George Foreman: What’s in a Name?

Image details: George Foreman Launhces New Grill in London served by picapp.com

Back in 1974, George Foreman and Muhammad Ali put up their dukes in the “Rumble in the Jungle.” George Foreman also won the heavyweight boxing gold medal in the 1968 Olympics. Forty years later, you can see Foreman on television nearly any night of the week selling some sort of device that is guaranteed to make your life easier, healthier, or in some way better than it is now.

I would have thought that Foreman’s business was manufacturing grills, but it turns out that he actually makes his fortune by endorsing and licensing various products. He is the President of George Foreman Productions, Inc., and when he lends his name to a product, he is adding his considerable clout to its reputation. Who would have thought that you could create a whole business out of just being yourself? Dude, I want that job description!

In addition to the incredibly popular George Foreman Grill, he also endorses a line of cleaning products called George Foreman’s Knock-Out, and he backs a line of clothing for big and tall men called – what else – the George Foreman Signature Collection. As Business Week Magazine says, “George Foreman is more than a name – it’s a full-blown brand.”