Article: Shelf awareness: What's in a brand name? Quality, sometimes. But it pays to determine if a label is worth the added cost.(Features)(Work & Money)

Ever since manufacturers began slapping their names on products, certain names have created consumer magic. Say "Rolls-Royce" or "Macintosh" or "Rolex" and everybody forms an image. Good brands aren't always pricey. Shopping at Target suggests good quality at a great price, brand experts say.

But names aren't always the consumer's best guide. Sometimes, they're just confusing.

For example, guess who makes the following dishwashers. Sure, some are easy: GE Profile (General Electric) and Frigidaire Gallery (Frigidaire). But how about Hotpoint, Magic Chef, KitchenAid, and Kenmore? (Answers: General Electric; Maytag; Whirlpool; General Electric; and ...

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