Matsushita died, its Panasonic now


Recently Japanese electronics maker Matsushita changed its name to Panasonic. Essentially, Panasonic is a brand name from company Matsushita. But Matsushita's brand has Panasonic became so much popular that company had to change its company name itself to its brand name. Its brand was much more popular than original company. And so Matsushita have changed its name to Panasonic.

Brand becoming much popular than its company is not first time in history. At least, I have seen many brand name itself becoming symbol for whole group of product. Say for example, Honda. Honda name was so popular in earlier days that any 2 wheeler was identified as Honda. Weather that two wheeler is from Bajaj or any other company does not matter. People were used to call it, new Honda from Bajaj. LOL !! Below are few more examples of it.

- Maruti for any four wheeler.
- Colgate for any Toothpaste.
- Casio for any electronic synthesizer. 

Because of this many funny conversations happen.

Like,
1) "Hey, i have seen new Maruti today on road. Ummm .. name was something like indica .."

2) "Can you please give 100 Gm pack of Pepsodent Colgate?"
Confused shopkeeper, "Sir, you want Pepsodent or Colgate?"
"I want Colgate -Pepsodent. Do you understand?"

3) "So which casio you bought?"
"I bought Yamaha casio"

Reader's contribution:

Shunty adds,
- iPod for any mp3 player

Soham adds,
- Bisleri for any mineral water
- Xerox for any photo cpoying machine

Hiren adds many many many quite true brand names (Thanks dear). Let me put that in his own words:
1. Dalda - Instead of vegetable oil
people still these days call any vegetable oil as Dalda Ghee.
check (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalda) its history.

2. Hajmola - Its really Dabur Hajmola

3. Cadbury - Highly mistaken especially in kids (few years back) Even when I was a kid and whenever I wanted to eat Dairy-milk or Five-star(brand products from Cadbury India) I used to say "please get me one Cadbury" :)

4. Xerox - Now just recall how many times do we really use copy instead of Xerox? and do we bother whether that copy been made in Xerox or any xyz machine?

5. Navneet - In school days, instead of Digest we(Gujarati) used to tell it as Navneet which was brand from Gala Publications

6. Nirma - Now this was a brand which got huge popular in villages in early 80s and doesn't matter those village women who used to get their favorite 1 k.g. of washing powder at Rs. 3 instead of its original price as Rs.6/- they used to call as Nirma powder only and shopkeeper will also understand their feelings. In fact that was Nima or Nira washing powder(fake Nirma powder).

7. Bajaj - Instead of Bajaj Scooter. (Hamara Bajaj)

8. Maggie - I can still remember when for the first time I ate noodles in restaurant, I told my mom that this Maggie is different than what you prepare at home.

9. Rasna - For any fruit flavor based beverage instead of sarbat people used to call it as Rasna. (Remember that jingle, I love you Rasna)

10. Godrej - For this product it is slightly ulta. People used to call as Godrej locks instead of its brand name as Navtal-5 levers. Same is true for Godrej Cupboards.

11. Yera glasses 

This brand, "Yera" was a household name(In Gujarat at least) and was huge popular until 1991 when Globalization really started.It was the best product from Alembic, Baroda and known for their unique and stylish designs.But I have noticed people who call any other glasses as Yera glasses just because shape is similar.

(http://www.yera.com/)

12. Pearlpet bottles/jars - Better known for air-tightness and first of its kind. It was very popular in late 80's and was also known for their bottle/jar designs. After that plastic revolution started but still Pearlpet name is in people's mind. 

(http://www.pearlpet.net/)


5 comments:

  1. Hmmmm..
    One more most usual I have noticed..
    iPod.

    For every mp3 player ppl use the name as iPod,While iPod is only a brand name of Apple's mp3 player..

    :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. @Shunty:
    True. iPod can also be included in list.

    ReplyDelete
  3. How abt "bisleri' for any mineral water !!

    And 'xerox' for any photo-copying machine or photo-copying itself!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. 1. Dalda - Instead of vegetable oil
    people still these days call any vegetable oil as Dalda Ghee.
    check (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalda) its history.

    2. Hajmola - Its really Dabur Hajmola

    3. Cadbury - Highly mistaken especially in kids (few years back) Even when I was a kid and whenever I wanted to eat Dairy-milk or Five-star(brand products from Cadbury India) I used to say "please get me one Cadbury" :)

    4. Xerox - Now just recall how many times do we really use copy instead of Xerox? and do we bother whether that copy been made in Xerox or any xyz machine?

    5. Navneet - In school days, instead of Digest we(Gujarati) used to tell it as Navneet which was brand from Gala Publications

    6. Nirma - Now this was a brand which got huge popular in villages in early 80s and doesn't matter those village women who used to get their favorite 1 k.g. of washing powder at Rs. 3 instead of its original price as Rs.6/- they used to call as Nirma powder only and shopkeeper will also understand their feelings. In fact that was Nima or Nira washing powder(fake Nirma powder).

    7. Bajaj - Instead of Bajaj Scooter. (Hamara Bajaj)

    8. Maggie - I can still remember when for the first time I ate noodles in restaurant, I told my mom that this Maggie is different than what you prepare at home.

    9. Rasna - For any fruit flavor based beverage instead of sarbat people used to call it as Rasna. (Remember that jingle, I love you Rasna)

    10. Godrej - For this product it is slightly ulta. People used to call as Godrej locks instead of its brand name as Navtal-5 levers. Same is true for Godrej Cupboards.

    11. Yera glasses

    This brand, "Yera" was a household name(In Gujarat at least) and was huge popular until 1991 when Globalization really started.It was the best product from Alembic, Baroda and known for their unique and stylish designs.But I have noticed people who call any other glasses as Yera glasses just because shape is similar.

    (http://www.yera.com/)

    12. Pearlpet bottles/jars - Better known for air-tightness and first of its kind. It was very popular in late 80's and was also known for their bottle/jar designs. After that plastic revolution started but still Pearlpet name is in people's mind.

    (http://www.pearlpet.net/)


    Hoooh thaki gaya Jaydeepbhai....baki brands vishe pa6i kyarek lakhsu. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. @Soham:
    Yupp .. Very much true Bisleri and Xerox is also quite populat brand name.

    @Hiren:
    Hats-off man !! Excellent !! ALL of them are very much true ..

    Thank you all. Let me also add reader's contribution in my post. Ummm .. looks like for Hiren's comment again I will be required to dedicate new post itself :-)

    ReplyDelete

Jaydip Mehta (JD)
http://jaydipmehta.blogspot.com