Big Brands, Big Mistakes: A Look at Rebranding Fiascos 😱😱
Hi there! 👋🏻👋🏻 As a marketer, rebranding can often be the key to keeping a company relevant in today’s ever-evolving market. However, there have been some major rebranding misfires throughout history that have left big brands looking foolish or out of touch. Today, we will take a deep dive into some of these blunders and discover what went wrong. Let’s get started! 🚀🚀
Gap’s Logo Disaster 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♂️
Clothing giant Gap unveiled a new logo back in 2010 that was met with backlash from customers and critics. The new design consisted of a simple Helvetica font and a small blue box in the top-right corner. Fans of the brand were quick to voice their displeasure on social media, and Gap quickly reverted back to their classic design just six days later.
Image Description: A comparison of Gap’s old and new logos, with the new one looking very plain and underwhelming in comparison to the classic.
Tropicana’s Overhaul Oversight 🧃🍊
In 2009, Tropicana rolled out a new packaging design that was meant to give the brand a more modern and sleek look. However, the redesign ended up leading to a 20% drop in sales for the juice company. Consumers were unhappy with the new design that looked too generic and lost the iconic straw-in-orange imagery that had been associated with the brand for years.
Image Description: A comparison of Tropicana’s old and new packaging design, with the new one being much less distinctive and memorable.
New Coke Catastrophe 🥤🥤
One of the biggest blunders in marketing history is the story of New Coke. In 1985, Coca-Cola decided to change their century-old recipe and release a new version of their iconic cola. The change was met with massive backlash from the public, who preferred the original recipe. Just three months later, Coca-Cola ceased production of New Coke and brought back the original with a new name, Coke II.
Image Description: An image of New Coke cans alongside classic Coke cans, highlighting the difference in branding and design.
Airbnb’s Attempt at Rebranding 👥🏠
In 2014, Airbnb revealed a new logo that was meant to symbolize “belonging.” However, the design was quickly criticized for looking too similar to human anatomy and even being reminiscent of certain body parts. The company was forced to defend its design choice, but eventually changed it in 2015 to a simpler, less controversial design.
Image Description: An image of Airbnb’s original logo, with the visual similarity to human anatomy highlighted.
The London 2012 Logo Debacle 🏋🏻♀️🏋🏻♂️
The logo for the 2012 Olympics in London was meant to represent “energy and modernity,” but instead just left people feeling confused and underwhelmed. Critics claimed that the design looked like a broken swastika or a child’s sketch, and even the designer himself admitted that it was “very, very divisive.” Despite the negative feedback, the logo was used throughout the 2012 Olympics.
Image Description: An image of the 2012 London Olympics logo, with the confusing design highlighted.
Lessons Learned and Takeaways 📚📚
So, what can we take away from these rebranding fiascos? Firstly, while innovation and change are important, it’s important to listen to your customers and understand what they like about your brand. Secondly, designers and marketers should take extra care when creating visuals, as even the slightest mistake or misstep can lead to big issues. Lastly, when a rebrand doesn’t go as planned, it’s important to admit the mistake and make changes quickly, before further damage is done.
Image Description: A group of people brainstorming and discussing possible rebranding ideas, with an emphasis on listening to customers and being careful with design choices.
So, there you have it! 🎉🎉Some cautionary tales about rebranding that can help you avoid similar mistakes in the future. Remember, while the right rebrand can lead to increased success and relevance, the wrong one can leave your brand looking foolish and out of touch. Thanks for reading! 💖💖
