When Heritage Meets Hubris: Lessons from Cracker Barrel’s Rebranding BacklashSeptember 18th, 2025

Image depicting When Heritage Meets Hubris: Lessons from Cracker Barrel’s Rebranding Backlash.

Cracker Barrel’s short-lived bid to modernize its look is a vivid reminder that brand heritage is an asset, not baggage. When core symbols and familiar experiences disappear overnight, loyal customers notice—and they vote with their feet. Here’s what that misstep teaches about making meaningful change without sacrificing identity.

What Happened

  • A streamlined, modern logo and visual system replaced long-standing, nostalgia-rich elements.
  • Store remodels emphasized minimalism over the “Old Country Store” atmosphere fans expected.
  • Backlash was swift; the company paused remodels and reverted to its classic branding cues.

Lessons for Branding and Web Development

  1. Honor your heritage. Symbols that carry memory and meaning are part of your equity. Change them carefully, not casually.
  2. Balance audiences. Attracting new customers should not alienate the loyal base that built the brand.
  3. Test before you transform. Pilot updates, run A/B tests, and validate assumptions with real users.
  4. Explain the “why.” Transparent communication about what is changing—and what isn’t—builds trust.
  5. Respect nostalgia. In uncertain times, familiarity is comforting. Preserve anchors that people love.
  6. Listen and pivot fast. If feedback turns negative, respond, adjust, and restore confidence quickly.
  7. Protect brand equity. Equity takes years to build and days to damage; treat core assets like crown jewels.

How RooSites Applies These Principles

  • Discovery first to map the symbols, stories, and touchpoints your audience values most.
  • Iterative redesign using prototypes, usability tests, and phased rollouts.
  • Continuity by carrying forward recognizable elements while modernizing the experience.
  • Clear messaging that prepares stakeholders for change and invites feedback.
  • Monitoring sentiment post-launch with a readiness to adjust.

Final Thought

Modernizing does not mean erasing what made you memorable. If you are considering a rebrand or redesign, RooSites can help you evolve with confidence—preserving the essence your customers love while leveling up performance, accessibility, and results. Contact Us today for a consultation.


Avoiding the Mike Brady Syndrome in Web DesignJune 21st, 2024

Image showing Brady Bunch House.

I originally wrote this post way back in 2011. I recently had an experience which brought me back to this very premise. A former client of mine passed control of his business onto his daughter who brought in her own web people (although we had a great relationship for over a decade). I understand, this is part of the business. But when I saw their new website, I checked out the company that had built it, and their entire portfolio was using the exact same WordPress theme over and over and the same exact design.

They just would substitute the main picture and change text, my guess is it took them an hour to build the entire websites. The problem with this is that it’s not only boring, it’s also not a good business practice at your charging people for a new website, but giving them re-used websites.

Back to the original post…..

Have you ever noticed when you are designing a website, you have a tendency to fall back on what worked in the past for you? Does it get to the point where all your sites start to look the same? I call this the “Mike Brady Syndrome”.   If you remember, in The Brady Bunch Movie, Mike, an architect was failing to sell designs as they all looked like his one successful project: The Brady house. He designed a gas station, and it was the Brady House with gas pumps, he then designed a restaurant, again exactly the same. He couldn’t understand why he couldn’t sell a design, as he was too close to it to see the forest through the trees.

The point is, we all get stale and it can be challenging to come up with new designs.  For me, I don’t have the option of repeated trips back to the drawing board, so I tend to have at least 2 other designers create a mockup along with myself. This allows my clients to have really good choices and the end result tends to be something special. As my company develops sites for small businesses, this type of service is pretty rare, and I am proud of that.  Now if I were strictly a designer I may not be able to do this, but since I also develop and ultimately manage the sites, it is my best interest to create something special, even if the design phase can be quite costly.  I also try to rotate in new freelancers to create designs, as using the same few ends up back with Brady Houses.

So let me ask you this, if you are a designer, you need to get inspiration to avoid the syndrome I mentioned. Where do you go for that inspiration? Websites? A walk in nature? I would love to hear. I am sure those pulling their hair out would like to know as well.

Now this post was originally written from a designer standpoint, but my point for updating this was that some companies get lazy and don’t even try to find an original take on a project. Now, from a financial standpoint, I understand why these companies are doing it, but I feel bad for their clients who are getting retreads but are being charged for new tires!


Contact us if we can help you design, or redesign your website.


 

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