Betty Crocker Turns 100

Yes, Betty turns 100 this year, but she still looks fantastic. If anything, she looks a little younger than when she first appeared in 1921. Over that hundred years, her hair has remained dark, skin unwrinkled, with just the right amount of makeup, and intelligent dark brown eyes.

In truth, there have been eight Betty Crockers (https://vocal.media/feast/best-betty-crocker-cookbooks-of-all-time) , all of them fictional. Like Archie Andrews or Nancy Drew, age can’t seem to touch her.

Betty, of course, is the face of General Mills, and in fact is older than General Mills. Her history began with a promotion of the predecessor Washburn Crosby Co., in which a free pincushion was offered to those housewives who properly completed a jigsaw puzzle.

There were thousands of “winners”, but more importantly, many of the entrants also posed questions about baking and recipes. The owners of Washburn Crosby realized they were on to something big, and created Betty Crocker to respond personally to each correspondent. Before long the word was out that Betty Crocker was your “go-to gal” and the letters began to pour in. Overnight, Betty Crocker was a star, and the company commissioned a portrait.

Betty can teach us quite a bit about good branding, the first of which is that personal touch is key. Millions of bakers and homemakers around the world have enjoyed a warm, personal relationship with Betty Crocker, whether by way of handwritten letters or online courses. Think it’s important to make every customer feel like the most important customer? You bet it is.

Betty Crocker has also given General Mills a culture and a focus. There’s no question about the business that they’re in, or the products they provide. It’s not just about flour in a bag, it’s about what you, the baker in the kitchen, can do with it. It’s about your being a star in the eyes of family and friends. Betty is personally invested in your success.

But Betty has also kept General Mills true to their game. They do food, and only food. They stick to what they do best. And that works for us, in our professions and businesses, too.

Hats off to a smart hundred year old lady who has lots to teach us all.