I might not be the typical buyer in this case, but who he was had no bearing on me as a consumer, his product did and still does. His product is high quality, great tasting, and I think it’s a reasonable price for what you get.

I don’t think they will ever get rid of the Newman’s own brand because the name has become more synonymous with quality than with Paul Newman’s acting career and when I go to the grocery store the first thing I look for is that smiling face.

I think that’s a bit of a crass generalisation.

Kellogg’s, Disney, McDonald’s, Daimler-Benz, Chevrolet, Louis Vuitton, Gillette, along with almost every notable investment bank, advertising house and luxury consumer goods brand in the world are proof to the contrary.

Lots and lots of highly valued brands carry their founder’s name. The difference to Paul Newman’s is that they detached the brand from the face and the person, allowing it to live on filled with its own values separate from those of the originator.

Regarding the Newman branded products, they are quite good. I would say that the brand could remain viable indefinitely as long as they continue their tradition of quality and philanthropic ventures.

If I were marketing the products, I would focus exclusively on these two things:

1.) Our products taste great.
2.) Our profits go toward helping children.

How can they lose?

Besides, Paul Newman’s movies will be with us forever and he will forever be remembered by generations to come for being a fine actor and more importantly a fine person.

On the flip side, look at celebrity restaurant owner and chef Wolfgang Puck, who is also the namesake behind a world of organic soups and his face and his signature grace the label of every can. I bought another four cans yesterday. It tastes good, the nutritional information matches my lifestyle, and I trust the brand despite eating at one Wolfgang Puck restaurant (in Denver).

As to your second recommendation, Dan, for millennials and others to choose a career path before branding themselves, I recall my senior year of high school when applying to college and every application required me to write-in my intended major. Of course, it changed after I took a course in that department. So, I think it’s OK to change directions as long as you’re true to yourself and treat your experiences as the sum of who (or what) you represent.

Writing online came naturally to me because I’ve always written on paper.

Thanks for the mention.

Interesting discussion topic! In regards to Newman’s Own, I have no doubt that the product will live on for years, even with Paul gone. The bottom-line is that the products just taste good – ever tried his lemonade? When the product was started, I agree with you… Personal Brand recognition mattered.

At this point, though, the product carries itself. People associate the name with the product – hell, when I started buying Newman’s Own products, I didn’t know who Paul Newman was. I just liked that taste that the charity aspect of the product.

That said, I generally prefer naming companies and products with a name not associated with my Personal Brand. I’ll make sure to get visibility to my name somewhere, but I’d rather the product or service sell itself than the other way around.

- Chris