Tuesday, 13 May 2025

Straplines

The dictionary defines strapline as "a short easily remembered phrase used by an organisation so that people will remember it or its products - a line of text under a logo". Without much effort I came up with a list

John Lewis - never knowingly undersold
Tesco - every little helps
L'Oreal - because you're worth it
Maybelline - maybe she's born with it, maybe it's Maybelline
Mr Kipling - exceedingly good cakes
KitKat - have a break, have a KitKat 
Ronseal - it does exactly what it says on the tin 
and I am sure you can come up with dozens more. Not all were successful
"You're never alone with a Strand" was launched in 1959 with a TV advert, showing a guy [looking very like Sinatra] in a deserted wet London street, puffing away. But it failed miserably, people called him 'the lonely man' and the brand became associated with loneliness! Sales were awful. The brand was withdrawn, and rebranded as Embassy [the ad showed a man at a party, being ignored. He starts offering his cigarettes around and becomes the life and souls of the party. [Embassy became the best selling brand of the 60s]
I fell down the strapline rabbit-hole recently because I was mending a strap on Jon's messenger bag. It is a good, strong, leather bag, useful for slinging across your body when cycling to work. He has had it for years, but the strap has failed. He'd made a temporary repair with gaffer tape, but even that was going!
I found some brown leather in my scrap bag, and cut a piece to patch the strap, and replace the damaged section
I did try my awl on a scrap of leather, but worked out it would take hours, and I do not have 'clams' for holding the leather. Susie Fletcher could have done it quickly and efficiently I am sure. 
I decided not to risk my fancy new sewing machine, but rather my old Frister Rossman which weighs a ton and is capable of heavy duty stuff. I put in a leather needle, and the whole task took less than an hour! [even if I didn't give it my awl]
This looks better! I put superglue in the 5cm overlap where the new piece joins the old,  I hope this strap repair lasts a good long time!

I've decided my blog's strapline maybe a bit long, but I am not changing it just yet. 
Tracing Rainbows - experiencing God's grace in the everyday

 

 
 

 

23 comments:

  1. Has a repair ever defeated you! That will be the day the sky falls!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not sure about the sky falling, but we unpacked the previously repaired patio umbrella yesterday, and the original fabric has definitely perished to the point of no return!

      Delete
    2. I once gave a spinning demo at a fete under a borrowed awning where mice had chewed through the cover giving a very lacy effect which was Ok until it rained!

      Delete
  2. You are the Repair Queen. Job well done. I do so love to try and repair something. I hate how it has become a throw away society, but I do think it is changing slowly. Young people seem more aware. Regards Sue H

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bring back Make Do And Mend...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Good thing you had a heavy duty sewing machine, would have been hard on the fingers by hand.
    I'm still puzzling over the Magnum Ice cream ad which is still "True to Pleasure"

    ReplyDelete
  5. What an excellent word playing post, I am really glad that you gave it your 'awl'. Your repair is slightly neater than Bob's although I'm sure his emergency repair did well for a while. Have you got anything you can feed the leather with, I'm sure it would look beautiful with a buff. :-)

    Straplines for blogs can be remarkably hard to come up with can't they, yours is perfect for yours and mine is simple enough for mine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Some bits are suede finish, but I may have a go with saddle soap on the smooth leather. Good suggestion, thank houy

      Delete
  6. Awww, that looks great
    Alison in Wales x

    ReplyDelete
  7. I smiled when I read that you had extra brown leather in your stash! The bottomless pit and so very useful! Great job on yet another project.
    JanF BTW I'm currently having a little e mail trouble which I hope to get fixed in a few days.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jan. I had an alert saying message undeliverable!

      Delete
  8. I'm very glad that you didn't risk your sewing machine on the repair! Well done, by the way. Is there nothing you cannot fix? But then I notice you said you gave it your awl. Groan!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I remember some of those strap lines from the 1980s, including John Lewis which
    I never really understood how it was effective. I think yours is perfect for your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Well, of course you had some spare leather in your stash and you gave it your awl! :D

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great job with the leather strap repair.
    How about the strapline 'Marmite - love it or hate it'. I love it by the way.

    ReplyDelete

Always glad to hear from you - thanks for stopping by!
I am blocking anonymous comments now, due to excessive spam!