use" in its "Share" app, which released a few months ago.

The name change might be partly due to the fact that the word "torrent" has a negative connotation as far as the Internet is concerned. Or, BitTorrent might be aiming to go into a "non-torrenting" service.

Torrenting, for those of us who have not read Hemingway's The Torrents of Spring or Turgenev's book of the same name, carries a "pirate stigma." But the name "Gyre" possibly does away with this.

A "Gyre" is Greek for a "sphere or vortex" or a "circular motion."

And PC Mag suspects that the word was chosen because of "some metaphorical relationship between the word's definition in oceanography - a large system of rotating currents - and the circular relationship of data within a BitTorrent model. Leechers become seeders for other leechers, and all that."

But the term is usually used with a negative meaning. William Butler Yeats made it famous in his poem The Second Coming:

Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.

This kind of quiet name change seems to be less than optimal strategy, not least because it draws attention to the negative reason why a name change could be necessary in the first place.

And this might not be the best name for a company trying to shake free of negative associations.

Technorati Tags: BitTorrent, uTorrent, Gyre, file sharing, peer-to-peer, Torrents of Spring

At the same time, the Fig Newtons product name will become just Newtons.

From the product's inception 1891 until 1914 the brand was called Newtons, named after the town of Newton, Massachusetts

This is another example of a product going back to the future while continuing to offer strawberry and raspberry and who knows, possibly trendy varieties like goji berries to antioxidant-filled pomegranates.

This is a wise attempt to make the Fig Newtons product more relevant to today's consumer.

The new Newtons ads are aimed at boomers with the munchies and not just kids - and offer us "Newtonisms" such as "Never beat around the bush -- you'll just squash the berries."

This reminds me of the Johnsonville Sausage campaign where they have Grillville, Summerville, Vacationville, etc.

Will consumers give a 'fig?' Long-term, probably not. Short-term, expect some Twitter grousing, followed by acceptance.

Technorati Tags: Newtons, Fig Newtons, Nabisco, Mondelez, Product Naming, Newtons Product Naming

Grown only in the Western Cape of South Africa, this "red bush" (rooibos is the Afrikaans word for "red bush") tea has turned into a $23 billion industry, not least because the sweet red tea tastes good and has more anti-oxidants than green tea.

It also helps with colic, allergies, asthma and acne.

The growing area for the tea is tiny, centered in the mountainous Cederberg region just north of Cape Town.

Since the trade has quickly become so lucrative, producers in the small region are trying to protect the "rooibos" name.

Many feel the rooibos tea should be given a geographical indication status, similar to what the French government set in place for the word "champagne" - Champagne can only be used on wine from the Champagne region of France.

A producer of the tea, Willem Engelbrecht was quoted saying "I think it is the responsibility of government to make sure that legislation come in place, because we need to protect our cultural assets."

Indeed. The rooibos product name and heritage should be protected, and a regional indication status would most likely be the best way to do it.

Technorati Tags: Rooibos, Rooibos Tea, South Africa Tea, Tea Product Naming, Product Naming

For the first time since 2008, consumers do not plan to increase their usage of store label brands. This does not mean that store brands are doomed, it may simply means that their usage has plateaued for the time being.

A new report entitled "The Evolution of Private Label - Does Brand Name Really Matter?" notes that U.S. private label brands represented only 18% of household purchases in 2000, and peaked at 27% in 2011.

But satisfaction with these products has dropped from 32% in 2009 to 24% in 2012. There is the specter of "frugal fatigue" on the part of consumers who want to splurge a bit after years of watching their pennies.

I have no quarrel with the report.

My point would be that private label is here to stay and that the rise in its popularity would logically be connected with a slight drop in satisfaction as consumers get use to the product, buy more, and expect more from them.

The report notes that two-thirds of respondents say store brand quality is better than it was five years ago. And, interestingly, many people are buying store brands that look so similar to the brand name products that they are unaware of the difference (Archer farms at Target; Kirkland at Costco and Great Value at Walmart are mentioned).

I wouldn't write private labels off just yet. It might just be that consumers have raised their expectations.

Technorati Tags: Private Label, Private Label Branding, Private Label Naming, Naming, Branding

They also have a new borough and a new arena. The logo and typography's black and white scheme "pays homage to the old New York subway signage system."

More than that, according to ESPN, the Nets will have two primary logos (pictured at left).

The shield will be called "the shield of Brooklyn" which rapper and part owner Jay-Z, helped design. He boasts "The boldness of the designs demonstrate the confidence we have in our new direction. Along with our move to Brooklyn and a state-of-the-art arena, the new colors and logos are examples of our commitment to update and refine all aspects of the team."

This move from New Jersey is now complete, and the subway color scheme further entrenches the Nets in people's minds as a pure New York team.

This is the NBA's only team with a black and white color scheme, making it uniquely New York.

The team seems to be "leaning hard" on rap references to link itself to Brooklyn's "rap history" says Yahoo! Sports.

For example, there is an official NBA t-shirt named The Corner, which bears the Brooklyn name with sneakers hanging from it.

This references when sneakers are hung over telephone wires or power lines marking where either somebody was murdered in connection with gang violence, or the sneakers are used as a marker by drug dealers letting prospective buyers know where the drugs are sold.

I'm not sure there will be an outcry from the public over the rap references. After all, Jay-Z is part owner of the team, but it's going to have to have an edge.

Technorati Tags: Brooklyn Nets, NBA, New Jersey Nets, Jay-Z, Branding, Nets Branding

It seems that Australian billionaire Clive Palmer is betting that enough people would do this to actually build a replica of the original Titanic and name it Titanic II.

Palmer assures us that passengers will be safe because "It is going to be designed so it won't sink. It will be designed as a modern ship with all the technology to ensure that doesn't happen."

Which is what people were told back in 1912 when the original Titanic sank.

Ship naming has been making headlines the past week as the U.S. Navy mulls over plans to rename a ship after slain gay rights pioneer Harvey Milk.

The problem some people are having with these ship names is that they do not follow the accepted conventions that were started thousands of years ago by the ancient Romans and Greeks.

The first is, you never change the name of a ship. The second is, you never, ever name a ship after one that has sunk.

There's no law against doing these things, but years of superstition have cemented these rules in sailors' heads.

Ignore them at your peril. Just as Mark Wilkinson of the UK did, who named his pleasure boat Titanic II. It sunk on its maiden voyage, leading the hapless Wilkinson to fume "I got pretty fed up with people asking me if I had hit an iceberg."

Even when you obey the rules, the naming ceremony has to go off right. For instance, the bottle of champagne you break against the stern had better actually break. The ill-fated Aurora passenger ship didn't have such luck and it was beset with problems ever since.

And many believe that bottle of champagne against the Titanic didn't break. The Titanic, however, didn't even have a christening, which might be the worst luck of all.

Heck, even the movie Titanic II was a disaster.

More than that, the Titanic name is synonymous with a tragedy that killed 1,500 people. To actually recreate the ship and give it the same name is to invite the fury of the gods.

Technorati Tags: Titanic, Titanic II, Ship Naming, Naming