Should UK stores change their brand names for Ireland?

Kermit.de.frog · 02-09-2014 05:47PM #1

Given Ireland is uniquely exposed to British culture and commerce compared to any other EU country is it time that big British supermarkets like Tesco or M&S should have to have different distinctive brands for the Irish market?

Walk down any street in Dublin, Cork or Galway and there are British stores everywhere.

The issue is that our cities look more and more like typical British cities by the month which damages our appeal to tourists for example from Britain (because who wants to go to a country exactly like their own?).

Why don't I say German stores? Because Ireland is not next to Germany and thus has few big German brands other than Aldi and Lidl. We are next to a much bigger neighbor and I think we should take this in to account.

Personally i'd like to see some uniqueness from Britain brought back to our streets. It's only in the last 20 years that our towns and cities have been transformed in to mini Sheffields.

It wouldn't change much - they could still rip us off just under a different name?

Anyone agree?

P.S This is done in other countries.

Shenshen · 02-09-2014 05:54PM

Well, Shell did, didn't they?

Elmo · 02-09-2014 05:54PM

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Given Ireland is uniquely exposed to British culture and commerce compared to any other EU country is it time that big British supermarkets like Tesco or M&S should have to have different distinctive brands for the Irish market?

Walk down any street in Dublin, Cork or Galway and there are British stores everywhere.

The issue is that our cities look more and more like typical British cities by the month which damages our appeal to tourists for example from Britain (because who wants to go to a country exactly like their own?).

Why don't I say German stores? Because Ireland is not next to Germany and thus has few big German brands other than Aldi and Lidl. We are next to a much bigger neighbor and I think we should take this in to account.

Personally i'd like to see some uniqueness from Britain brought back to our streets. It's only in the last 20 years that our towns and cities have been transformed in to mini Sheffields.

It would change much - they could still rip us off just under a different name?

Anyone agree?

Tesco are an international brand at this stage. Can't see them re-branding, previously known as Crazy Prices and Quinnsworth.
M&S have been around Ireland for decades.

Dunnes and SuperValu are still here, should Lild and Adli rebrand because they are too German.

I think the only issue is for SuperValu who dropped the Superquinn brand, kind like Tesco buying Sanbury's and dropping the name.

Karl Stein · 02-09-2014 05:57PM

'O'Coleman's Atlantic Archipelago Mustard' just doesn't have the same ring to it.

Elmo · 02-09-2014 06:03PM

Karl Stein wrote: »

'O'Coleman's Atlantic Archipelago Mustard' just doesn't have the same ring to it.

Eirco - Irish for Tesco
Marcas 'S Mac Spealáin (MSMS) - Irish for M&S.:rolleyes:

who the fug · 02-09-2014 06:05PM

Also boycott them English wendtball teams till they do shirts in Irish

ScumLord · 02-09-2014 06:05PM

Everyone knows the tescos brand and what its about, it would be silly for them to effectively throw away their brand awareness (because as you say we get to see UK advertising and brands on a daily basis because of our proximity). It works as a European brand too, when you or a briton go abroad you'll instantly recognise the tesco brand and go to that shop because it's familiar to you.

Even if they did rebrand it would still be exactly the same shop, it wouldn't do anything to stop us looking like an Irish green version of the UK.

fleet_admiral · 02-09-2014 06:14PM

Donegal catch has a uk veterinary stamp on it

Is that what you mean?

WesternZulu · 02-09-2014 06:17PM

The should just do what the tabloids do and just insert 'Irish' in the name (i.e. The Irish Sun, The Irish Daily Mail e.t.c.) while changing nothing and giving the consumer the exact same sh*t as their UK counterparts.

Greenmachine · 02-09-2014 06:18PM

So we can pretend these chains aren't British? To alienate British tourist so they won't recognize which shop they usual shop in.

md23040 · 02-09-2014 06:21PM

If it wasn't for the UK then main shopping areas would be wastelands.

Why should a brand rebrand just to satisfy someone's sensitivities

WesternZulu · 02-09-2014 06:21PM

Greenmachine wrote: »

So we can pretend these chains aren't British? To alienate British tourist so they won't recognize which shop they usual shop in.

Is that not a bit like an Irish person going abroad and going straight to an Irish pub?

Kermit.de.frog · 02-09-2014 06:22PM

Greenmachine wrote: »

So we can pretend these chains aren't British?

That is not what i'm saying. I think in the last 20 years Irish cities have been swamped with UK multiples which is to be expected but it means our city centers look almost exactly like British high streets.

I just think more could have been more done to stop that happening.

dd972 · 02-09-2014 06:22PM

We're not part of the U.K but we're part of the 'U.Ksphere', end of. The notion that the U.K is a 'foreign' country is hogwash, (and I dislike a 'West Brit' as much as the next person.)

WesternZulu · 02-09-2014 06:24PM

dd972 wrote: »

We're not part of the U.K but we're part of the 'U.Ksphere', end of. The notion that the U.K is a 'foreign' country is hogwash, (and I dislike a 'West Brit' as much as the next person.)

It's globalization, nothing more, nothing less.

ancapailldorcha · 02-09-2014 06:25PM

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

It's only in the last 20 years that our towns and cities have been transformed in to mini Sheffields.

You say this like it's a bad thing.

fleet_admiral · 02-09-2014 06:27PM

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

You say this like it's a bad thing.

Expect Full Monty tribute acts to spring up all over the shop

AlanS181824 · 02-09-2014 06:29PM

What's wrong with Tesco being called Tesco?

Kermit.de.frog · 02-09-2014 06:29PM

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

You say this like it's a bad thing.

It is.

A few months back a couple in front of me were amazed they had to pay a plastic bag tax. One enquired to the other whilst berating the guy at the till "I never heard Cameron say anything about this". The guy at the till had to tell them they were not in the UK.

I don't blame them. It's understandable when the first thing you see at the airport is WH Smith and the last store leaving is Dixons.

We should try and make out cities as unique as possible because we are not part of the UK and have our own tourism product to promote. This doesn't help attract UK tourists here.

Terrontress · 02-09-2014 06:31PM

md23040 wrote: »

If it wasn't for the UK then main shopping areas would be wastelands.

I disagree. Independent business has gone to the wall due to these multinationals. Take them away now and there mightn't be anything in their place, but if they hadn't come, the independents would still be there, and would be making very high margins on their produce.

What is needed is good quality produce at a good price for consumers and suppliers. Who cares where the HQ of the retailer is.

ancapailldorcha · 02-09-2014 06:32PM

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

It is.

A few months back a couple in front of me were amazed they had to pay a plastic bag tax. One enquired to the other whilst berating the guy at the till "I never heard Cameron say anything about this". The guy at the till had to tell them they were not in the UK.

I don't blame them. It's understandable when the first thing you see at the airport is WH Smith and the last store leaving is Dixons.

We should try and make out cities as unique as possible because we are not part of the UK and have our own tourism product to promote. This doesn't help attract UK tourists here.

UK cities are unique and possess a damn side more history and culture than any of the pointless, crappy town that litter Ireland. If you think they're all the same then you've clearly never been.

fleet_admiral · 02-09-2014 06:34PM

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

It is.

A few months back a couple in front of me were amazed they had to pay a plastic bag tax. One enquired to the other whilst berating the guy at the till "I never heard Cameron say anything about this". The guy at the till had to tell them they were not in the UK.

I don't blame them. It's understandable when the first thing you see at the airport is WH Smith and the last store leaving is Dixons.

We should try and make out cities as unique as possible because we are not part of the UK and have our own tourism product to promote. This doesn't help attract UK tourists here.

I agree with you there, years ago I had an english customer in bewleys point blank refuse to accept that sterling wasnt accepted here even after I opened the til to show him it full of punts

Kermit.de.frog · 02-09-2014 06:36PM

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

UK cities are unique and possess a damn side more history and culture than any of the pointless, crappy town that litter Ireland. If you think they're all the same then you've clearly never been.

Firstly I disagree with your bad attitude to Irish towns and secondly yes I have been and there is plenty of crappy towns and cities littering England as well.

Pumpkinseeds · 02-09-2014 06:36PM

No, they shouldn't rebrand to suit some notion of twee tourist appeal. The sooner the begosh and begorrah image of Ireland is gone the better.

Kermit.de.frog · 02-09-2014 06:38PM

fleet_admiral wrote: »

I agree with you there, years ago I had an english customer in bewleys point blank refuse to accept that sterling wasnt accepted here even after I opened the til to show him it full of punts

So did he continue defending the realm or did he give in?

ancapailldorcha · 02-09-2014 06:39PM

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Firstly I disagree with your bad attitude to Irish towns and secondly yes I have been and there is plenty of crappy towns and cities littering England as well.

Small towns in England are rarely far from a big city whereas small towns in Ireland are little more than a few pubs, a chapel and a few shops and the infrastructure is so poor that it takes ages to get to Dublin, Galway, Limerick or Cork.

Jawgap · 02-09-2014 06:41PM

Re-brand to suit a small market like Ireland????

That would be all the excuse they need to whack up 'the Paddy Tax' even more.

Plus what about Irish companies trying to American (Supermacs) or British (Dunnes with their St Bernard labeling)?

Kermit.de.frog · 02-09-2014 06:41PM

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

small towns in Ireland are little more than a few pubs, a chapel and a few shops

So what?

XxMCRxBabyxX · 02-09-2014 06:41PM

fleet_admiral wrote: »

I agree with you there, years ago I had an english customer in bewleys point blank refuse to accept that sterling wasnt accepted here even after I opened the til to show him it full of punts

You can't blame what shops we have for stupid or uneducated people. Plenty of English people come over to Ireland knowing that they are in a different country with different laws and a different currency, same shops or not. I don't see why we should need to cater for those who don't by making things 'different.'

In fact, in my (albeit somewhat limited) experience of the UK, I did find it quite different to Ireland so I'm sure that most tourists find that the other way too.

Kermit.de.frog · 02-09-2014 06:42PM

Jawgap wrote: »

Plus what about Irish companies trying to American (Supermacs) or British (Dunnes with their St Bernard labeling)?

Not like with like. Ireland is a small market next to a much bigger neighbor. You won't see a Dunnes on every corner in the UK.

ancapailldorcha · 02-09-2014 06:43PM

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

So what?

People come out with all sorts of snide little remarks like "West Brit" as if it's a bad thing. This is the 6th richest country in the world and if some of it's biggest companies wish to invest in Ireland, why should they rebrand? It's ridiculous.

Should UK stores change their brand names for Ireland?

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