First Pizza Hut decided they wanted to unofficially – officially go by “The Hut.” Now we have Radio Shack deciding they want to unofficially – officially go by “The Shack.” If there’s one thing we’ve learned from Seinfeld it’s that you can’t give yourself a nickname. In one of the best Seinfeld episodes, titled “The Maid” George is struggling for an identity. He desperately wants to be called T-Bone. But, that name ends up being bestowed upon another co-worker…thus proving you can’t give yourself a nickname. Eventually George does get a nickname, “Koko.” I’ll let this video tell the story.
Pizza Hut, Radio Shack, and every other brand out there, please listen up. You can simply force a name change and expect it to stick. It’s just not going to happen. To me seeing Radio Shack and Pizza Hut trying to go by something “cooler” like The Shack or The Hut, simply shows that they have no idea who they are as a brand. That’s a scary thought.
Head of Social Media at Walgreens. Interactive marketer, innovator, boat rocker, continuous learner, movie lover, risk taker, dad and all around good guy. I'm always up for a spirited conversation. These are my thoughts and ramblings, not those of my employer.
