Norwich Aviva

Call me a cynical old Grumpy if you wish. Just how dim to Norwich Union – sorry Aviva, think the citizens of Norwich really are? On the day when they announce that they are to be the shirt sponsors for Norwich City for next year they also announce they are dropping the Norwich Union brand. Why? Because it is not a global brand name. Since when? Norwich Union is known all over the world and certainly a lot more so than Aviva. Why didn’t they rebrand all the Aviva companies as Norwich Union? Why not – because it makes it a whole lot easier to downsize in Norwich of the company doesn’t bear the name of the city it is walking out of - that’s why.

So, they all sit around the table and think about how they can break the news to the Dimmers in Norwich. Here’s a great idea. On the same day we announce it we will also announce we will step in and take over the shirt sponsorship of their football team. We’ll keep sponsoring all the same bits we were sponsoring before but repackage it with shirt sponsorship included. Bl***y good wheeze that one…….and it still costs a tiny fraction of what we gave away to a team down the road to make it attractive for a multi-millionaire to step in and buy them.

posted on 29 April 2008 17:54 by Grumpy Old Blogger

Comments

30 April 2008 16:53 by BT

# re: Norwich Aviva

Lets face it, no matter what they put on the sign it will always be know as the 'Norwich Union' by the natives.

The firm I worked for had four name changes during the time I worked there (and another one since I retired) but we always called it by its original name amongst ourselves.
06 May 2008 19:27 by Sparkle1984

# re: Norwich Aviva

I think you're worrying unnecessarily. Outside the UK, the company has been known as Aviva for the last 5 years or so. It's only the UK which retained the Norwich Union name.
For sentimental reasons, I do think it's a shame that they got rid of the NU name, and if it was up to me I would've kept it.

However, I don't think it means the company will leave Norwich. For one thing, where could they relocate the head office to? Also, they've spent a lot of money (hundreds of millions?) refurbishing the Norwich buildings and training Norwich-based staff, so it would be silly to leave the city.