History of the Brand

In this episode, Jason Hewitt tells the story behind the most iconic game franchise in history and one of the world's oldest game and toy companies in existence, as well as its humble links to the manufacture of late 19th century playing cards.

In this episode, Jason Hewitt shares the 1885 origin of the oldest operational soft drink brand from its humble beginnings in a small town corner drug store.  The beverage brand with a somewhat curious start now enjoys a unique status as one that is bottled and distributed by regional facilities of otherwise competing brands.

Jason Hewitt explores the late 19th and 20th century history of an enduring brand of motorized bicycles that continues today. He tells of how the company formed in 1903 by best friends Bill and Arthur, later joined by Arthur's older brothers, and how it began in a modest wooden shed in Arthur's family's back yard.

In this episode, Jason Hewitt connects the history of the Christian and secular Easter traditions. If you've ever been curious about the connection between the egg-laying Easter Bunny and the Christian commemoration of the crucifixion of Christ, well, this episode was made especially for you.

Jason Hewitt uncovers the origins of a worldwide shipping brand that started in 1907 in Seattle, Washington by two 19 year-olds and a hundred dollar loan.  Join him as he reveals the history of one of America's greatest brands; one that continues to innovate the way we send and receive everything worldwide.

In this episode, Jason Hewitt shares the story behind a world-known brand of kitchen gadgets that got its start in the 1940's. Join him as he spins a yarn about the history of one of America's greatest household names; a name that has become synonymous with the product it created.

Host Jason Hewitt reveals the story behind one of the most ubiquitous and parodied slogans of modern history. With origins dating back to the years before World War II, the simple message was originally intended as wartime propaganda, but was never put to use. It was rediscovered in 2000 and has been shared and modified for modern use in innumerable ways ever since.

In this episode of History of the Brand, Jason Hewitt shares the story of the many cultural attributions to a common cluster of stars in the night sky, its most common name of Greek origin, and the it’s meaning to a company that refers to by a much different name; a company that has transformed the star cluster into an icon known and recognized around the world -- now learn the History of the Brand.

In the debut episode of the new "History of the Brand" name, Jason Hewitt tells a story of business triumph and family failure.  This brand came from nothing more than an idea and a young couple's investment of their life savings and has grown into a multi-billion dollar company with a ubiquitous presence across the United States and Canada.  It only cost the founder everything he worked so hard for, from his leadership of the company to his relationship with at least two of his thirteen children.

In this week's episode, Jason Hewitt details the series of events that led to the rise of a great American family entertainment brand that no longer exists, and the company that developed in its absence. The bigger they are, the harder they fall, and this giant of the movie rental industry made one too many miscalculated errors that ultimately cost it its life, paving the way for its competition's success.

This episode explores the history behind the creation of an immigrant tailor who created one of the most iconic clothing products of all time with the innovation to strengthen sewn pockets with tiny metal fasteners. A series of trademark design features distinguish this brand from all others even today, but one timely feature in particular is rooted in its connection to the westward expansion of the American railroad system and the men who originally made this product famous.

In this episode, Jason Hewitt explains the history behind paper maker Kimberly-Clark's cellucotton product, developed during World War I as a synthetic alternative to cotton wool.  As a result, the company created two of today's most common sanitary hygiene products, though neither one was originally what the company envisioned or intended.

In this episode, Jason Hewitt reveals the story of a man who created a number of common product lines and brands. From a start in the 1930's through a series of successful product launches, the smallest product among them all stands out above all the rest as the greatest success in the confectioner's legacy. What might have been, had the candy tycoon not declined his product's placement in one of the biggest grossing movies in cinematic history, leaving the door wide open for his biggest competition?

In this episode, Jason Hewitt tells the story of the origin of two famous sportswear brands, as well as the town from which they come.  The town remains divided both by a river running through it and by the loyalties of its townspeople to either of the two brands.  He also shares the legend of an American sports icon who helped to catapult the founders' brand to worldwide acclaim in one of the world's earliest international televised broadcasts.

In this episode, Jason Hewitt shares the story of a famous poem detailing an encounter with Saint Nicholas, as well as the brands that popularized the legend of Santa Claus.  Jason also recounts his own first-hand run-in with legendary Santa in his dad's home thirty-seven years ago.

In this episode, Jason Hewitt shares the story of the world's most successful luxury goods brand. It began when a young boy left home at the age of just thirteen, left home and walked for nearly two years to finally reach the big city in which he longed to live. He would go on to create what would become a company that would catch the attention of the richest, most powerful men and women in the world -- and create his very own empire -- a brand worth more than twenty-seven billion dollars today.

In this episode, Jason Hewitt tells the story of how the gummy bear candy was inspired, in part, by President Theodore Roosevelt, and how it came to be in 1922.  From humble beginnings in the great depression of the early 20th century, the gummy bear has risen to become one of the most popular candies of all time, spawning innumerable variations and replicas.  The brand that started it all is the largest brand of gummy candies in the world and now boasts more than 100 different products.

In this episode, Jason Hewitt tells the story behind the emergence of two iconic athleticwear brands, and how one emerged from the shadow of the other.  The story uncovers the history of both companies, dating back to just after the end of World War II, and how their founders once worked together.  Today, the newer brand has dominated the world market, and become one of the most recognizable and profitable brands in existence.  Still, the other brand is doing just fine, too.

In this episode, Jason Hewitt shares the origin of the leading brand of charcoal briquets, Kingsford Charcoal. From inauspicious beginnings in a forest along Michigan's upper peninsula, this is the story of how E.G. Kingsford advised his wife's prominent cousin to market a line of charcoal fuel, eliminating factory waste and creating a new revenue stream for his growing brands. Nearly thirty years later, the chemical division would be sold and the charcoal brand renamed for the town it had created, after the man who originally shared the idea that would eventually spark the barbecue craze across America.  

In this episode, Jason Hewitt tells the story behind modern day proverb "When it Rains, it Pours", and how these simple words were integrated into our language. The story uncovers the importance of table salt and the brand that perfected its distribution and manufacture; turning a once-rare, luxury good into a household commodity, and how efforts to advertise it nearly failed, because this major brand was more proud of their patented packaging than understanding what mattered most to their customers.

In this episode, Jason Hewitt shares the story behind the largest coffee retailer in the world, Pequod Coffee Tea & Spice Company.  The story covers the origin and rise of the world's largest coffee retailer, from its founding more than forty years ago, and goes on to describe how it became the worldwide brand we know and love today.  Jason also explains the many layers of ascribed legend and myth that contributed to this brand's identity, which we we almost never knew.