Kerry Connolly and Melissa Giordano had seen enough depressing news in their jobs as anchor and associate director for the CBS morning show in Boston. Sitting around over coffee in the early morning hours in March 2005, they decided to offer viewers an antidote to all the sadness out there: a montage of upbeat news stories titled “Never Surrender.”

That was the start of The Never Surrender Co. Soon after, they left their jobs, created a logo with their new mascot (an “anti-chicken” named Lester), an uplifting Web site (yellow, of course), and loads of colorful logoed merchandise designed to motivate employees — or anyone who needs a lift.

A favorite of corporate clients is the bucket of chicken wings, meant to congratulate an employee for a job well done and keep him or her “flying high.” They're not real wings, of course, but a variety of “Never Surrender” merchandise, colorfully packaged and starting at $58.60. www.theneversurrendercompany.com