Formica Advertising and Pop Culture

  

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Part of the fun of being a nearly 100-year-old company is going through the historical archives.  It is fascinating how our advertising in the 50s and 60s, specifically, reflected the pop culture of the times.   Here’s a glimpse at a few oldies but goodies.

1950s



Formica Corporation experienced a postwar boom, thanks to six million kitchens built between 1945 and 1953.  Formica® Brand Laminate, the company’s mainstay product, was promoted as a worry-free countertop solution for the modern housewife.

Early 1960s



The kitchen becomes the ultimate hub of efficiency for the lady of the house, with the focus being on various stations for prep and storage.  There also is more interest in open floor plans, which enabled Mom to keep an eye on the comings and goings of the family.  Kitchen colors are anything but neutral – many designs are overtly feminine and almost fantasy like, as seen in the pink “carousel” kitchen above.

Late 1960s



Formica Corporation responded to the psychedelically attuned late 1960s with ads featuring “Formica Girl,” who was a contrast to the happy housewife imagery of a few years before.

As the women’s movement progressed into the 1970s, our ads began to reflect the major social changes.  No longer focused on the feminine, the ads began to look much more than the ads we create today, featuring well-designed, gender-neutral kitchens with copy focusing on product benefits.

More retro Formica Corporation ads can be viewed on our pages on Pinterest and on Facebook. Which one is your favorite?