Brands have come a long way since Bass & Co. Beer became the first registered trademark in the United States on January 1, 1876. From dependability to differentiation; expressive statements to experiences; iPods and influencers. Today, brands impact us in ways unique to our life on planet Earth right now, which is different from the way our parents generation, grandparents generation, and great grandparents generation all experienced brands... and it’s amazing to think that that’s as far back as branding’s genealogy goes. At 144 years young, the field of branding is still in its infancy and there are so many places it can take us. However, before we’re tempted to lay on the gas pedal and hit the road for a branding adventure, it’s important to look in the rear-view mirror to see where we’ve come from... enter today’s talk. In this episode, find out how brands have evolved and, more importantly, if Betty Crocker was a real person.