The Controversial, the Memorable, and the Bizarre
FitSmallBusiness.com Debuts The 10 Most Memorable Branding Fails of All Time
NEW YORK, March 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- For Peloton, Coca-Cola, or even the latest series on Amazon, branding is essential. It's the persona of a business, a way to set itself apart from the competition.
Yet a brand disaster can generate major unwanted attention. Recently, Peloton's ad campaign "The Gift That Gives Back" was panned for its questionable, tone-deaf messaging this past holiday season. Many industry critics and would-be consumers called the TV spot sexist and dystopian.
Similarly, in 2015, New York state governor Andrew Cuomo decried Amazon's scandalous NYC subway car campaign. The ads featured Nazi insignias as a promotion for its new series, "The Man In The High Castle." Although they were ultimately removed, the company never outrightly addressed the controversy or issued an apology.
What is often intended to be innovative or empowering could potentially send a company's reputation into a tailspin. That's why it's essential for brands to demonstrate credibility and establish consumer trust.
The editorial staff at FitSmallBusiness.com evaluated the 10 Most Memorable Branding Fails to see which campaigns fell short of the mark and drew ire from the general public. The digital publication examined a variety of case studies over the years and factored economic data with public sentiment. Ultimately, the editorial staff determined the controversial, memorable, and everything in between.
You can find the full list of memorable branding fails HERE: https://fitsmallbusiness.com/most-memorable-branding-fails/
The 10 Most Memorable Branding Fails of All Time
- New Coke
- Nivea's "White Is Purity" Campaign
- The Beatles' "Dead Babies" Cover
- Kendall Jenner's Pepsi "Protest"
- Starbucks' Unintentional 9/11 Reference
- Burger King's Creepy Mascot
- IHOP's "Misogynist" Pancakes
- Amazon's "Nazi Makeover" of NYC Subways
- Heinz's "Hot" QR Code Fiasco
- EA Gives Away Illegal Brass Knuckles
In addition to the ten biggest blunders, the report also features key insights to building a unique brand.
"Branding is an indispensable component of any successful business. But, some companies have gone outside the box to gain an edge," according to Rebecca Michael, Special Projects Editor, FitSmallBusiness. "While some of these companies have certainly crossed the line of controversy, our study shows that some haven't been as negatively affected as the initial public outcry would suggest."
About FitSmallBusiness.com:
With a rapidly growing monthly readership of more than 3 million, FitSmallBusiness.com is an online publication devoted to helping small business owners. Its full-time staff of writers spends hours of research, data analysis, and interviews with industry experts to answer the questions that owners want in order to run a successful small business.
For more information on this list and this topic, please contact James McEnrue, [email protected], (551) 697-0766.
SOURCE FitSmallBusiness.com
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