A local window manufacturer has launched a new radio marketing campaign . The centerpoint of their advertising campaign is the fact that they have been in business for 50 years. The ad is a parody of a 1950’s radio news broadcast and they talk about all the things that happened the same year they started.

I kept asking myself, “Do I care?” All I know now about this company is that they have been in business for 50 years. To borrow from yesterday’s entry, I don’t see that as a overt benefit. I am more interested in what they have done lately. What is the latest technology that can reduce my heating bill? Do they have designs that makes cleaning windows easier? I am left with so many questions.

I do think there are products and services that benefit from longevity. There are situations where you depend on the experience of a vendor. The obvious example is professional services (i.e. doctors, lawyers, and tax accountants).