Successories

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Framed inspirational prints and decorative items bearing uplifting slogans, sold to encourage employees and motivate workplace morale
2. Motivational wall posters and related office decor featuring upbeat phrases paired with striking images to inspire people at work
3. Inspirational framed artwork and gift products, usually marketed under a brand name, that carry encouraging mottos meant to boost motivation

Etymology: Successories are the glossy motivational posters with a photograph and a one-word slogan, such as "Teamwork" or "Perseverance," that hang in many offices. The name is a blend of "success" and "accessories," coined in the 1970s by Bill Mitchell, who founded the company that sold them. The word was meant to suggest that a poster could be a decorative accessory that also signals success. The company's bold marketing made the name famous enough that it is often used for any inspirational wall art. The idea behind the product drew on the self-improvement and positive-thinking movements of the period, and the posters paired striking nature or sport images with brief, uplifting words. Their look became so familiar that the term now often carries a slightly mocking tone, suggesting earnest corporate cheerfulness rather than genuine inspiration.