ALBAWABA – Many famous rebranded companies were known as something entirely different just a few years ago. Rebranding plays an essential role in communicating the company’s message in different ways to different audiences at different times, and in different conditions.
If you are looking to change your brand due to declining revenues or changing customer preferences, but you are afraid of taking risks, you may be inspired by those 10 Famous rebranded companies
1 WW
One of the most famous rebranded companies is WW. In 2018, Weight Watchers rebranded as WW in an attempt to move away from any association with dieting.
As the company shifted its focus to wellness and overall health, CEO Mindy Grossman said WW was a way to honor the company's history, but doesn’t stand for anything in particular. At least not any more.
2 Meta
One of the most famous rebranded companies today in the Silicon Valley. In 2021, social media giant Facebook made headlines by changing its name to Meta. The Facebook app has kept its original name, but is now one of several companies under the Meta umbrella.
Meta, formerly Facebook, is one of the most famous rebranded companies - Shutterstock
The move was meant to signal the company's move from social media to the metaverse. However, Facebook was also under a great deal of scrutiny at the time. This led many people to speculate that the name change was a way for the company to distance itself from negative publicity.
3 Subway
Subway was originally founded in 1965 under the name Pete’s Super Submarines. Founder Fred DeLuca received a $1,000 investment from Dr Peter Buck to start the store and the company was originally named after him. But customers found the name difficult to pronounce, and it was changed to Subway in 1968, and it is now one of the most famous rebranded companies.
4 Altria
In 2003, the tobacco company Philip Morris changed its name to Altria. The company claimed that the name change was intended to help customers know that it sold a wider range of products in addition to cigarettes. However, many people assumed the change was a public relations move to distance itself from the fact that it sells tobacco.
5 Google
In 2015, Google rebranded as Alphabet, which was intended to serve as a holding company for its various other businesses. The company did this primarily to give investors and shareholders clarity about the business’s many varying commercial endeavours.
Google is still part of Alphabet and is one of the most famous rebranded companies - Shutterstock
Interestingly, many people do not realize that this was not the first time the company changed its name.
When the company started in 1996, it was originally called BackRub. By 1997, the founders abandoned this name to become Google.
6 Apple
When Apple was first founded by Steve Jobs, Ronald Wayne, and Steve Wozniak in 1976, it was known as Apple Computers. But in 2007, Jobs announced that the company would change its name to Apple to focus more on consumer electronics.
7 Pepsi Cola
Pepsi-Cola was founded in 1893 by a pharmacist named Caleb Bradham. He named the company after himself, calling it Brad's Drink. In 1898, the company's name was changed to Pepsi-Cola, and it became one of the most famous rebranded companies with one of the most successful brands.
8 Nike
In 1964, Bill Borman and Phil Knight founded Blue Ribbon Sports in Beaverton, Oregon. The company was originally founded as a distributor of running shoes, but the founders later decided to manufacture and distribute their own shoes. The company launched its Nike shoe brand in 1972, then renamed the company to Nike in 1978.
9 eBay
Pierre Omidyar, founder of eBay, originally launched the site under the name AuctionWeb. The site was “dedicated to bringing together buyers and sellers in an honest and open marketplace.”
The company continued to grow steadily and gain media coverage. The media often referred to the company as eBay, prompting the company to change its name.
10 Netflix
In 2011, Netflix tried to split its business into two parts – Netflix would offer streaming services while its DVD-by-mail service would be called Qwikster.
However, both customers and investors did not like this change, and the company's stock fell sharply. The company soon underwent a complete transformation and returned to its original name and business model.
