The reason we've lost that, fundamentally, seems to be the outsourcing and centralization of manufacturing. A brand used to mean something. Now, it's a sticke

The reason we've lost that, fundamentally, seems to be the outsourcing and centralization of manufacturing. A brand used to mean something. Now, it's a sticker covering the "Made in X" label, to arbitrage the difference between customer goodwill and actual manufacturing costs. It's pervasive throughout the grocery store and department stores, but to me McDonald's is the poster child. Ostensibly you're getting a "McDonald's meal", but what that fundamentally means is you're getting minimal-cost food, manufactured as centrally as possible, with a bare minimum of prep done in the store. Drop shipping and popup social media brands are the ultimate realization of this. If a brand means nothing, why shouldn't I just fabricate one, leverage the same supply chain, and compete on advertising alone?