See www.museumofbrands.com for the latest opening times, admission prices and travel details


Tucked away in Notting Hill, West London just off the famous Portobello Road is the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising. The museum features wall-to-wall showcases of famous products through the ages; some 12,500 items in all. Apart from being a nostalgic trip back to your childhood in which games, sweets, breakfast cereals, and products your-mother-used-to-buy will all come flooding back to you, it is also a reminder of just how pervasive (and persuasive!) brands can be.

Starting from the 1840’s, and around the time of the Great Exhibition when new “brands” of the upcoming industrial era were arguably displayed for the first time, the museum takes you through the subsequent decades. Highlighting the role that brands have played in peoples’ lives, it becomes clear that some brands like Toblerone and Brasso have really stood the test of time.

One area considers the role of the brand in providing a visual identity, and the importance of this in establishing a product’s reputation with the consumer. Although trademarks are now common place, it is noted how the founding manufacturers’ signatures were often used on the packaging to provide an indication of authenticity - an example being Kellogg’s.

Pass off’s and “me toos” are also exhibited – such as the numerous yellow tins of mustard from the likes of Cooney’s, Farrow’s and Barry’s all trying to compete for shelf recognition (or confusion) alongside Colman’s. The saga of the “Jif lemon case” (or Reckitt & Colman Ltd v Borden Inc, 1990) is also explained, and how Borden tried to make lemon-shaped packages for its lemon juice products to compete in the UK but eventually received a court injunction to prevent such a product being sold.

Another interesting aspect of the exhibition is the evolution of individual brands over the years; showing how the graphics and trademarks have become more refined whilst the packaging has become more innovative. Examples include Johnson’s Baby Powder, Cadbury Roses and Bovril.

The museum does not feature fake products per se. However, the potential to illustrate the role of intellectual property through the museum’s collection is supported by their recent award from the Intellectual Property Education Trust. This will help the museum to more fully explore this area. The museum is also affiliated with the Institute of Trademark Attorneys (ITMA) and their members frequently visit.

Consumer historian Robert Opie, the Museum Director (pictured here surrounded by famous brands)  and whose collection the museum is founded on, commented that “despite the size of the collection I’m not aware that any of the archival items are counterfeit”. However, he is well aware of the growing problem in the consumer world, and felt people might be interested to see historical knock-offs as curiosities on display. In continuing to grow their collection, they have to be selective about what they purchase – both because of the cost and the storage. Of course, the chance of inadvertently buying a fake product today is quite a bit higher than in the past, so perhaps the collection will start to feature knock-offs unintentionally!

The museum is well worth dropping into if you want to be reminded of the huge range of global brands and how they have not only shaped the future, but also been shaped themselves through innovation in packaging technology and design. Being available for corporate event hire as well, this venue would make an interesting location for a sales and marketing meeting; surrounded by some great examples of global marketing success stories.

Adrian Burden

 

Museum of Counterfeits

16, Rue de la Faisanderie, 75016 Paris

Apart from all the art and culture to be absorbed during your stay in Paris, a very interesting museum to visit is the Museum of Counterfeits or Musée de la contrefaçon, featuring a whole array of counterfeited and forged items and articles.

Opening Times: Tuesdays to Sundays from 2 pm to 5:30 pm
Admission: €2.50

Click here to read a Chicago Tribume review of the Museum of Counterfeits and click here to read MercuryNews review.

 

Museum of Counterfeit Goods

Tilleke & Gibbins, 64/1 Soi Tonson, Ploenchit Road, Bangkok

The Museum of Counterfeit Goods in Bangkok houses over 1,500 fake items in 20 categories ranging from clothing, leather goods and footwear, to electronics, households appliances, car parts and drugs. Some items appear alongside the genuine article, so visitors can play spot the difference and learn about the social and economic consequences of counterfeiting. Members of the public are welcome, though entry is by appointment only.

Click here to read a blog about the museum.

"Is nothing sacred? We all know about knockoff designer purses, but you'd think that faking famous brands of candy, cough syrup, and pantyliners would be taking it too far. Yet that's just the beginning, judging from the dizzying 3,500-plus examples of phony merchandise on display at the Museum of Counterfeit Goods in Bangkok." Click here to read more.

"Items usually appear alongside the genuine article, ѕο visitors сan play spot the ԁіfferenсе. This educates them аbουt the social and economic consequences οf counterfeiting." Click here to read more.