I received a solicitation in the mail the other day. I bet you’ve also gotten this one – or one like it. It comes with many colorful address labels. And a nickel!
What really made me laugh this time, though, was the salutation. They obviously knew my name, because it was all over the address labels. But probably to save money, they opted not to personalize.
So I became a “Friend of …. Association”.
But either some perverse dictate about brand standards – or maybe the legal department – had gotten involved. Because I wasn’t just a “Friend”. I was a registered trademarked friend!
Nothing says warm and fuzzy like a registered trademark.