# Lookalike Retail Chains (why?) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 16, 2014, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookalike-retail-chains-why/698688 "2014-09-16T22:01:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookalike-retail-chains-why/698688/1 "2014-09-16T22:01:07Z")
Why is it that in some areas of retail, the industry leaders seem to be actively working to make themselves indistinguishable from their primary competitors? **Example 1** : [Office Max](http://www.firstandmaintowncenter.com/merchants/Office%20Max.JPG), [Office Depot](http://robartphotos.com/Office%20Depot001a.jpg), [Staples](http://vertassets.blob.core.windows.net/image/c692333a/c692333a-c55b-4fc1-81dd-4550f7dce061/staples.jpg). Red and white, red and white, red and white. And fonts that are at least ballpark similar. **Example 2** : [Petco](http://www.inboundlogistics.com/cms/userfiles/casebook_petco_0311.jpg) and [Petsmart](http://www.adg-stl.com/wp-content/gallery/petsmart/petsmart.jpg). Both red and blue, and very similar names. In both cases, they’re so similar that I often find myself having to use the internet to remind myself whether such-and-such shopping center has a Petsmart or a Petco (which is important in that case, since my wife loves the former and dislikes the latter). I mean, look at other types of chain stores. Home Depot and Lowes have extremely distinct visual signatures. So do the top half-dozen or so fast food burger chains. So do the top few pizza chains. And that makes sense to me; as someone who works in marketing, I’m constantly trying to make sure that my company stands out from our primary competitors. So why is it that some companies almost seem to be trying to blend in with each other? Educated input or wild-assed guesses welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookalike-retail-chains-why/698688/2 "2014-09-16T22:18:03Z")
Office Depot and Office Max are the same company, I think. Staples logo isnt really similar, except that it includes red, which is a really common logo colour. ETA: logos before the office max/depot merger were different: [![](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/money/dam/assets/130220073656-office-depot-office-max-620xa.jpg) ](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/money/dam/assets/130220073656-office-depot-office-max-620xa.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookalike-retail-chains-why/698688/3 "2014-09-16T23:07:04Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Office Depot and Office Max are the same company, I think. Can confirm, since I worked for one of their corporate offices and got laid off last February due to the merge! Generally, Office Depot was the red/white combination but OfficeMax (though it wasn’t all that consistent throughout all locations) did yellow/black, usually with a rubberband ball as shown in the above linked picture. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookalike-retail-chains-why/698688/4 "2014-09-17T09:14:44Z")
How is the Staples logo remotely similar? It uses a sans serif don’t, all caps, in a different colour, with an embedded graphic element (the staple) ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookalike-retail-chains-why/698688/5 "2014-09-17T11:11:26Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > How is the Staples logo remotely similar? It uses a sans serif don’t, all caps, in a different colour, with an embedded graphic element (the staple) Eh, maybe they aren’t as similar as the were in my head, but they’re still all red and white. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookalike-retail-chains-why/698688/6 "2014-09-17T11:33:30Z")
> [@OneCentStamp](#): > > Eh, maybe they aren’t as similar as the were in my head, but they’re still all red and white. So is KFC, Toyota and Coca Cola. Red and white(to include white space) is probably the most common colour combination for logos. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookalike-retail-chains-why/698688/7 "2014-09-17T11:38:00Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > It uses a sans serif don’t Btw, that was meant to say ‘font’. Bloody autocorrect. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookalike-retail-chains-why/698688/8 "2014-09-17T12:01:59Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > So is KFC, Toyota and Coca Cola. Red and white(to include white space) is probably the most common colour combination for logos. Sure, but KFC, Toyota, and Coca-Cola don’t compete head to head, and each of their primary competitors in their own market uses a different color scheme. ---
**Author:** ![seodoa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@seodoa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seodoa)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookalike-retail-chains-why/698688/9 "2014-09-17T13:16:13Z")
> [@OneCentStamp](#): > > Sure, but KFC, Toyota, and Coca-Cola don’t compete head to head, and each of their primary competitors in their own market uses a different color scheme. Honda uses red and white as well. Staples has a branding scheme that might use similar colors, but it is totally distinguishable from Office Depot/Max. I don’t see how anybody could confuse one with the other. As for the pet store names, the only real similarity is the fact that they both start with the word “pet”. I don’t think that is particularly noteworthy given what they sell. Their color schemes are only vaguely similar. Different shades and different focuses. Petco tends to emphasize the color red in their branding, whereas PetSmart emphasizes blue. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookalike-retail-chains-why/698688/10 "2014-09-17T13:23:32Z")
> [@OneCentStamp](#): > > Sure, but KFC, Toyota, and Coca-Cola don’t compete head to head, and each of their primary competitors in their own market uses a different color scheme. Fine, but you haven’t really presented any significant examples of the phenomenon you’re talking about. Petco and Petsmart both use light blue and red in their signage, but the similarity ends there: Petco uses a rounded/chubby font, Petsmart uses one with corners Petco has the text all in one colour, Petsmart uses two Petsmart has the text set on a wavy line, Petco doesn’t Both logos incorporate graphics, but so what? - they have nothing in common I’m not saying the phenomenon you describe doesn’t exist at all (because I can think of [very clear individual cases](http://statics.192.com/estreet/original/large/2123/21239213.jpg) of branding that is trying to copy something else), but individual cases don’t make it a trend. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookalike-retail-chains-why/698688/11 "2014-09-17T13:23:37Z")
PP1 ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookalike-retail-chains-why/698688/12 "2014-09-17T13:35:22Z")
Well, the consensus here seems to be that my mind is playing tricks on me, or I’m trying to see patterns where none exist. :smack: Move along, nothing to see here… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookalike-retail-chains-why/698688/13 "2014-09-17T13:40:51Z")
Not exactly what you’re asking about, but if you’ve ever wondered why nearly all supermarkets are laid out in the same way, regardless of the company running them, the answer is [science](http://limn.it/all-lost-in-the-supermarket/). ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookalike-retail-chains-why/698688/14 "2014-09-17T14:15:41Z")
> [@OneCentStamp](#): > > Well, the consensus here seems to be that my mind is playing tricks on me, or I’m trying to see patterns where none exist. :smack: > > Move along, nothing to see here… 😛 I do think you might just have noticed a couple of superficial (probably coincidental) similarities from within a sea of assorted data. Here’s one that I do think is real though: car badge logos - they tend toward the circular - many always were, but others have joined the club. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookalike-retail-chains-why/698688/15 "2014-09-17T14:31:03Z")
> [@OneCentStamp](#): > > Well, the consensus here seems to be that my mind is playing tricks on me, or I’m trying to see patterns where none exist. :smack: I get Petsmart and Petco confused all the time too. Mostly because they seem to claim shopping centers in some kind of weird turf war so if there’s a Petco down the straight, the nearest Petsmart is in the next town over and vice versa. It wouldn’t really be a problem as like 75% of their stock is the same, but that last 25% of the stuff is crap at Petco and great at Petsmart. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookalike-retail-chains-why/698688/16 "2014-09-17T15:41:50Z")
I can relate to the examples given in the OP since they are both the ones that come immediately to mind. I live in a large metro area and know the exact locations of a dozen or so Petco/Petsmart. But I’d be damned if I could tell you wether they are a Petco or a Petsmart. Same thing with the OfficeMax/Depot/Staples. I know where each one is, how to get there, and have shopped at all of them at various times but I couldn’t for the life of me tell you the exact name on each one. The other one that feels the exact same to me are those budget haircut places. GreatClips, SuperCuts, FantasticSams. I could be getting my hair cut and the stylist could ask me if I knew where I was and I wouldn’t be able to.😕 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookalike-retail-chains-why/698688/17 "2014-09-17T15:51:01Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > I get Petsmart and Petco confused all the time too. As do I. One of them has had a periodic dollar a gallon sale on aquariums. The other guy began a dollar a gallon tank and light sale, with inexpensive, difficult to open tops. The National Geographic line of aquarium equipment carried by Petsmart is said to be very good. ---
**Author:** ![SpeedwayRyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@SpeedwayRyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpeedwayRyan)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookalike-retail-chains-why/698688/18 "2014-09-17T15:51:23Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Here’s one that I do think is real though: car badge logos - they tend toward the circular - many always were, but others have joined the club. As a designer, if I had to guess why I would say a) the obvious “wheel” visual reference and b) it makes for a symmetrical logo, which is nice when you’re putting the logo in the center of the grille or the center of the decklid or whatever. Even non-circular logos are often bascially symmetrical, like the Honda “H,” the Acura “A,” Pontiac, Mazda, Audi, etc. Bonus if it’s an actual circle like BMW, Mercedes, VW, etc. (and not just an oval, like many are) as then you can put it on a wheel center-cap or steering wheel, where the logo works best as a circle. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookalike-retail-chains-why/698688/19 "2014-09-17T16:02:45Z")
I predict the next generation of the Honda logo will lose its squareness. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lookalike-retail-chains-why/698688/20 "2014-09-17T17:52:45Z")
I was going to say that Aldi and Lidl had similar logos, but apart from being squarish and including blue, theyre not that similar. The stores themselves are incredibly similar inside.