Loving the new retro Pepsi

I just started seeing the special “throwback” Pepsi bottles. Love it! Additionally, I loved that they used the term “throwback” instead of the more obvious “retro” (read: my title). Pepsi is so good at identifying with the new generation even when looking at the past. They could have chosen to use “old skool” but, even Pepsi knows, that is “old skool.”

Pepsi – Let’s look again

I don’t mean to be the devil’s advocate here. (Well, maybe a little). But I wanted to throw in another twist to the previous Pepsi blog. Yes, it may appear that Pepsi has just updated their logo frivolously. However, what brand is causing a stir to the point that people are talking about it? PEPSI! Did you even noticed Coke sitting there? I would guess not. How many other people will see the new logo and take notice?

The new logo is hip and fun. Yes, a brand must always hold true to its legacy, and I think it still is holding true. We do not look at the new logo and say, “What is this new brand I have never heard of ?” Of course not. We look at the new, funky red, blue, and white circle and go “Wow. Pepsi got a makeover.” Seeing that symbol still conjures up the same feelings toward the brand and we still recognize it as such. In my opinion, becoming hip and cool is smart. Change is not always a bad thing!

Also, let’s not forget about the younger demographics. I would guess that Pepsi would like to snag some of these people making the all important choice: Pepsi or Coke? Which brand appeals more to them? Yeah, traditional legacies are great, but so is being innovative.

New Pepsi Logo?

So we are driving home from a wonderful night in Bethesda Maryland, got thirsty and stopped at a Sheetz for a “refill.” Much to our surprise we came across the new Pepsi can and logo design. Hello?! What is going on here? I’m not quite sure what to think. The last logo update in the mid 90s was good. It was more of a refresh and hipster update. The new 2009 update looks more like someone in marketing said, “i’m sick of the logo, everyone is doing a refresher… why not us too?” Folks, you can’t just update a logo to update a logo.

Is Pepsi smiling?

The text (font) is a throwback to the mid-80s “diet pepsi” look. Like everything, that style has somewhat come back into “vogue” but not for Pepsi. Yes, this look is much cleaner and more streamlined -I’m all for that- but the update looks forced. The famous RED/BLUE/WHITE swoosh is the biggest change. Throughout the years it has had various treatments, but the concept was still the same. Now, the whole design has been turned on its head! Am I the only person who thinks it is smiling?

Pepsi has always been the hipper brand when it come to the fight between Coke & Pepsi, but they big mistake you make when trying to be hip is maintaining your legacy. Staying true to your heritage, especially when you’re a heritage brand, is probably (above all) the most important thing you can do. I think Pepsi’s new look will not sell more soda, nor will it inspire faithful coke drinkers to make the leap.

Congrats Pepsi — you’re hip. But you’re still not #1. For advice on how to keep that #1 spot for more than a century look at Coke’s new logo… wait, they don’t have one.

I should note, I’ve always preferred Pepsi.