Vintage industry marketing: What can we learn?

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November 29, 2016

Retired pest management professional (PMP) Phil Allegretti generously shared with us several photos of his collection of antique pesticide cans and equipment.

What he provided was fascinating — and you can see even more of his collection at the Chemical Heritage Museum. But, it got me to thinking about the other side of pest management: the marketing side.

A quick Google search turns up an Orkin “Otto Matic Pop Pistol” and charms depicting Otto the Orkin Man in one of his earlier incarnations:

What budding PMP wouldn’t want to find this Terminix-themed Tonka truck under the Christmas tree?

Eye-catching business cards are hardly anything new, as evidenced by this oldie but goodie from what’s considered by many to be the oldest continuously running pest management company, Rose Pest Solutions:

We’ve shared with you photos of industry mascots, but few are as iconic as Western Exterminator’s Mr. Little and Menace Mouse. The company website even devotes an entire page on its website to the duo, who debuted in 1931 and remain a strong part of the Western brand today:

Now it’s your turn: Are you collecting vintage industry memorabilia, be it on the technical or marketing side? We’d love to learn more about it! Please send me an email at hgooch@northcoastmedia.net, and let the history lessons begin.

 

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About the Author

Heather Gooch

Heather Gooch is the editor-in-chief for PMP magazine. She can be reached at hgooch@northcoastmedia.net or 330-321-9754.

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