High-profile marketing efforts can quickly backfire when messaging, timing, or cultural context are mishandled. On International Women's Day, Burger King UK posted "Women belong in the kitchen" and then offered scholarships, but the initial tweet provoked immediate outrage. Coca-Cola replaced its long-standing formula with New Coke, prompting protests and the eventual return of the original. McDonald's Halloween slogan "Sundae Bloody Sundae" invoked a historic massacre and drew criticism. Hoover's free-flight appliance promotion underestimated demand and became financially unsustainable. Misjudged phrasing, insensitive references, unnecessary product changes, and logistical miscalculations generate reputational and operational fallout.
Burger King's "Women Belong in the Kitchen" Tweet (2021) On International Women's Day, Burger King UK thought they were being funny. The first tweet said "Women belong in the kitchen." The next tweet clarified they were offering scholarships for female chefs. But it was already too late. Twitter blew up. Lesson: Don't rely on others to "read the next tweet." It's all about the context.
New Coke (1985) Coca-Cola accidentally created a new formula during experiments for diet coke, and it was apparently "so good" that it was worth replacing a 99 year old tradition. Fans hoarded the original, protested, and demanded its return. Coke eventually brought it back. Lesson: Don't fix what isn't broken. A "new version" can seem more like betrayal sometimes. McDonald's "Sundae Bloody Sundae" (2019, Portugal) McDonald's released a Halloween ice cream campaign in Portugal with the slogan "Sundae Bloody Sundae."
Hoover's Free Flights Promotion (1992, UK) In the early '90s, Hoover thought it had found the ultimate sales gimmick: buy £100 worth of appliances and get two free plane tickets to Europe or America. It was a no brainer. Shoppers rushed in, but the demand was far higher than Hoover predicted. Suddenly, they were drowning requests, far more than the company could cover
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