As the industry awaits the fate of cataloger/retailer J. Peterman, which narrowly escaped bankruptcy liquidation in March (see story on p. 5), we have to wonder if Seinfeld had a hand in this. Not because the former NBC sitcom relentlessly parodied founder John Peterman as a big-egoed blowhard for several seasons, but because other brands also hit the financial skids after appearing prominently on the show-including fast-food chain Kenny Rogers Roasters, beverage marketer Snapple, and venerable blue jeans purveyor Levi’s.
We definitely smell a conspiracy.