20th Century Brands
That Will Disappear
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Tim Boyle, Getty Images
Say It Ain't So
Several brands which were extremely powerful during the last few decades are about to disappear. Many of them no longer drive big sales. Some are a part of companies that are in trouble. Some are part of industries which are falling apart. Here is a list of brands, most over them a decade old, and some much older, which are likely to go away in the next year or two.
· Read Complete Article Here
Next: Old Navy -
Mary Altaffer, AP
Old Navy
24/7 Wall St.'s Take on Old Navy
Old Navy is one of Gap's three brands and it is the one that is pulling down overall sales at the big clothing company. Old Navy has a little over one thousand outlets. Maintaining the costs of separate buying, marketing, and management costs just isn't worth it. Soon, Old Navy locations may just become Gap stores.
Next: Countrywide -
Paul Salkuma, AP
Countrywide
24/7 Wall St.'s Take on Countrywide
Countrywide had an operation on almost every street corner, or so it seemed. The mortgage bank would give almost anyone a home loan.They were not so generous when foreclosure time came around. Bank of America is buying Countrywide. The CFC brand has so much negative baggage and such a poor image that BAC will be smart and quickly put its name on all of the Countrywide branches.
Next: XM Satellite Radio -
Justin Sullivan, Getty Images
XM Satellite Radio
24/7 Wall St.'s Take on XM
XM Satellite Radio will disappear either in a merger with Sirius, where the acquiring company will use its brand for both services or because without a merger, XM may not make it. The company has over $1.2 billion in long-term debt. The XM brand could begin to disappear a few months after the potential marriage is complete.
Next: E*Trade -
Scott Olson, Getty Images
E*Trade
24/7 Wall St.'s Take on E*Trade
E*Trade has survived in a discount brokerage business where a number of famous brands, like Quick & Reilly, have gone away because of mergers.
For the time being, management at the company says it does not want to sell out, but the firm's $12 billion in home equity loan exposure may make staying independent impossible.
Next: KMart -
Getty Images
KMart
24/7 Wall St.'s Take on KMart
KMart is one of the two big brands at Sears Holdings, Eddie Lampert's failing retail play. Based on same store sales for last year, KMart is the less successful of the two retail operations. Spending to promote KMart and Sears may cost more that the holding company can afford. It certainly makes sense to kill off the KMart name and re-label all of the stores with Sears.
Next: Dodge -
Chrysler LLC
Dodge
24/7 Wall St.'s Take on Dodge
Dodge is part of the Chrysler company which was recently bought out by private equity firm Cerberus. Chrysler management has already said that the company has too many brands and too many dealers. Dodge vehicles will probably be re-branded as Chrysler and Dodge will go the way of the Dodo.
Next: Circuit City -
Carolyn Kaster, AP
Circuit City
24/7 Wall St.'s Take on Circuit City
Circuit City has been synonymous with electronics retail, but companies like Best Buy and Wal-Mart have brought too much marketing muscle and wholesale buying power to the industry. Outside investors are already circling Circuit City trying to "improve shareholder value". That means the chain will probably be sold.
Next: Gateway -
AP
Gateway
24/7 Wall St.'s Take on Gateway
Gateway was recently bought by Taiwan PC firm Acer. Some investors may not remember when Gateway was considered a peer of both Dell and Compaq. In 1993, Gateway was in the Fortune 500. Acer will not keep the Gateway brand and its own. The dual promotion costs are too high. Starting soon you will be buying an Acer PC online or at your electronics retailer.
Next: Vonage -
Robyn Beck, AFP / Getty Images
Vonage
24/7 Wall St.'s Take on Vonage
Vonage almost invented VoIP. It certainly made it popular. Then cable companies began to market the service to existing customers and much of the "first mover" advantage Vonage had went away. One of the large cable companies is likely to take over the Vonage customer list and let the brand disappear.
Next: Yahoo! -
Justin Sullivan, Getty Images
Yahoo!
24/7 Wall St.'s Take on Yahoo!
Yahoo! is still trying to keep itself out of the hands of Microsoft, but with a $31 offer and no other bidders even close, Redmond is going to take over. Microsoft is not generous about letting other brands have the limelight. Yahoo!'s brand will last while the e-mail and instant message operations are integrated, but soon enough it will all be MSN.
Next: Motorola -
Lisa Poole, AP
Motorola
24/7 Wall St.'s Take on Motorola
Motorola is still likely to sell its large handset unit to someone. It simply loses too much money and it is dragging the company under, As Motorola's stock price drops, the amount it will take for its handset operation will drop. That Motorola phone is likely to be called an LG handset sometime next year.
· Read Complete Article Here
Next: 8 Companies on the Edge -
More From AOL:
There are several iconic U.S. companies that may well not exist at the end of 2008. Not all will go out of business. Some may simply be auctioned off in pieces. Others may be bought.
Time to Say Goodbye?
Click through our gallery to see more companies that 24/7 Wall St. predicts probably won't make it through this year.
See the Companies
Recent Comments
Lola Iam again 09:18:51 AM May 14 2008
The problem with Old Navy is they turned their back on their loyal customers and switched to going after a younger market, Quality of clothes has been cheapened. Just plain lost their identy. Bad decisions being made by top of the company. They only have themselves to blame for the downward spiril.
RICHSTEPHENS7 12:12:06 AM May 10 2008
By the way...there was a comment earlier about OLD NAVY JEANS at 34.50....tehy are 29.50 for the regular types and the trendy stylish ones are 34.50, but hey...who doesn't shop without some sort of coupon for Old Navy. They are always giving you something to keep you coming back. 10% off, bucks back, bounce back offers, gift cards, give a ways. Please stop trashing Old Navy and get your facts straight. Sounds like the person who responded to lovetotalk works there and offers some great insight and seconds what I've already said as a consumer. That person also talked about the new store and its success. As an Old Navy customer. I have no fears of Old Navy closing.
RICHSTEPHENS7 12:05:32 AM May 10 2008
Man, I was just in Old Navy and maybe it's the outlets that are not great, but I see nothing, but success for this company. In talking with the employees I hear and see the store changing every month, just like other local retailers. New updated merchandise, awesome service, clean and organized stores. At least that what I see in Jacksonville Florida, and Boston too. I don't know why Wall st and AOL keep trashing Old Navy? They are a great store, my favorite for the whole family. I do not see them going anywhere anytime soon! I love their new store in South Florida, it is eco friendly, trees mutli level...very green!
VARCH1 08:27:05 AM May 09 2008
wow, what a deal-these retail clowns are going to cash oour checks free. -they should do that as a given. But what check. Duh, these are going to be deposited electronically in our checking accts. Just gonna pay for my gas with mine anyway.
byrdgirl2004 08:44:11 PM May 05 2008
some ups guys have cute butts; too bad they look like doug from king of queens-or worse,haha. .....anyway, how do average guys get beautiful women but not usually the other way around? probably because the women usually underestimate themselves and guys do the opposite with their overinflated egos. so the ugly guys get the average women, the average guys get the beautiful women, the drop dead gorgeous guys are gay, and the ugly women become nuns or go on extreme makeover!
byrdgirl2004 08:36:40 PM May 05 2008
hahahahahahahahaha i agree with the person who said the guy posting about other peoples' atrocious grammar should look at his own grammar first
Heavensdove418 07:35:59 AM May 01 2008
I have used AOL for 10 years and I feel it's their customer service thats keeps me with them, also instant messaging is a much faster and more fun than some of the other space programs out there!
IB14waves 10:13:22 PM Apr 30 2008
The reason why U.P.S is better than fed ex is because of the stocky calves on the cute guys in the little brown shorts....
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