KIWI: the Australian brand that brought a shine to the world: a history of the Kiwi Polish Company

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"You probably have a tin of shoe polish tucked under the laundry sink bearing the little bird logo that has been in homes around the globe for over a century. Founded in Melbourne by William Ramsay in 1906, Kiwi is one of the most iconic and enduring international brands ever to have come out of Australia. One of Australia's best-loved journalists, Keith Dunstan tells the remarkable story of the Ramsay family and how they created and nurtured the Kiwi brand. Always quick to seize a marketing opportunity, the Ramsays sent Kiwi to England with the Anzacs in World War I, putting a brilliant shine on belts, bridles and leggings as well as boots. Soon there was a Kiwi factory in London, and in time Kiwi ran 24 factories worldwide, selling more than 250 million cans of shoe polish annually. In his inimitable warm and chatty style, Dunstan follows the fortunes of the Ramsay family as they built the Kiwi brand over the decades: business decisions good and bad, grand houses, the latest cars, constant travel, and their marriages, quarrels and friendships. He also tracks the clever advertising strategies that kept Kiwi in the public mind, including the notorious sign that caused traffic accidents in Richmond in the 1960s."-- About this bookAcknowledgementsForeword by Geoffrey BlaineyIntroduction1. A voyage from humble beginnings2. Marvellous Melbourne3. Kiwi Annie4. Mud, manure and shiny shoes5. Kiwi at war6. Looking after business7. The French connection8. World War Two9. The roaming Ramsays10. The sincerest form of flattery11. Polishing the world12. Changing times13. Tom Ramsay retires - Kiwi merges14. Building the Kiwi empire15. The challenging future16. The auction17. Bringing a shine to the worldNotesIndexPicture credits