Why is Primark called Penneys only in ireland?

Typewriter · 25-04-2012 9:33pm #1

Why is Penneys called Primark outside Ireland?

What's the deal with this? It's first store was in Dublin. Its headquaters are in Ireland. Yet outside of ireland it's called Primark. Where the hell did the name Primark come from?

I've also just noticed that Penneys website is primark.ie

This is bugging me now as nowhere online does it state the reason for the two different names. On their website they seem very proud of their Irish heritage. But all I can find is online with regards to the name is "Primark, (trades as Penneys in Ireland)".

whatdoicare · 25-04-2012 9:36pm

Probably because of JC penney in America - which has nothing to do with the penneys/primark brand here.

Skerries · 25-04-2012 9:38pm

is it an Irish company?

Del2005 · 25-04-2012 9:40pm

whatdoicare wrote: »

Probably because of JC penney in America - which has nothing to do with the penneys/primark brand here.

I was thinking on similar lines. They don't own the rights to the name outside Ireland

thenightrider · 25-04-2012 9:40pm

Primarkis the brand of clothes and Penneys is the shop name

25-04-2012 9:41pm

Totally unrelated but a friend of a friend who was learning english (Not sure if this is an urban myth or not) thought the word penneys meant thanks. She heard Irish girls complimenting each other. "I like your top/dress/bag etc" "Aw, thanks, penneys"

Jen Pigs Fly · 25-04-2012 9:41pm

Its cheaper to call it pennies

leggo · 25-04-2012 9:42pm

Why is Bulmers called Magners outside of Ireland?

Because it just is.

biko · 25-04-2012 9:42pm

whatdoicare wrote: »

Probably because of JC penney in America - which has nothing to do with the penneys/primark brand here.

Yup

Change of name
This move across the water necessitated a change of name as US retailer JC Penney had already trademarked the Penneys name in the UK. As a result ABF adopted the Primark trading name in the UK while retaining the Penneys brand in the Republic.

http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/fistful-of-penneys-1828737.html

Typewriter · 25-04-2012 9:42pm

Just looked this up and it would seem you are right!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/sep/11/primark-founder-arthur-ryan-resigns

In the late 1960s the late Garfield Weston, whose descendants are the controlling shareholders in Primark's parent company Associated British Foods (ABF), hired Ryan to set up a discount clothing chain. Weston gave Ryan a start-up fund of £50,000 and the first store opened in Dublin, where it is called Penneys. The name could not travel to Britain as the American firm JC Penney had the right to use the name, so Primark was born when it crossed the Irish Sea in 1973. It has since marched into Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and Germany.

So it's a Bulmers Vs Magners situation then.

Mint Sauce · 25-04-2012 9:44pm

Whys Opel called Opel everywhere barr in the UK where its called Vauxhall.

fuerte1976 · 25-04-2012 9:45pm

And a TJ V TK MAXX issue :rolleyes:

fuerte1976 · 25-04-2012 9:48pm

Or you can ask the yanks why they call their arse their fanny

:p

admiralofthefleet · 25-04-2012 9:48pm

it should be called cent(s)

CJhaughey · 25-04-2012 9:49pm

Burgerking and Hungry Jacks

milehip1 · 25-04-2012 9:50pm

leggo wrote: »

Why is Bulmers called Magners outside of Ireland?

Because it just is.

it's cos Bulmers means 'vagina' in French street slang

i71jskz5xu42pb · 25-04-2012 9:50pm

irish-stew wrote: »

Whys Opel called Opel everywhere barr in the UK where its called Vauxhall.

Aren't they called Starburst now?

demakinz · 25-04-2012 9:51pm

That's what they pay the kids who make the clothes.

irish_stevo815 · 25-04-2012 9:52pm

This is why

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=athHodH_nis

Cool Mo D · 25-04-2012 9:54pm

irish-stew wrote: »

Whys Opel called Opel everywhere barr in the UK where its called Vauxhall.

Because Vauxhall and Opel were separate subsidiary companies of GM. Vauxhall was taken over by GM in 1925, but it's only since the 1970's that Vauxhall and Opel lines of cars were merged. Ireland used to have Vauxhall cars, and was changed to Opel in 1982.

And Bulmers is called Magners outside Ireland because there was already a different cider called Bulmers in the UK.

cml387 · 25-04-2012 10:06pm

We have HB here,Wall's in England and Ola in Portugal,but they are all the same.

http://www.goodlogo.com/images/logos/ola_ice_cream_logo_2522.gif

I saw Birds Eye in Europe is Kapitan Igloo.

csi vegas · 26-04-2012 1:01am

Walkers are called Lays on the continent. Two potential innuendos there

mconigol · 26-04-2012 8:39am

Why are you made change your name when speaking Irish?

James != Seamus

*not my name by the way

triple-M · 26-04-2012 8:47am

also why is lynx called axe in most other countries?

DaveNoCheese · 26-04-2012 9:02am

Also why does the sun shine? The moon glow and the grass grow??...

adamski8 · 26-04-2012 9:04am

139 wrote: »

Totally unrelated but a friend of a friend who was learning english (Not sure if this is an urban myth or not) thought the word penneys meant thanks. She heard Irish girls complimenting each other. "I like your top/dress/bag etc" "Aw, thanks, penneys"

ive heard that story a lot from different sources, just a myth

WesternZulu · 26-04-2012 9:29am

Bulmers in a process used when making cider and as well as a company in Ireland calling their cider Bulmers, another company in the UK also called theirs by the same name too.

So when the Irish Bulmers exported their product in the UK there was also another company using the same name so they changed to Magners.

Now for ya!

26-04-2012 9:29am

Bullfrogs and Chazwozza's

leggo · 26-04-2012 9:33am

Why does Monday, come before Tuesday?
Why do summers start in June?
Why do winters come too soon?
Why do people fall in love,
When they're always breaking up?
Oh why,
Why do we love if love will die?

im invisible · 26-04-2012 9:37am

Why do birds suddenly appear
every time you are near

Sofaspud · 26-04-2012 9:39am

F*cking Magnets, how do they work?

Tipp Man · 26-04-2012 9:41am

Bulmers is called Magners because there is another cider company in UK called bulmers which is unrelated to the Tipperary Bulmers -hence change of name

I believe the Burgerking - Hunger Jack name change is due to the fact that Macdonalds bought the naming rights to Burgerking in Oz before Burgerking did - pulling a fast 1 on their fierce rival. That is why there are a couple of burgerkings in the prime locations in Oz - but burgerking have had to pay Macd's a wedge of cash for the priviledge. Or so i heard anyway

bnt · 26-04-2012 9:52am

irish-stew wrote: »

Whys Opel called Opel everywhere barr in the UK where its called Vauxhall.

As noted, it's now all GM, and they could sell all cars under the GM banner if they wanted to, but they have a policy of keeping the names of previous companies as badges. There's also Holden in Australia, and those names they have in the USA - Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac.

munchkin_utd · 26-04-2012 9:56am

according to wikipedia Mcdonalds had nothing to do with the Burger King name being already registered in Australia, it was a local burger joint in Adelade.
Nevertheless, an interesting story on how a company was forced to create a new brand for a country and ends up with locals being acustomed to the name so much that it sticks even when it could be changed.

Another local curiousity is O neills sportswear in Ireland.
They got in with 3 stripes before Adidas had it trademarked so still can produce jerseys etc with the 3 stripes for Ireland but cant export it abroad.

If you want something like the Kerry jersey sent abroad direct from O Neills then it'll be made specially with 2 stripes to keep adidas happy!
Heres the page with all the jerseys that have an international (adidas friendly) version
http://www.oneills.com/shop-by-team/gaa/2-stripe-jerseys.html

rainbowdrop · 26-04-2012 9:57am

I wonder why the grass is green
And why the wind is never seen?
Who taught the birds to built a nest
And told the trees to take a rest?
O, when the moon is not quite round
Where can the missing bit be found?
Who lights the stars, when they blow out
And makes the lighting flash about?
Who paints the rainbow in the sky
And hangs the fluffy clouds so high?
Why is it now, do you suppose
That dad won't tell me if he knows?

jacool · 26-04-2012 10:02am

rainbowdrop wrote: »

I wonder why the grass is green
And why the wind is never seen?
Who taught the birds to built a nest
And told the trees to take a rest?
O, when the moon is not quite round
Where can the missing bit be found?
Who lights the stars, when they blow out
And makes the lighting flash about?
Who paints the rainbow in the sky
And hangs the fluffy clouds so high?
Why is it now, do you suppose
That dad won't tell me if he knows?

I'd say your dad is fed up of you asking silly questions.
If I were him I'd poke you in each one of your three eyes !!

pickarooney · 26-04-2012 11:41am

triple-M wrote: »

also why is lynx called axe in most other countries?

In France, the word for 'big cats' is used specifically to denote a strong smell of body odour.

genie_us · 26-04-2012 12:01pm

rainbowdrop wrote: »

I wonder why the grass is green
And why the wind is never seen?
Who taught the birds to built a nest
And told the trees to take a rest?
O, when the moon is not quite round
Where can the missing bit be found?
Who lights the stars, when they blow out
And makes the lighting flash about?
Who paints the rainbow in the sky
And hangs the fluffy clouds so high?
Why is it now, do you suppose
That dad won't tell me if he knows?

Wow, sudden flashback from school!

Another one is Moro vs Boost - they're the same thing apparently

fonda · 26-04-2012 12:22pm

Bit off topic too but someone opened a fake Primark in Dubai.

Knock off penneys what is the world coming too

http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/industry-insights/retail/fake-primark-store-in-dubai-rattles-uk-retailer

rainbowdrop · 26-04-2012 2:34pm

genie_us wrote: »

Wow, sudden flashback from school!

Another one is Moro vs Boost - they're the same thing apparently

Had that practically beat into us in school:D. When I'm old, grey and shitting the bed, when I can't remember my name anymore, I guarantee I'll be wrecking my great-grandkids head with that poem. It's ingrained in my brain!

Oink · 26-04-2012 3:34pm

pickarooney wrote: »

In France, the word for 'big cats' is used specifically to denote a strong smell of body odour.

... and not in a good way.Which says something about the stench of Lynx/Axe, but it seems so people have no sense of smell.

skregs · 26-04-2012 3:38pm

On 26 February 1976, to settle their pending litigations and proceedings, Penney America and the ABF Group entered into the notified agreement, which became effective on 27 August 1976 (the operative date) and which is outlined below. (a) The ABF Group shall not use "Penneys" as a trademark or - except as a business name in Ireland - as a trade name in any country of the world, shall change all company names or titles, so as to eliminate "Penneys" therefrom, and shall never organize or acquire a business which includes this name. It shall also proceed to phase out step by step in Scotland and Northern Ireland all use of "Penneys" as a trademark, trade name or otherwise. Such phasing out shall be completed during 1978. Penney America shall cause the trademark registrations of "Power", "Quinnsworth", "Finefare", "Fine Ware" and "City Girl" to be relinquished. They acknowledge that the word "Primark" is not confusingly similar to "Penneys". While these trademark registrations and "Primark" may be used by the ABF Group, "Penneys" may be used by Penney America as a trademark and, except in Ireland, as a trade name in all countries of the world.

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31978D0193:EN:HTML

Now you know.

General Relativity · 26-04-2012 3:39pm

leggo wrote: »

Why is Bulmers called Magners outside of Ireland?

Because it just is.

It's because there's an Irish Bulmers; http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m44/danz_s2/bulmers3.jpg and an English Bulmers; http://www.jendrosz.com/images/bulmers.jpg. So Irish Bulmers is called Magners outside of Ireland.

xflyer · 26-04-2012 3:55pm

irish-stew wrote: »

Whys Opel called Opel everywhere barr in the UK where its called Vauxhall.

GM decided to retain Vauxhall in the UK because of the British association. But they're really Opels. Back in the eighties in Ireland you could buy either an Opel Kadett or Vauxhall Kadett. The only difference was the badge. Eventually the GM surveyed Irish motorists to see which one they preferred. Opel won out because it was explained, Opel was associated with German quality and efficiency. On the other hand British cars of the time were notoriously badly built and unreliable. So Vauxhall lost out. Personally I preferred Vauxhall as a name. Opel is a bit, aneamic or something.

As for Penneys/Primark, I never realised it started in Ireland.

General Relativity · 26-04-2012 4:05pm

rainbowdrop wrote: »

I wonder why the grass is green

All colours EXCEPT green are absorbed in the plant's chlorophyll. Green is the colour 'reflected' and transmitted back.

And why the wind is never seen?

Air is transparent and homogeneous.

Who taught the birds to built a nest

Nobody. Birds who build nests survive better than birds who don't

And told the trees to take a rest?

Nobody. It's beneficial to not use energy [the Sun's] when it's not abundant in winter.

O, when the moon is not quite round
Where can the missing bit be found?

The moon doesn't change shape in a noticable time frame. The Earth casts a shadow on it.

Who lights the stars, when they blow out

Nobody. The stars are always there. They're only visible to the naked eye on the part of the planet farthest away from the Sun.

And makes the lighting flash about?

Nobody. Lightning is caused when water molecules collide in a cloud. This causes the molecules to loose electrons.These electrons build up at the bottom of a cloud and make it negatively charged. The rising moisture molecules, now missing electrons, become positively charged and gather at the top of the cloud. This creates a charge separation, which has an electric field that is negative at the bottom and positive at the top. As the collisions continue, the electric field builds so strong that it gives the planet's surface a positive charge. When these charges become powerful enough, the cloud's electricity is discharged toward the Earth's surface, which results in lightning.

Who paints the rainbow in the sky

Nobody. Rainbows are a result of the refraction of light through water.

And hangs the fluffy clouds so high?

Clouds don't 'float'. They are continuously falling. It's not noticable untill water droplets get too heavy and it rains.

Why is it now, do you suppose
That dad won't tell me if he knows?

People are scientifically illiterate.

Science > Arts.

summerskin · 26-04-2012 4:23pm

General Relativity wrote: »

All colors EXCEPT green are absorbed in the plant's chlorophyll. Green is the color 'reflected' and transmitted back.

Air is transarent and homogeneous.

Nobody. Birds who build nests survive better then birds who don't

Nobody. It's benificial to not use energy [the Sun's] when it's not abundant in winter.

The moon dosen't change shape in a noticable time frame. The Earth casts a shadow on it.

Nobody. The stars are always there. They're only visable to the naked eye on the part of the planet farthest awy from the Sun.

Nobody. Lighting is caused when water molecules collide in a cloud. This causes the molecules to loose electrons.These electrons build up at the bottom of a cloud and make it negatively charged. The rising moisture molecules, now missing electrons, become positively charged and gather at the top of the cloud. This creates a charge separation, which has an electric field that is negative at the bottom and positive at the top. As the collisions continue, the electric field builds so strong that it gives the planet's surface a positive charge. When these charges become powerful enough, the cloud's electricity is discharged toward the Earth's surface, which results in lightning.

Nobody. Rainbows are a result of the refraction of light through water.

Clouds don't 'float'. They are continuously falling. It's not noticable untill water droplets get too heavy and it rains.

People are scientifically illiterate.

Science > Arts.

Probably not a good idea to do a patronising, smart arsed post and then have it riddled with spelling mistakes and typos though, particularly when most people knew what the other poster was referring to. He wasn't asking serious questions, duh.

General Relativity · 26-04-2012 4:43pm

summerskin wrote: »

Probably not a good idea to do a patronising, smart arsed post and then have it riddled with spelling mistakes and typos though, particularly when most people knew what the other poster was referring to. He wasn't asking serious questions, duh.

Nice. I have mild dyslexia. I have trouble reading and spelling. Cheers tho, I'll clean 'em up.

Color is right tho... in America.

Lapin · 26-04-2012 5:01pm

munchkin_utd wrote: »

Another local curiousity is O neills sportswear in Ireland.
They got in with 3 stripes before Adidas had it trademarked so still can produce jerseys etc with the 3 stripes for Ireland but cant export it abroad.

If you want something like the Kerry jersey sent abroad direct from O Neills then it'll be made specially with 2 stripes to keep adidas happy!
Heres the page with all the jerseys that have an international (adidas friendly) version
http://www.oneills.com/shop-by-team/gaa/2-stripe-jerseys.html

O'Neills should tell Addidas where to go and shove their stripes.

Empire o de Sun · 23-04-2014 10:02pm

Lapin wrote: »

O'Neills should tell Addidas where to go and shove their stripes.

This may be an urban legend but I thought O'Neills won a court case with Addidas because they said that they have 5 stripes (including the two between the three) while addidas said that they had 3 stripes

deise08 · 23-04-2014 10:16pm

irish_stevo815 wrote: »

This is why
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=athHodH_nis

That must be a later version of that ad, after they named the little lad Zak!
the original music was a much quicker tempo.
'Penney's, got a whole lot of things for Christmas, got a lot for the family! Fa la la la lalala la la' and so on

Why is Primark called Penneys only in ireland?

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