Dale C. Pond
Photo Credit
Retired
Dale C. Pond retired in June 2005, as the Senior Executive Vice President, Merchandising and Marketing, for Lowe’s Companies, Inc., the 13th largest U.S. retailer and second in the growing home improvement industry segment.
In this position, he had responsibility for integrating all merchandising and marketing activities, including international sourcing. Pond was promoted in October 1998. Prior to that he was Senior Vice President, Marketing.
While at Lowe's, Pond developed Lowe's "up the continuum"
marketing/merchandising strategy which is still utilized by Lowe's today.
Before joining Lowe’s, Pond held a series of senior management positions at leading retailers and home improvement companies including Montgomery Ward & Company; Payless Cashways, Inc.; and Home Quarters Warehouse, Inc. (HQ), a division of the Hechinger Company; as well as Bernstein/Rein Advertising, Inc.
The Happy Meal concept:
Dale Pond, is credited with co-developing the McDonald's Happy Meal concept, which has been in use since 1979. Pond said he developed the concept while employed with Bernstein- Rein Advertising Inc., of Kansas City, Mo. Pond said he got the idea for the first Happy Meal prototype while grocery shopping with his young daughter. She wanted a box of Cracker Jacks because of the surprise inside.
McDonald's credits, Dick Brams, its former advertising manager in St. Louis, as "Father of the Happy Meal." He asked Bernstein- Rein to develop a children's meal concept, McDonald's says. The first Happy Meal made its debut in 1979, two years after Brams, contracted the ad firm of Berstein-Rein to develop a prototype.
The very first Happy Meal concept was circus-themed... and it came with a bunch more premiums than the modern-day Happy Meal does. With the Circus Wagon Happy meal, children could choose between a hamburger or cheeseburger (no nugget option was yet available) and fries, McDonaldland cookies, and a drink were standard. But the real coup were the toys! The meal came with a McDoodler stencil, a puzzle book, a McWrist wallet, an ID bracelet and McDonaldland character erasers. And it only cost one dollar!
During his time at Bernstein- Rein, Pond also created an international training program, served on McDonald’s National Agency Planning Committee; and successfully launched numerous regional sales promotional concepts, which eventually were adopted at the national level.
Throughout his career, Pond has focused on understanding customers, and meeting—and exceeding—their expectations. Pond served in the United States Marine Corps, earned his BBA from Washburn University, and attended Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business Executive Program.
Matthews, N.C. based retailer, Family Dollar Stores, Inc. announced that it named Dale C. Pond to its Board of Directors in April of 2006. Mr. Pond also is a director of Bassett Furniture Industries Inc.
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