Some names are too great not to be used

Was JC Penney a real person? 10 names turned into successful brands

Let’s face it, some people have better-sounding names than others. And some of them have the nerve and the pride to slap their own name on their products. A sign of trust, you might say. Sure, everybody knows who Henry Ford is. But what about Glen Bell Jr or James Cash Penney? Take a look at the following brands and discover the people brave enough to give their companies their names.

Let us start the list with a name that is immersed in the world of soups (pun intended). The Knorr brand was founded by Carl Heinrich Knorr in 1838, and it didn’t start in the line of business it is today. First, he supplied chicory to the coffee industry. After that, the founder began experimenting with drying vegetables and seasonings, which led to the launch of the first dried soups across Continental Europe in 1873.

This legendary motorcycle company was founded by two childhood friends, William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson, who began working on a small-engine model in the early 1900s, leading to the creation of the company we know today.

Later on, 2 more Davidsons, William and Walter, joined the venture. The company developed quickly, and in 1903, it began selling motorcycles on a very limited basis.

Some names just sound too cool not to do anything with them. For example, this clothing label was founded by professional tennis player Fred Perry. It all started in the late 1940s, when he and Tibby Wegner, an Austrian footballer, created the first sweatband. Later, Perry and Wegner created their version of a tennis shirt. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Naming a business after yourself is a common practice in the high-fashion industry. And Alexander McQueen is no exception. He was a London-based, English designer who used to work as the head designer of the Givenchy fashion line.

In 2004, he started his menswear line. In his early years, he worked in a tailor shop that created theater costumes, and he used many of the ideas he learned there in his future collections.

A bouncy-sounding name like Boeing didn’t exactly seem destined for a great future in the aviation industry, but it was. In the early years, William Boeing didn’t work in aviation but sold timber. During the exposition in Seattle in 1909, he saw a manned flying machine for the first time and became interested in the concept.

Seven years later, he went into business with engineer George Conrad Westervelt and founded the Pacific Aero Products Co. The company’s name was changed to Boeing Airplane Company the following year. In the beginning, Boeing aircraft only transported mail, but that changed soon.

Just like Knorr, Lipton is a name forever linked to a product, but it wasn’t always like that. Before he got involved in the tea trade, Sir Thomas Lipton had worked as an accountant, a door-to-door salesman, and a grocery assistant. After gaining experience, he opened his first provision shop and later established a chain of groceries. Then he focused his efforts on tea.

According to Sir Lipton, his secret to success was selling the best goods at the lowest prices, harnessing the power of advertising, and always being optimistic.

Just like in the case of Harley-Davidson, Baskin-Robbins is a brand formed by the names of its two founders: Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins, who were brothers-in-law.

Irv started Snowbird Ice Cream, and Burt launched Burton Ice Cream Shop. Both were successful. And when the number of stores grew, they decided to drop the separate identities, and all the stores became Baskin-Robbins.

Sometimes it's harder to picture a person behind the brand name if the name is also a common word. But it happens. Taco Bell is named after its founder, entrepreneur Glen Bell Jr, who launched a drive-in after seeing the success of McDonald’s.

Bell saw that there was room for growth beyond burgers and launched several successful taco drive-ins and restaurants with other partners before launching Taco Bell in 1962.

And moving on from Taco Bell, we must now talk about those who inspired him. Their story is the basis for the 2016 movie The Founder (a great watch, and a hypnotizing performance by Michael Keaton), and it started when brothers Dick and Mac McDonald decided to make a burger restaurant in San Bernardino, California.

The company as we know it today was founded by Raymond Kroc, a milkshake machine salesman who was so impressed by their burger restaurant that he became their agent and set up franchises around the US. Years later, he bought the rights to the McDonald's name.

Just like with the Fred Perry case, it would have been a shame for a name as great as JC Penney to end up nowhere. The real James Cash Penney was born in Hamilton, Missouri, and opened a retail store on April 14, 1902, in Kemmerer, Wyoming.

In 1909, Penney moved his company headquarters to Salt Lake City, Utah, to be closer to banks and railroads. By 1912, Penney had 34 stores in the Rocky Mountain States. In 1913, all stores were consolidated under the J. C. Penney banner we know today.

Bite-sized wisdom

Food for thought: 10 deliciously clever food idioms and their meanings

Image: Prudence Earl

Food-related idioms add flavor to our everyday conversations, but have you ever thought about their origins? From sweet compliments to cautionary advice, these phrases are often rooted in history and culture. From "humble pie" to "spilled milk," here we’ve gathered 10 food idioms and expressions with interesting backstories—though, as with any etymology, you should take them with a grain of salt.

Image: Nick Stephenson

Meaning: Something easy to accomplish.

There are two competing theories for the origin of this idiom. One suggests it traces back to the 19th-century American South, where enslaved people participated in "cakewalk" competitions organized by slave owners. The best dancers would win a piece of cake, giving rise to the phrase.

Another theory credits American poet Ogden Nash, who used the phrase in a 1936 poem: "Her picture’s in the papers now, And life’s a piece of cake." Regardless of its exact origin, as with many etymologies, determining the truth behind this idiom is not exactly a piece of cake.

Image: Jo Lanta

Meaning: To reveal a secret.

This idiom may have roots in ancient Greek voting customs. People often cast their votes using beans placed in a vase—white beans for approval and black beans for disapproval. If the vase tipped over, it would literally "spill the beans," revealing the votes prematurely.

By the early 20th century, it was widely used in American English to mean uncovering something prematurely or accidentally. Interestingly, similar phrases exist in other languages. For instance, the German equivalent is "die Katze aus dem Sack lassen," meaning "let the cat out of the bag."

Image: Harshal S. Hirve

Meaning: To remain calm under pressure.

Cucumbers are around 95% water, which gives them a naturally cool temperature, even in warm weather. This unique property was first noted in the 18th century when people began using the phrase "cool as a cucumber" to describe someone who remains calm and collected.

The idiom became popular in both British and American English, reflecting the personal qualities of emotional control and composure.

Image: Andrew Konstantinov

Meaning: A person who leads a sedentary lifestyle.

The term "couch potato" was first coined in 1976 by Robert Armstrong, an American cartoonist who wanted to poke fun at people who spent excessive time sitting on the couch watching television, comparing their inactivity to a potato, which also remains stationary and inactive (it would be worrying if any vegetable didn’t, to be fair).

The phrase caught on rapidly, resonating with the rise of television culture during the late 20th century. Armstrong, recognizing its popularity, trademarked "couch potato" in 1979 and began selling related merchandise, including T-shirts, posters, and even a book titled The Official Couch Potato Handbook.

Image: Jason Tuinstra

Meaning: To view something skeptically.

This idiom's origins date back to ancient Rome. In 77 A.D., Pliny the Elder wrote that a grain of salt could neutralize any poison. In an ironic twist, the phrase soon became a metaphor for skepticism, suggesting that any potentially dangerous or dubious information should be handled carefully and with suspicion.

By the 1600s, the phrase had entered the English language and began to be widely used in literary circles.

Image: Rob Wicks

Meaning: To admit you’re wrong and apologize.

To "eat humble pie" comes from "umble pie," a dish in medieval England made from the less desirable parts of a deer, such as its heart, liver, and lungs. These were typically eaten by lower-class individuals, while the upper class enjoyed the more premium cuts.

By the 17th century, "umble pie" evolved into "humble pie," linking the idea of humility with the act of apology. Though few people still eat umble pie today, the idiom remains commonly used to describe situations where someone must accept defeat.

Image: Sorin Gheorghita

Meaning: To flatter someone for personal gain.

This idiom originates from ancient India, where people would throw butter or clarified butter (ghee) at statues of their gods as a way to seek favor or blessings. The act of "buttering up" a deity was believed to increase one's chances of receiving divine assistance.

By the 1800s, the phrase was being used in British and American English to describe excessive flattery. Today, it carries a slightly negative connotation, suggesting that the flattery is insincere and intended to manipulate someone.

Image: Chris Lawton

Meaning: To harm or betray someone who helps you.

The imagery of this idiom is quite literal: a pet biting its owner, despite the care it receives. The expression has been traced back to writings from the early 1700s, where it was used to warn against ingratitude.

In various forms, the phrase appears in other languages, like in French, where it is said, "mordre la main qui te nourrit." It hints at a universal concept of loyalty and gratitude toward those who provide for you.

Image: Anita Jankovic

Meaning: To be upset over something that cannot be undone.

First recorded in 1659 by British historian James Howell, this idiom advises against grieving over irreversible events. Once milk is spilled, there's no way to recover it, making it pointless to dwell on. Over time, it evolved into a common piece of advice for dealing with mistakes or unfortunate events.

Interestingly, the phrase appears in many cultures with slight variations. For example, in Spain, the equivalent expression is "agua pasada no mueve molino," meaning "water past the mill doesn’t turn it." Both emphasize the futility of worrying about the past.

Image: Toa Heftiba

Meaning: To earn a living or provide for a family.

While etymologists are unsure of the exact origin of this phrase, many suggest that the expression dates back to medieval England, where bacon was a popular prize in some village competitions.

However, the phrase gained more prominence in the 1900s when it was used to describe the responsibilities of the household breadwinner. "Bringing home the bacon" evolved to symbolize earning money to support one’s family.