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- When Marketing Goes Wrong!
When Marketing Goes Wrong!
(like losing $8 BILLION!)
520 Words | 1 min 57 Sec Read
Warren Buffett wisely noted:
"It's good to learn from your mistakes. It is better to learn from other people's mistakes."
Here's a detailed look at some monumental marketing missteps:
Dove, aiming to promote body positivity, created a campaign with body-wash bottles mimicking different body shapes. Instead of celebrating diversity, many women felt self-conscious and compared to plastic.
🔖 Damage:
Cost: $10 million
Estimated loss: $200 million
Coca-Cola revamped its beloved formula, introducing the world to "New Coke." The move backfired massively, with over 8,000 consumers calling daily to complain, necessitating extra staff.
🔖 Damage:
Cost: $40 million
Estimated loss: $2.4 billion
Nike spotlighted Colin Kaepernick, an NFL quarterback blacklisted for his anthem protest. The reaction was fierce, sparking national debates and even drawing the attention of then-president Donald Trump.
🔖 Damage:
Cost: $20 million
Estimated loss: $3 billion
Pepsi's innovation, a clear cola, received a lukewarm reception. Despite its unique appearance, consumers weren't thrilled by its taste, leading to its discontinuation.
🔖 Damage:
Cost: $20 million
Estimated loss: $1.5 billion
Intending to challenge toxic masculinity, Gillette's "We Believe" campaign was heavily criticized, becoming one of YouTube's most disliked ads ever.
🔖 Damage:
Cost: $100 million
Estimated loss: $8 billion
Aiming for sentimentality, the McDonald's ad connecting a boy's deceased father with a burger was deemed insensitive and inappropriate.
🔖 Damage:
Cost: $285,000
Estimated loss: $120 million
In an attempt to highlight product quality, Audi's ad showed an older woman examining a bride as if inspecting a product. It drew ire for its blatant objectification.
🔖 Damage:
Cost: $50 million
Estimated loss: $250 million
Hoping to celebrate female empowerment with its "Like a Girl" campaign, Pepsi instead faced accusations of trivializing gender issues.
🔖 Damage:
Cost: $5 million
Estimated loss: $1.55 billion
H&M faced outrage when featuring a young black boy in a hoodie labeled "Coolest Monkey in the Jungle," prompting accusations of racism.
🔖 Damage:
Cost: $5 million
Estimated loss: $40 million
To celebrate "Shrek", Heinz unveiled green ketchup. While the color matched the ogre, it didn't appeal to consumers' appetites.
🔖 Damage:
Cost: $25 million
Estimated loss: $100 million
Closing Thoughts:
Marketing is a dance between innovation and intuition.
While risk can bring reward, misjudging public sentiment can lead to spectacular failures.
Here's to learning from the missteps of others and paving a path of more informed decisions.
I'll leave you with this quote…
"It's good to learn from your mistakes. It is better to learn from other people's mistakes.”
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