Royal Navy sells White Ensign as 'cool' brand
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Yup, the Queens Head on a stamp means Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Roundels on aircraft means Royal Air Force, White or Red Ensigns mean Royal or British Merchant Navy. These are all quality marks that need no embellishment.
Union flags on thongs means loose. White ensigns on underpants means very loose. And of course the Army has commandoes so no sale there.
Roundels on rucksacks means target. Even the RAF does not put roundels on DMP but uses the more muted stable belt colours.
Hmmph
Mind you, did we bring this on ourselves? I only approved buying a squadron tie when on the sqn or presented with one or wearing a sqn badge once I was qualified. Selling badges to all and sundry at air shows or open days just served to debase the sqn brand and we did that years ago.
Blimp
Colonel
Union flags on thongs means loose. White ensigns on underpants means very loose. And of course the Army has commandoes so no sale there.
Roundels on rucksacks means target. Even the RAF does not put roundels on DMP but uses the more muted stable belt colours.
Hmmph
Mind you, did we bring this on ourselves? I only approved buying a squadron tie when on the sqn or presented with one or wearing a sqn badge once I was qualified. Selling badges to all and sundry at air shows or open days just served to debase the sqn brand and we did that years ago.
Blimp
Colonel
Can't see the point of a cross trainer shoe at all. The 'yoof' of today are generally a bunch of lardy-arsed couch potatoes with an extremely limited vocabulary. They couldn't spell 'cross trainer' never mind find a use for them!
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Someone in Whitehall has lost the plot and forgotten that the Armed Forces are military organizations and not commercial enterprises. Has everyone with any common sense at senior levels of MoD been replaced with marketing directors, PR gurus and corporate comms execs?
The sad fact is that your average civvy probably sees the roundel or Ensign as being about as fashionable as a second-hand DynoRod polo shirt. The RAF got a boot up the arse when they tried to copyright the roundel last year because it's been used to sell Lambrettas and parkas for about 40 years already. Despite that wake up call, they released the Typhoid Trainers shown above which are blatantly about as cool as calculus in the eyes of the target audience.
As for the fish-heads, their marketing monkey obviously knows so little about the RN that he's never heard of Lamb's Navy Rum (which has existed for 157 years longer than his job has), et al. Perhaps instead they can design a White Ensign hoodie to go with the Typhoid Cross Trainers and maybe a British Army knuckleduster to complete the ensemble, for all your happy slapping needs. What great sellers they are sure to be.
FFS. Whichever muppet came up with this idea needs to be sent to an operational theatre and experience what it is like to be shot at (and not necessarily missed). Maybe then he would focus on what the forces are really about.
If money really is so tight that it is necessary to whore out our identity to the masses (as the once respectable Burberry did) in return for small change to buy fuel for ships, windows for chinooks or desert boots for pongos, then the British Forces are a rapidly sinking ship.
The sad fact is that your average civvy probably sees the roundel or Ensign as being about as fashionable as a second-hand DynoRod polo shirt. The RAF got a boot up the arse when they tried to copyright the roundel last year because it's been used to sell Lambrettas and parkas for about 40 years already. Despite that wake up call, they released the Typhoid Trainers shown above which are blatantly about as cool as calculus in the eyes of the target audience.
As for the fish-heads, their marketing monkey obviously knows so little about the RN that he's never heard of Lamb's Navy Rum (which has existed for 157 years longer than his job has), et al. Perhaps instead they can design a White Ensign hoodie to go with the Typhoid Cross Trainers and maybe a British Army knuckleduster to complete the ensemble, for all your happy slapping needs. What great sellers they are sure to be.
FFS. Whichever muppet came up with this idea needs to be sent to an operational theatre and experience what it is like to be shot at (and not necessarily missed). Maybe then he would focus on what the forces are really about.
If money really is so tight that it is necessary to whore out our identity to the masses (as the once respectable Burberry did) in return for small change to buy fuel for ships, windows for chinooks or desert boots for pongos, then the British Forces are a rapidly sinking ship.
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Although he was too polite to say that it was a ****ing stupid idea, the erstwhile 1st Sea Lord (Sir Alan West) was somewhat dismissive of the notion of marketing the White Ensign, when he was interviewed on 'PM' (Radio 4) yesterday evening. Amusingly, he likened it to the condoms he saw advertised once on a visit to Japan - Admiral Condoms; they came (no pun intended) with 4 gold stripes!
FW
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You guys think you've got it bad (and I agree with you) but did you know that the RAF have now sold their souls to an American company??
I understand that all RAF 'corporate' products are now the responsibility and licenced by a US company called 'kids4entertainment' (or something like that.
Max, as you say Someone in Whitehall has lost the plot and forgotten that the Armed Forces are military organizations and not commercial enterprise, and no one has any common sense at senior levels of MoD anymore.
The Winco
I understand that all RAF 'corporate' products are now the responsibility and licenced by a US company called 'kids4entertainment' (or something like that.
Max, as you say Someone in Whitehall has lost the plot and forgotten that the Armed Forces are military organizations and not commercial enterprise, and no one has any common sense at senior levels of MoD anymore.
The Winco
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Dont think anyone has put this link on their post, but heres the Royal Navy Hooded Sweatshirt - Navy Blue
http://www.navynewscatalogue.co.uk/a.../rn_hoody.html
http://www.navynewscatalogue.co.uk/a.../rn_hoody.html
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Still good PR for the RAF when caked in dog sh1t? How about when featured on crimewatch as the only identifiable feature of some scummer seen hot-footing it from an offy with a Royal Navy hoodie full of freshly knicked Rizzlas, White Lightning and glue?
If the marketing bloke was hoping for good PR, I don't think he's going to see any victorious Olympic athletes wearing these.
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Admiral Condoms; they came (no pun intended) with 4 gold stripes!
Admiral Condoms; they came (no pun intended) with 4 gold stripes! Please Sir - four gold stripes is for a Captain RN
Bit of a cum down isn't it?...
I'm off
Bit of a cum down isn't it?...
I'm off
Last edited by Rocket2; 17th Aug 2006 at 16:29.
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I wonder who will vet these companies which wish to use the RN Logo. Sounds like a good job for a retired officer to me. Just imagine A company in Japan wants to use the logo on its cars. Off goes Rear Adm such-and-such (Rtd) on an all exies paid tour of the best Bars/brothels in downtown Tokyo. Sounds good to me. 
You guys think you've got it bad (and I agree with you) but did you know that the RAF have now sold their souls to an American company??
I understand that all RAF 'corporate' products are now the responsibility and licenced by a US company called 'kids4entertainment' (or something like that.
I understand that all RAF 'corporate' products are now the responsibility and licenced by a US company called 'kids4entertainment' (or something like that.
AIUI, the licence applies to everything other than clothing, although I daresay that the licencing company won't try to charge The Who for using the roundel either. The projected product range was:
4Kids plans to launch the initial product line in early 2006, including luggage, tools, men's gift and publishing - with toys, apparel and accessories following later in 2006.
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[quote=airborne_artist]From the Telegraph, 16 Aug 06:
Capt Brian Warren, the Navy's publicity director, said yesterday that the marketing exercise was a deliberate attempt to appear "trendy and cool" to a young audience. "If one or two old Navy veterans have their noses put out of joint, then so be it," he said.
I always think that when the words 'trendy and cool' are uttered, it's normally by a middle aged bloke with no idea what they are talking about, and I've no reason to suspect my logic is wrong this time.
Capt Brian Warren, the Navy's publicity director, said yesterday that the marketing exercise was a deliberate attempt to appear "trendy and cool" to a young audience. "If one or two old Navy veterans have their noses put out of joint, then so be it," he said.
I always think that when the words 'trendy and cool' are uttered, it's normally by a middle aged bloke with no idea what they are talking about, and I've no reason to suspect my logic is wrong this time.
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Excactly what the hell is the Royal Marine brand going to be used for? Were best known for getting drunk and naked, can't see much clothing to be branded there.
Maybe they will market a range of Kitchen knives with the commando dagger motif on them.
We've already got a brand of cigarrettes called Royals. Maybe the Navy could start a cigarrette brand ............called fags.
Maybe they will market a range of Kitchen knives with the commando dagger motif on them.
We've already got a brand of cigarrettes called Royals. Maybe the Navy could start a cigarrette brand ............called fags.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Read one old boy's comment in the papers.
"What the badge, pass the course."
My feelings exactly.
Saw someone yesterday with a big red/white/blue circle on left tit. Sorry I meant chest, he looked a tit.
"What the badge, pass the course."
My feelings exactly.
Saw someone yesterday with a big red/white/blue circle on left tit. Sorry I meant chest, he looked a tit.
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Originally Posted by Pontius Navigator
Read one old boy's comment in the papers.
"What the badge, pass the course."
My feelings exactly.
Saw someone yesterday with a big red/white/blue circle on left tit. Sorry I meant chest, he looked a tit.
"What the badge, pass the course."
My feelings exactly.
Saw someone yesterday with a big red/white/blue circle on left tit. Sorry I meant chest, he looked a tit.
I also think you'll find it's "Want the badge" not "What the badge".. ....Spell check doesn't pick up everthing suggest you pay a bit more attention!!!!!!!
