Proposed brand museum will be a major tourist attraction in Joburg

If you think museums are stuffy places filled with ancient relics enclosed in dusty glass cases, then the idea of a “brand museum” in Rosebank, Johannesburg, ought to make you think again. The idea in itself is fascinating. It’s indicative of how quickly times are changing that there is a need to preserve the history of branding. The fact that there is a market for this kind of thing also speaks volumes regarding people’s need to hang onto simpler times – even if those times only date back 20 or 30 years.

Of course branding has a much longer history than that. According to an article on iol.co.za, branding in South Africa can be traced back 300 years to the famous wines of Groot Constantia and Nederberg, the incredibly famous Mrs Ball’s chutney and finance institutions like Standard Bank and Old Mutual.
The idea for the museum came about as the result of book on the history of branding in South Africa. It was decided that the risk of losing all the information related to brand building would be lost unless an ongoing project was dedicated to the preservation of old practices and processes, as well as landmark brand campaigns and events. Ken Preston, of Affinity Publishing, is keen to see the concept become reality; so much so that, together with some interested branding companies, he’s managed to raise R100 000 and has sent a proposal, complete with a concept of what the premises will look like, to the Rosebank Management District Board.
Preston said, “The influence that brands exert on consumer behaviour means they have also become part of the social history of the times, reflecting the fashion, art, literature, technology, health, sport and social norms of the day.”
To ensure that the museum offers more than one dimensional service, and to raise enough money to cover running costs, the venue will also play host to branding-related exhibitions, workshops, product launches and the like. It’s hoped that the museum will not only preserve the history of branding but will also act as a major tourist attraction. For this reason Fundi and his partners would like to see the museum located in Rosebank, which is close to the underground station, which links to Joburg’s CBD, Sandton and Midrand. It’s on several bus routes and is also within spitting distance of Pretoria.

“Were this to happen it would be a major drawcard for tourists, the general public, the marketing and advertising community, brand owners, aspiring business people and college and university students from across Gauteng … A contemporary museum showcasing the past, present and future of branding, advertising, intellectual property and packaging will add great value to Rosebank as a destination as well as providing a unique ongoing experience for residents and those working in the vicinity,” said Preston.