Grad Student Writing Paper on Branding and Looking for Opinions On Disston

On Oct 18, 10:15=A0am, Dori <[email protected]> wrote:
> I=92m a grad student doing a project on branding.
> I=92ve decided to focus on Disston Tools. Apparently, Disston is in the s=
ame
> situation that Black and Decker was years ago: Black and Decker owned the
> DeWalt brand name and decided to launch it so they could develop
> professional notoriety, and they did.
>
> It appears that Disston is in a similar situation with their Blu-Mol and
> Disston brands.
>
> They are thinking that Disston could be the next DeWalt, but do not have
> the notoriety issue in that the Blu-Mol brand is positioned well (I think=
)
> in the minds of consumers and pros. I=92m inclined to think that they sho=
uld
> build on the Blu-Mol brand and maybe offer a sub brand in Blu-Mol Xtreme
> as they have done in the past due to the small but existing brand
> awareness.
>
> My questions: Who among you recognizes Disston? =A0With enough time and
> money, one can launch any name as a brand, but why spend the money
> launching another brand (Disston) if you can make a power brand out of Bl=
u
> Mol?
>
> I am very interested in hearing what do you think and thank you for your
> help.
>
> -------------------------------------

Yes I recognize Disston as one of the best sawmakers ever.
First Henry Disston, then (Henry?) Disston and son, later Disston
and sons. If I were to buy a new saw, and I can't imagine why I
would want to, I'd look for a Disston.

ISTR having seen Blu Mol something on the shelf (drill bits maybe?)
but have no opinion on them.

--

FF

On Oct 18, 2:44=A0pm, Leon <lcb11211@swbelldotnet> wrote:
> On 10/18/2011 11:14 AM, RicodJour wrote:
>
> > Disston is the more valuable brand name for a number of reasons, a
> > rather illustrious hand saw history not the least of them. =A0It also
> > sounds better than Blu-Mol. =A0Do not underestimate the value of a
> > strong sounding name.
>
> > R. Yale Worthington, IV
>
> Normally true but do you know what products have the Disston brand name
> today? =A0Hand saws are not included.

Marketing a brand is the same as writing you online dating profile -
accentuate your assets, and gloss over the liabilities.

R. Barrymore Wildebeest, jr.

On Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:34:56 +0000, Dori
<[email protected]> wrote:

>responding to
>http://www.homeownershub.com/woodworking/Grad-Student-Writing-Paper-on-Branding-and-Looking-for-Opini-525965-.htm
>Dori wrote:
>Thank you, all, for taking the time to share your impressions with me. I
>appreciate the fact you did. Your comments were informative and helpful.
>
>Thank you again.

So how about posting a link to the paper once you're done and graded,
Dori?

--
Learning to ignore things is one of the great paths to inner peace.
-- Robert J. Sawyer

On Oct 18, 10:35 pm, Ed Pawlowski <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:15:28 +0000, Dori
>
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >My questions: Who among you recognizes Disston? With enough time and
> >money, one can launch any name as a brand, but why spend the money
> >launching another brand (Disston) if you can make a power brand out of Blu
> >Mol?
>
> >I am very interested in hearing what do you think and thank you for your
> >help.
>
> Recognize it? Some members of my family worked for Disston back in
> the 1940's and 50's. My wife went to Disston school and our kids
> played at Disston playground. They are of course, on Disston Street.
>
> My association with the name is quality hand saws. May have changes
> since then though.
>
> In September 1872, Henry Disston and two other men dug part of the
> foundation for what was to become the largest saw manufacturing
> facility in the world: Disston Saw Works. This was in the Tacony
> section of Philadelphia. Having previously moved his expanding
> business from near Second and Market Streets to Front and Laurel
> Streets, Disston sought to establish his business away from this
> cramped area. It took over 25 years to move the entire facility to
> Tacony. This Philadelphia neighborhood seems to have been the only
> company town in the United States established within an existing city.
>
> Henry Disston was renowned for having one of the first industries that
> exhibited environmental responsibility, as well as a paternalistic
> view towards his employees. For example, he had thousands of homes
> built in Tacony for his workmen. Funds to purchase these homes were
> made available through a building and loan association set up by the
> Disston firm. Mr. Disston was ready to grant any assistance needed to
> see to it that his workers could purchase a home, even if advances
> needed to be made.
>
> Other examples of Henry Disston's caring influence on the community
> was evident in everyday life. To meet employees' cultural needs, a
> hall and a library were built with Henry Disston agreeing to pay a
> fixed sum towards its maintenance. The Tacony Music Hall was erected
> in 1885, also with the assistance of Disston money.

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing that.

If Disston got back to those roots, instead of sullying their name
with 'eh' products, people would buy them. It wouldn't be "launching
another brand", it would be resurrecting the original one. A much
better story for marketing to sell.

R

responding to
http://www.homeownershub.com/woodworking/Grad-Student-Writing-Paper-on-Branding-and-Looking-for-Opini-525965-.htm
Dori wrote:
Thank you, all, for taking the time to share your impressions with me. I
appreciate the fact you did. Your comments were informative and helpful.

Thank you again.

On 10/18/2011 11:14 AM, RicodJour wrote:

>
> Disston is the more valuable brand name for a number of reasons, a
> rather illustrious hand saw history not the least of them. It also
> sounds better than Blu-Mol. Do not underestimate the value of a
> strong sounding name.
>
> R. Yale Worthington, IV

Normally true but do you know what products have the Disston brand name
today? Hand saws are not included.

On 10/18/2011 12:49 PM, Larry Blanchard wrote:
> On Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:37:29 -0500, Leon wrote:
>
>> When I think Disston I think low end entry level.
>
> When I think Disston, I think old hand saws :-).
>

In 1978 I had, actually still have floating around here a Disston
electric screw driver. About 2" in diameter and about 16" long.

Dori wrote:
> I'm a grad student doing a project on branding.
> I've decided to focus on Disston Tools. Apparently, Disston is in the
> same situation that Black and Decker was years ago: Black and Decker
> owned the DeWalt brand name and decided to launch it so they could
> develop professional notoriety, and they did.
>
> It appears that Disston is in a similar situation with their Blu-Mol
> and Disston brands.
>
> They are thinking that Disston could be the next DeWalt, but do not
> have the notoriety issue in that the Blu-Mol brand is positioned well
> (I think) in the minds of consumers and pros. I'm inclined to think
> that they should build on the Blu-Mol brand and maybe offer a sub
> brand in Blu-Mol Xtreme as they have done in the past due to the
> small but existing brand awareness.
>
> My questions: Who among you recognizes Disston? With enough time and
> money, one can launch any name as a brand, but why spend the money
> launching another brand (Disston) if you can make a power brand out
> of Blu Mol?
>
> I am very interested in hearing what do you think and thank you for
> your help.
>

I thought "Blu Mol" was something you had excised by a dermatologist.

If Disston wants an immediately-recognizable brand name, they should
consider "Benz" or "Boeing" or even "Pop-Tart."

On Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:15:28 +0000, Dori
<[email protected]> wrote:


>
>My questions: Who among you recognizes Disston? With enough time and
>money, one can launch any name as a brand, but why spend the money
>launching another brand (Disston) if you can make a power brand out of Blu
>Mol?
>
>I am very interested in hearing what do you think and thank you for your
>help.

Recognize it? Some members of my family worked for Disston back in
the 1940's and 50's. My wife went to Disston school and our kids
played at Disston playground. They are of course, on Disston Street.

My association with the name is quality hand saws. May have changes
since then though.


In September 1872, Henry Disston and two other men dug part of the
foundation for what was to become the largest saw manufacturing
facility in the world: Disston Saw Works. This was in the Tacony
section of Philadelphia. Having previously moved his expanding
business from near Second and Market Streets to Front and Laurel
Streets, Disston sought to establish his business away from this
cramped area. It took over 25 years to move the entire facility to
Tacony. This Philadelphia neighborhood seems to have been the only
company town in the United States established within an existing city.

Henry Disston was renowned for having one of the first industries that
exhibited environmental responsibility, as well as a paternalistic
view towards his employees. For example, he had thousands of homes
built in Tacony for his workmen. Funds to purchase these homes were
made available through a building and loan association set up by the
Disston firm. Mr. Disston was ready to grant any assistance needed to
see to it that his workers could purchase a home, even if advances
needed to be made.

Other examples of Henry Disston's caring influence on the community
was evident in everyday life. To meet employees' cultural needs, a
hall and a library were built with Henry Disston agreeing to pay a
fixed sum towards its maintenance. The Tacony Music Hall was erected
in 1885, also with the assistance of Disston money.

On Oct 18, 10:15=A0am, Dori <[email protected]> wrote:
> I=92m a grad student doing a project on branding.
> I=92ve decided to focus on Disston Tools. Apparently, Disston is in the s=
ame
> situation that Black and Decker was years ago: Black and Decker owned the
> DeWalt brand name and decided to launch it so they could develop
> professional notoriety, and they did.
>
> It appears that Disston is in a similar situation with their Blu-Mol and
> Disston brands.
>
> They are thinking that Disston could be the next DeWalt, but do not have
> the notoriety issue in that the Blu-Mol brand is positioned well (I think=
)
> in the minds of consumers and pros. I=92m inclined to think that they sho=
uld
> build on the Blu-Mol brand and maybe offer a sub brand in Blu-Mol Xtreme
> as they have done in the past due to the small but existing brand
> awareness. =A0
>
> My questions: Who among you recognizes Disston? =A0With enough time and
> money, one can launch any name as a brand, but why spend the money
> launching another brand (Disston) if you can make a power brand out of Bl=
u
> Mol? =A0
>
> I am very interested in hearing what do you think and thank you for your
> help.

Disston is the more valuable brand name for a number of reasons, a
rather illustrious hand saw history not the least of them. It also
sounds better than Blu-Mol. Do not underestimate the value of a
strong sounding name.

R. Yale Worthington, IV

Dori wrote:
> I'm a grad student doing a project on branding.

Doubt it.

> I've decided to focus on Disston Tools. Apparently, Disston is in the
> same situation that Black and Decker was years ago: Black and Decker
> owned the DeWalt brand name and decided to launch it so they could
> develop professional notoriety, and they did.
>
> It appears that Disston is in a similar situation with their Blu-Mol
> and Disston brands.
>
> They are thinking that Disston could be the next DeWalt, but do not
> have the notoriety issue in that the Blu-Mol brand is positioned well
> (I think) in the minds of consumers and pros. I'm inclined to think
> that they should build on the Blu-Mol brand and maybe offer a sub
> brand in Blu-Mol Xtreme as they have done in the past due to the
> small but existing brand awareness.
>
> My questions: Who among you recognizes Disston? With enough time and
> money, one can launch any name as a brand, but why spend the money
> launching another brand (Disston) if you can make a power brand out
> of Blu Mol?

Well - what do YOU think? Your graduate program is designed to determine
your abilities to arrive at these conclusions - not to simply poll
internet/usenet communities. You might have spent some time explaining your
own perspective and then seeking input, rather than taking the easy way out
of seeking the opinions of others, for you to use.

>
> I am very interested in hearing what do you think and thank you for
> your help.
>

Help yourself - you're the one in the graduate program. Earn the damned
degree.

--

-Mike-
[email protected]

On Oct 18, 1:49=A0pm, Larry Blanchard <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:37:29 -0500, Leon wrote:
> > When I think Disston I think low end entry level.
>
> When I think Disston, I think old hand saws :-).
>
> --
> Intelligence is an experiment that failed - G. B. Shaw

To handsaws what Bailey was to planes.

On Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:15:28 +0000, Dori wrote:

> I’m a grad student doing a project on branding.
> I’ve decided to focus on Disston Tools. Apparently, Disston is in the same
> situation that Black and Decker was years ago: Black and Decker owned the
> DeWalt brand name and decided to launch it so they could develop
> professional notoriety, and they did.
>
> It appears that Disston is in a similar situation with their Blu-Mol and
> Disston brands.
>
> They are thinking that Disston could be the next DeWalt, but do not have
> the notoriety issue in that the Blu-Mol brand is positioned well (I think)
> in the minds of consumers and pros. I’m inclined to think that they should
> build on the Blu-Mol brand and maybe offer a sub brand in Blu-Mol Xtreme
> as they have done in the past due to the small but existing brand
> awareness.
>
> My questions: Who among you recognizes Disston? With enough time and
> money, one can launch any name as a brand, but why spend the money
> launching another brand (Disston) if you can make a power brand out of Blu
> Mol?
>
> I am very interested in hearing what do you think and thank you for your
> help.
>
>
>
> -------------------------------------
When I think of Disston, hand saws come to mind but the most rememberable
product for me was industrial planer knives, they were incredible, no
better industrial knife could be had at any price they had a surface finish
not seen before or since, in such products.

They were sold under the brand name Disston-Philbrick, but as a retail
brand it is probably worthless, only old geezers know the name.

basilisk

On 10/18/2011 9:15 AM, Dori wrote:
...

> My questions: Who among you recognizes Disston? With enough time and
> money, one can launch any name as a brand, but why spend the money
> launching another brand (Disston) if you can make a power brand out of Blu
> Mol?
...

Anybody of any age at all and experience will/does know Disston.

Who/what the he-double-hockey-stick is Blu Mol?

--

On 10/18/2011 9:37 AM, Leon wrote:
...

> IMHO Disston is a budget minded brand. I am not sure that having
> an association with Disston would improve product sales.
> Is Disston a "power" brand??? Not in my opinion.
>
> When I think Disston I think low end entry level.
...

I remember/think of the Disston of earlier years when were the dominant
saw maker.

A case of being unable to adapt to changing times after WW II and the
advent of the skilsaw and an abortive attempt to get in chainsaws and
other areas.

--

On Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:37:29 -0500, Leon wrote:

> When I think Disston I think low end entry level.

When I think Disston, I think old hand saws :-).

--
Intelligence is an experiment that failed - G. B. Shaw

On 10/18/2011 9:15 AM, Dori wrote:
> I’m a grad student doing a project on branding.
> I’ve decided to focus on Disston Tools. Apparently, Disston is in the same
> situation that Black and Decker was years ago: Black and Decker owned the
> DeWalt brand name and decided to launch it so they could develop
> professional notoriety, and they did.
...

I really can't let that go by, either. B&D certainly owned/got far more
than just the DeWalt brand name when purchased the company in the early
'60s.

I think you need to look at far more depth here...

--

On 10/18/2011 9:35 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
...

> Henry Disston was renowned for having one of the first industries that
> exhibited environmental responsibility,...

The lesson didn't take very well,unfortunately...his son Hamilton was
kingpin in the "opening" of Florida. At one time the largest land-owner
in the US, he was the head of the consortium that began the massive
draining of swamps and development in central FL. IIRC, had something
like 6- or 7000 sq _miles_ of the state at one time. He's also the one
that basically bankrupted the Disston company by using loans against the
company (unbeknownst to rest of the family) to finance his FL adventures.

--

On 11/4/2011 2:01 PM, Fred the Red Shirt wrote:
...

> ... If I were to buy a new saw, and I can't imagine why I
> would want to, I'd look for a Disston.

...

Assuming by new you mean newly manufactured, not simply new to you,
that'll be tough since it's been _a_long_time_ since they last made new
saws--I know there were a few cheaper made for a while up until, what,
sometime in the 60s, maybe???? perhaps a little longer???

--

On 10/18/2011 9:15 AM, Dori wrote:
> I’m a grad student doing a project on branding.
> I’ve decided to focus on Disston Tools. Apparently, Disston is in the same
> situation that Black and Decker was years ago: Black and Decker owned the
> DeWalt brand name and decided to launch it so they could develop
> professional notoriety, and they did.
>
> It appears that Disston is in a similar situation with their Blu-Mol and
> Disston brands.
>
> They are thinking that Disston could be the next DeWalt, but do not have
> the notoriety issue in that the Blu-Mol brand is positioned well (I think)
> in the minds of consumers and pros. I’m inclined to think that they should
> build on the Blu-Mol brand and maybe offer a sub brand in Blu-Mol Xtreme
> as they have done in the past due to the small but existing brand
> awareness.
>
> My questions: Who among you recognizes Disston? With enough time and
> money, one can launch any name as a brand, but why spend the money
> launching another brand (Disston) if you can make a power brand out of Blu
> Mol?
>
> I am very interested in hearing what do you think and thank you for your
> help.
>
>
>
> -------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
IMHO Disston is a budget minded brand. I am not sure that having
an association with Disston would improve product sales.
Is Disston a "power" brand??? Not in my opinion.

When I think Disston I think low end entry level.

Many years ago Black and Decker and DeWalt both were pretty good brands,
Black and Decker however seems to have put more focus in to pop corn
poppers and coffee machines in the past 30 years. Still I would
consider Black and Decker over Disston. Actually I would be more likely
to buy Blu-Mol over the Disston brand.

What if Dollar General bought JC Penney, would you be more likely to buy
at JC Penney than you are now?

> Do not underestimate the value of a
>strong sounding name.
>
>R. Yale Worthington, IV

e.g.: "Kodak", chosen entirely at random based on the strength of the
hard "K" and "D" sound, and the alliteration.

-Zz