Herr Kutz
Clocktower Buildings
14 Shore Road, Warsash
Southampton S031 9GQ

This is the best blog post I have ever posted.

I have to say I am enjoying it even as I write it.

We’re into the third sentence now and it already feels like it has taken on the status of a classic.

Is it too early for us all to start reminiscing about where we were when this blog post first went live? I’m not sure it is!

But now I should say something about why this blog post is the best.

This blog exists to celebrate a particular form of branding, whereby one takes the product on offer and adds the prefix ‘Mr’. It is a great way to tell the world exactly what you offer and lend it a winning personality, all in one concise and memorable construction. When it comes down to it, this is the ultimate aim of all branding.

But Herr Kutz has managed to compress the process even further.

Rather than taking his product (haircuts) and adding ‘Mr’ to it, he has discovered a hidden ‘Mr’ in the word itself. How ingenious!

The hidden ‘Mr’ is, of course, of German origin, but we should welcome him all the more for that. As the business is based near Southampton, there is a suggestion of a pleasing backstory, whereby Herr Kutz perhaps made his way across the Channel, fell in love with the area and was cheerfully accepted by the locals.

A fanciful story, but that is the nice thing about this sort of brand name – it invites the mind to wander.

Herr Kutz!

What a brilliant blog post!

What a great life it is!

But now we are approaching the end of the best blog post I have ever posted.

It only remains for me to thank you for being here to share it.

Best Ever Blog Post Week will continue tomorrow, with a ‘come down’ post to bring us all back to normality.

Herr Kutz!

Comments

[Daniel]

I thought I could trump that, but unfortunately this York hairdresser didn't go that extra pun-mile http://twitpic.com/39zm92

[Mr Jim]

Simply the best. Herr, herr!

[Mr Blog]

Danke schoen, Mr Jim! (German for 'thank you'.)

And danke also to Daniel Gray for a fine addition. I must say it was a relief not to have been trumped so quickly, but I will of course welcome any sightings that surpass Herr Kutz. I just find it very hard to imagine what they might be.

[Tag]

Truly awesome.

Reminds me of an now closed-down clothes shop in Portobello called "Klaze". (Makes sense if you say it in a neddy/chavvy Scottish accent.

[Mr Blog]

Klaze is very good. I imagine they used to sell excellent troosers.

[davidthedesigner]

It must surely be his sister that I came across in Gosport recently http://www.davidthedesigner.com/davidthedesigner/2010/08/its-so-so-wrong-that-it-could-almost-be-right.html

[Mr Blog]

Thanks David, what an interesting sighting.

Hair Furlong.

The name is quite a puzzle. It seems to work on a number of levels, without quite working on any of them.

I like the blog post too. So far, I've been concentrating mainly on visual and verbal identity – it hadn't occurred to me to critique the architecture. (Apart from a brief mention of Mr News's Russian Doll style entrance. But even that was more an effect of the signage than the architecture.) http://www.mr-blog.com/2010/08/mrnews.html

Thanks again. Interesting.

[Jennifer]

I used to work at Herr Kutz! From the age of 14-16, i was chiefly responsible for Herr sweeping and Herr washing, all for the princely sum of £2.50 per hr. Lovely chaps.

[Nick Asbury]

That's great to hear, Jennifer. I'm slightly in awe.

(I'm writing on behalf of Mr Blog, who is now enjoying his retirement.)