What We’ve Learned Since 1933 About Building a Brand That Lasts

Brand longevity comes from adapting to change without losing sight of the people who make success possible. Companies that survive for decades focus on customers, employees, and continuous learning instead of chasing short-term wins. Most businesses never reach their fifth anniversary. Very few make it through multiple generations. Petra & Holum accomplished both. Founded in 1933 during the Great Depression and still thriving, the company has weathered recessions, wars, supply chain disruptions, and dramatic shifts in customer expectations. According to Co-President Norman Hoffberg, longevity is not the result of a single strategy. It comes from a collection of values passed from one generation to the next. Those lessons offer valuable guidance for founders, CEOs, brand managers, and entrepreneurs who want to build businesses that last.

Brand Longevity Starts With Courage

Brand longevity begins with the willingness to move forward when the future is uncertain. Every enduring company reaches moments when fear could easily stop progress. For Petra & Holum, that lesson started with founder Sara Hoffberg. In 1933, during the depths of the Great Depression, she launched Petra Manufacturing Company and later bought out her business partner to lead the company on her own. When asked what made his grandmother successful, Hoffberg points to a simple but powerful trait. “She was very smart and was not stopped by fear. She moved forward.” That mindset became part of the company’s DNA. Instead of focusing on obstacles, the business learned to focus on solutions. Over the years, that approach helped the company navigate economic downturns, changing markets, and unexpected disruptions. For entrepreneurs, the lesson is clear. Fear never disappears. However, long-lasting brands learn how to act despite uncertainty. Courage creates momentum, and momentum creates opportunity.

The Practical Path to Brand Longevity Is Adaptation

Brand longevity depends on solving new problems while staying true to core values. Markets change. Customer expectations evolve. Businesses that survive learn how to evolve with them. Hoffberg believes one of the greatest advantages of a company in business since 1933 is the ability to draw from decades of experience. “If you have a history since 1933, you’ve had all that experience. It’s an enormous repertoire to reach back in.” That experience proved valuable during COVID. Rather than waiting for conditions to improve, Petra & Holum shifted production and began manufacturing protective garments and masks. The move allowed the company to remain operational while serving an essential company. As Hoffberg explains, “It’s how you solve the challenges that are in front of an entrepreneur every day.” At the same time, adaptation does not mean abandoning principles. Throughout every change, the company maintained its commitment to employees and customers. Business longevity is rarely about predicting the future perfectly. Instead, it comes from responding quickly, learning continuously, and staying focused on the fundamentals that matter most.

Long-Lasting Brands Never Forget Who Makes Success Possible

Long-lasting brands understand that customers and employees drive every result. Products, technology, and markets may change, but people remain at the center of every successful business. When asked what lessons have remained constant throughout Petra & Holum’s history, Hoffberg immediately pointed to relationships. “Our customers set the table for everything.” That customer-first mindset has helped the company navigate changing definitions of quality and value. While products have evolved dramatically over the decades, customer expectations have remained the ultimate guide. Hoffberg also emphasizes the importance of employees. “Without them, we can’t operate, we can’t exist.” That perspective reflects a broader truth about family business success. Companies that endure rarely do so because of one leader. They succeed because teams work together toward a common purpose over long periods of time. For founders and CEOs, this may be the most important lesson of all. Customer loyalty strategies begin with serving people well. Employees who feel valued create better experiences. Customers who trust a company stay longer and refer others. Over time, those relationships become a competitive advantage that is difficult to replicate.

Conclusion

Brand longevity is built through courage, adaptability, and a relentless focus on people. Those principles helped Petra & Holum grow from a small manufacturing company founded in 1933 during the Great Depression into a thriving business today. The entrepreneurial legacy Sara Hoffberg started in 1933 continues because each generation learned how to embrace change while preserving core values. The company adapted to new markets, new technologies, and new customer expectations without losing sight of what mattered most. For business leaders looking to build something that lasts, the lesson is simple. Listen to customers. Invest in employees. Solve problems with energy and determination. As Hoffberg’s grandmother famously advised, “$1 is round. It rolls to you, and it rolls away from you, and your decisions are going to be why it rolls where it rolls.” That advice remains just as relevant today for building business longevity and creating a lasting entrepreneurial legacy.

Wrapping It Up

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