Buy a brand name? An auction for names of retailers who are no longer in business

Have you ever wondered what happened to the names of retailers that are no longer in business? Retailers like “General Cinema”, “Handy Dan”, “Meister Brau”, “Handi-Wrap” and “Braniff International” to name a few? What would you do if you could purchase those names and use them however you want?

A recent ad in the Wall Street Journal (Wednesday November 10th pC13) has the title BRAND NAME AUCTION, and apparently is going to let you do just that!

Brand Name Auction


After you register at the trademarkauctioninfo.com website, you will be directed to the main site (secret “registered” link here) you can see all the trademarks they have up for auction…

Trademark Domain Name Expiration
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION TRADEMARKS
Bowery BowerySavingsBank.com October 20, 2012
Continental Illinois ContinentalIllinois.com September 16, 2011
Shearson ShearsonBrokerage.com Registered
Girard Bank Girard-Bank.com October 20, 2012
Financial Corporation Of America TheFinancialCorporationofAmerica.com August 11, 2012
Kuhn Loeb KuhnLoebBrokers.com October 20, 2012
HBOS HBOS-banking.com August 17, 2013
CANDY TRADEMARKS
Big Yank BigYankCandy.com July 6, 2013
Fruit Bombs FruitBombs.com January 20, 2012
Kool Shake KoolShake.com, Cool-Shake.com June 10, 2011
Old Nick OldNickCandy.com May 4, 2013
Pom Poms PomPomsCandy.com TBD
Rocky Rounds RockyRounds.com November 10, 2012
FOOD TRADEMARKS
American Brands AmericanBrands.com, AmericanBrandsCorp.com July 21, 2012
Allsweet (Sweetners) AllSweetSweetner.com, AllSweetMargerine.com February 3, 2012
Breakfast Mates BreakfastMates.com TBD
Cheez Kisses CheezKisses.com August 17, 2013
Cocomalt CocoMalt.com TBD
Crustquick CrustQuick.com TBD
Lucky Whip (Topping) LuckyWhip.com TBD
Snack Mate SnackMateFoods.com TBD
Snow Crop SnowCrop.net June 22, 2013
Splitabanana Split-A-Banana.com January 13, 2012
Squeeze A Snack SqueezeASnack.com June 24, 2011
Stir ‘N Frost Stir-N-Frost.com June 24, 2011
BEVERAGE TRADEMARKS
American Brands AmericanBrands.com, AmericanBrandsCorp.com October 6, 2012
Barrelhead BarrelheadSoftDrinks.com June 22, 2013
Fox Head FoxHeadLager.com April 14, 2012
National Premium NationalPremiumBeer.com June 23, 2012
Old Soda Shoppe OldSodaShoppe.com May 27, 2011
Meister Brau MeisterBrauBeer.com August 17, 2013
RETAIL TRADEMARKS
American Brands (General Merch) AmericanBrands.com, AmericanBrandsCorp.com September 29, 2012
America’s Brands (General Merch) AmericasBrandsProducts.com October 13, 2012
Beauty And The Bath (General Merch) BeautyAndTheBathCo.com September 21, 2013
Punch For Value (General Merch) PunchForValue.com July 7, 2012
Computer City (Computers) ComputerCityComputing.com August 12, 2012
Computer Vision (Computers) ComputerVisionCorp.com August 31, 2013
Intelligent Electronics (Electronics) IntelligentElectronicsProducts.com February 17, 2012
Incredible Universe (Electronics) IncredibleUniverseStore.com TBD
Handy Dan (Home Improvement) HandyDanService.com October 21, 2011
The Linen Closet (Home Furnishings) LinenClosetProdcuts.com September 2, 2011
Office Etc. (Office Products) OfficeEtcSupply.com November 18, 2011
Child World (Toys) ChildWorldToys.com June 16, 2012
Kiddie City (Toys) KiddieCityToys.com May 18, 2012
Circus World (Toys) CircusWorldToys.com April 7, 2012
Cosmetics Plus (Cosmetics) CosmeticsPlusPharmacy.com January 13, 2012
Cosmetically Yours (Cosmetics) CosmeticallyYours.com May 6, 2011
Pharmhouse (Pharmacy) PharmhouseDrugstore.com August 19, 2011
Phar-Mor (Pharmacy) Phar-MorDrugStore.com August 19, 2011
Rx Place (Pharmacy) Rx-Place.com November 3, 2012
Sterling Drug (Pharmacy) SterlingDrugCorp.com August 17, 2013
The Medicine Cabinet (Pharmacy) MedicineCabinetDrugs.com May 4, 2013
OIL & GAS/ENERGY EXPLORATION TRADEMARKS
Cleaner Greener CleanerGreener.net August 24,2013
Sky Chief Sky-Chief.com October 20, 2012
Homestake Mining HomestakeMining.com TBD
Purely Green PurelyGreenProducts.com September 14, 2013
American Petrofina AmericanPetrofina.com May 4, 2013
HAIR CARE TRADEMARKS
Everynight EverynightHairCare.com June 23, 2012
Kindness KindnessHaircare.com February 23, 2013
Long & Silky LongSilky.com Registered
Lustre Crème LustreCreme.com April 29, 2011
Permastrate Permastrate.net July 7, 2012
Short & Sassy ShortandSassyHaircare.com TBD
Whistle Clean WhistleCleanProducts.com April 21, 2011
First Brands FirstBrandsProducts.com, FirstBrands.org August 17, 2013
SUN TAN TRADEMARKS
Bronze Lustre BronzeLustre.com May 20, 2011
Sudden Tan Sudden-Tan.com TBD
Sun ‘N Surf SunAndSurfSkincare.com TBD
BATH TRADEMARKS
Showermate TheShowerMate.com June 23, 2012
COSMETICS TRADEMARKS
American Brands AmericanBrands.com, AmericanBrandsCorp.com July 21, 2012
Cosmetics Plus CosmeticsPlusPharmacy.com January 13, 2012
Cosmetically Yours CosmeticallyYours.com May 6, 2011
Futurama FuturamaProducts.com TBD
Jacqueline Cochran Jacqueline-Cochran.com June 17, 2011
Lip Kissers LipKissers.com August 26, 2011
Nail Slickers NailSlickers.com September 2, 2011
DEODORANTS TRADEMARKS
Mum MumProducts.com September 2, 2011
Stopette StopetteSoaps.com January 13, 2011
HAIR REMOVAL TRADEMARKS
Lady-Go-Lightly LadyGoLightly.com April 7, 2012
Nudit NuditProducts.com June 2, 2012
SHAVING TRADEMARKS
Eversharp Eversharp-Razors.com August 26, 2011
Rapid Shave RapidShaveRazors.com September 8, 2012
WEIGHT LOSS, DIET & EXERCISE TRADEMARKS
Relaxacizor Relaxacisor.net August 11, 2012
Slenderella Slenderella-Diet.com January 13, 20112
MAGAZINE TRADEMARKS
Changing Times ColliersMagazine.com November 3, 2012
Collier’s Slenderella-Diet.com TBD
Punch PunchtheMagazine.com May 5, 2012
Saturday Review SaturdayReviewMag.com September 14, 2013
APPAREL TRADEMARKS
American Brands AmericanBrands.com, AmericanBrandsCorp.com November 24, 2012
America’s Brands AmericasBrandsProducts.com March 9, 2013
Child World ChildWorldToys.com June 16, 2012
Hot Pants HotPantsClothing.com June 10, 2011
Bobby Socks BobbySocksClothing.com April 29, 2011
H.I.S. His-Clothing.com February 19, 2011
Black Belt BlackBeltClothing.com June 3, 2011
London Britches LondonBritchesClothes.com September 2, 2011
Anna Karenina AnnaKareninaClothing.com TBD
Knickerbockers KnickerbockersClothing.com October 7, 2011
Discowear DiscowearClothing.com May 13, 2011
Mister John MisterJohnClothing.com May 6, 2011
Paris Elegant ParisElegant.com December 30, 2011
Annie Hall AnnieHallClothing.com May 13, 2011
Edwardian Edwardian-Clothing.com May 13, 2011
Hippy HippyFashionClothing.com May 13, 2011
Mondrian MondrianClothing.com April 7, 2012
Poiret PoiretClothing.com June 3, 2011
Page Boy PageBoyClothing.com February 19, 2011
Patchwork Patchwork-Clothing.com August 15, 2011
Fair Isle FairIsleClothing.com June 16, 2012
Flamenco Fashion Flamenco-FashionClothing.com February 3, 2012
Fashion Workshop FashionWorkshopClothing.com April 15, 2011
Basque BasqueClothing.com September 2, 2011
Art Noveau ArtNoveauClothing.com June 17, 2011
Paquin PaquinClothing.com February 19, 2011
Joan Of Arc JoanofArcClothing.com May 27, 2011
Bruneleschi BruneleschiClothing.com June 17, 2011
Lazy Bones Lazy-BonesClothing.com January 12, 2013
Jonathan Logan Jonathan-Logan.com April 14, 2012
Jacqueline Cochran Jacqueline-Cochran.com June 17, 2011
Continental Brands ContinentalBrands.net March 2, 2013
Pacific Brands PacificBrands.net March 30, 2013
HOME FURNISHINGS TRADEMARKS
Decorators Dream DecoratorsDream.net November 24, 2012
Design My Home DesignMyHome.biz December 1, 2012
We Make The Room WeMakeTheRoom.com June 30, 2012
HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS TRADEMARKS
American Brands (Cleaning Products) AmericanBrands.com, AmericanBrandsCorp.com June 1, 2013
America’s Home Products (Cleaning Products) AmericasHomeProducts.com February 17, 2012
Handi Wrap (Plastic Wrap) Handi-wrap-products.com Registered
Kitten Soft (Facial Tissues, Paper Towels) KittenSoftProducts.com December 1, 2012
Rain Barrel (Detergent, Fabric Softener) RainBarrelFabricSoftener.com TBD
First Brands (Cleaning Products) FirstBrandsProducts.com, FirstBrands.org August 17, 2013
Finito (Pesticide, Insect Repellent) FinitoProducts.com November 25, 2011
Party Tyme (Cocktail Shakers) PartyTymeBev.com June 3, 2011
Kindness (Hair Dryers) KindnessHaircare.com March 17, 2012
Ecologreen (Cleaning Products) EcologreenCleaner.com April 13, 2013
Greenergy (Cleaning Products) GreenergyProducts.net September 14, 2013
Cleaner Greener (Cleaning Products) CleanerGreener.net August 24, 2013
RESTAURANT TRADEMARK
Rustler RustlerSteakHouse.com November 10, 2012
AIRLINE TRADEMARKS
Boac BoacAirline.com August 13, 2013
Braniff BraniffAir.com TBD
SPORTS TRADEMARKS
Bums BumsSports.com September 21, 2013
Sports Heroes SportsHeroesProducts.com, SportsHeroesToys.com September 15, 2012
American Brands AmericanBrands.com, AmericanBrandsCorp.com October 13, 2012
SPORTS TRADEMARKS
Child World ChildWorldToys.com June 16, 2012
Kiddie City KiddieCityToys.com May 18, 2012
Circus World CircusWorldToys.com April 7, 2012
PET PRODUCTS TRADEMARKS
Burgerbits Burger-Bits.com June 9, 2012
Litter Green LitterGreenCats.com November 11, 2011
TECHNOLOGY TRADEMARKS
Victrola (Audio/Video, Computers, Telephones) Victrola-electronics.com, Victrolamusic.net, Victrolasongs.com August 19, 2011
Phonola (Audio/Video, Telephones) PhonolaElectronics.com June 17, 2011
Intelligent Electronics (Audio/Video, Telephones) IntelligentElectronicsProducts.com February 17, 2012
Allied Signal (Computers, Telephones) AlliedSignalCorp.com October 20, 2012
Infoseek (Search Engine) Infoseekengine.com, Myinfo-seek.com, Info-Seek.com August 19, 2011
Control Data (Audio/Video, Telephones) ControlData.org, Control-DataServices.com November 24, 2012
General Instrument (Audio/Video, Telephones) GeneralInstrumentCorp.com TBD
Pacific Brands (Audio/Video, Telephones) PacificBrands.net March 30, 2013
Continental Brands (Audio/Video, Telephones) ContinentalBrands.net March 2, 2013
MEDICINE/DRUGS TRADEMARKS
American Brands AmericanBrands.com, AmericanBrandsCorp.com June 1, 2013
America’s Home Products AmericasHomeProducts.org February 17, 2013
Pharmhouse PharmhouseDrugstore.com August 19, 2011
Phar-Mor Phar-MorDrugStore.com August 19, 2011
Rx Place Rx-Place.com November 3, 2012
Sterling Drug SterlingDrugCorp.com August 17, 2013
The Medicine Cabinet MedicineCabinetDrugs.com May 4, 2013
Seniority SeniorityMag.com, SeniorityVitamins.com August 17, 2013
MARKETING/ADVERTISING TRADEMARKS
Pacific Resources PacificResources.com July 28, 2012
PARTY GOODS TRADEMARKS
Party Tyme PartyTymeBev.com October 21, 2011
AUTOMOTIVE TRADEMARKS
American Brands AmericanBrands.com, AmericanBrandsCorp.com September 29, 2012
American Brands Made By American Hands AmericanBrandsMadeByAmericanHands.com December 1, 2012
America’s Brands AmericasBrandsProducts.com June 15, 2013
Cleanergy CleanergyAuto.com April 13, 2013
Electro ElectroAuto.us July 6, 2013
Stars & Stripes StarsandStripesAuto.net May 25, 2013
MOVIE THEATER TRADEMARK
General Cinema GeneralCinemaCorp.com, GeneralCinema.net May 5, 2011
PAPER GOODS TRADEMARKS
Champion International ChampionInternationalCompany.com September 21, 2013
Kitten Soft KittenSoftProducts.com December 1, 2012

According to the TERMS page, you can bid in person on the day of the auction (December 13th @ the Waldorf Astoria in NYC) or you can enter a proxy bid through the internet. You can also download the bidder’s information packet here to request more specific information on the items (NOTE: PDF)

The auction ain’t gonna’ be cheap. On the TERMS page, there is a “$10,000 as initial earnest money” deposit required for the high bidders.

But if you’re a company looking for a “hook”, or a businessman looking to resurrect a brand name, this is actually a pretty great opportunity.

  • Buy “General Cinema”, setup a production company under that name, and upsell independent movies to big-screen theaters. Maybe setup a web-based video-on-demand service, too.
  • Buy “Braniff International” and start a private charter-jet service with four-city service : NYC, Dallas, Vegas, and LA. (No invasive body scanners, TSA, or idiot airlines to mess with!)
  • Buy “Meister Brau” and sell your custom beer nationwide.
  • Buy “Victrola” and release music that is no longer under under copyright as “classic” compilation downloads & CDs.
  • Buy “Kinckerbockers” and offer a children’s product line (clothing, diapers, toys, etc) for resell along the lines of AVON. Local reps show the “Kinckerbockers” catalogue to friends, buy the product wholesale (like AVON) and keep the upsell profits for themselves (like AVON).

Dammit. I need to be on that TV show “The Apprentice” already. I’ll stomp all over everyone. Call me Donald Trump!

The full rights and legaleese for the auction can be found at this link.