The history of PRSM/Connex through the lens of the retail industry.
1995 – PRSM was founded
Uniting retail facility managers and suppliers for the first time, PRSM began to shape the landscape of the retail industry. Combining the idea of pillars and people, PRSM’s logo illustrated how they aimed to be thought and action leaders in the world of retail, bringing together one-time competitors to solve industry problems.
1998 – Apple goes monochrome
Many remember the rainbow Apple that Macintosh computers established in the late 1970s. Coinciding with the release of the Bondi blue iMac all-in-one computer (and as a result, the revitalization of the company), Apple decided to keep the shape of the logo but removed all color, thinking the rainbow scheme would look out of place on the sleek machine. Today, the logo is represented as the same apple, only in black, white or silver.
1998 – PRSM introduces Retail Store Maintenance magazine
Three years after PRSM was created, the association wanted to keep members informed and up to date on the retail maintenance industry. In May 1998, Retail Store Maintenance magazine published its first issue and plays a major role in member thought leadership and member education.
2006 – Visa unboxed
Dating back to 1958, Visa has undergone several minor branding tweaks over the years. While the colors of the brand have stayed the same, signifying the golden California hills (where Bank of America was founded) underneath the blue sky, the original rectangular flag design was eliminated. This created a more versatile logo and branding model for its many payment product options.
2007 – Walmart retools its tagline
Sometimes, you don’t need to start from scratch when rebranding a business, which is what happened to Walmart in 2007. Being known exclusively for low prices isn’t always ideal, and Walmart realized this. They ditched the old tagline, “Always Low Prices,” and came up with a more appealing motto, “Save Money. Live Better.” They showed that tweaking the messaging could be all that’s needed to paint yourself in a different light.
2012 – PRSM undergoes visual rebrand
After 17 years, it was time for a change. PRSM underwent its first visual rebranding in 2012 to make the association more appealing to the growing industry. The bold blue color was kept from the original logo, while adding vibrant greens to catch the eye of potential members.
2015 – PRSM’s anniversary refresh
For its 20-year anniversary, PRSM launched a new website and refreshed its brand. A new tagline, “Collaborate. Contribute. Connect.” was introduced and paved the way forward towards the 2019 Connex rebrand, recognizing that connection was one of the driving forces behind why people in the industry loved being members of the association.
2019 – Connex is born
Developed from the idea that PRSM is all about connections, the new brand of the association rings true. People join and stay members due to the immense sense of family and connectivity, which is both grounding and forward-thinking. Connex as an association will continue to lead from its retail roots, while growing its influence in the multi-site facility industry.
