The biggest UK-based marketing mistakes ever made!
Marketing can be a tricky business, and sometimes even the biggest and most successful companies can make a mistake. Here are some of the most memorable marketing blunders from UK-based companies.
- Walkers’ “Do Us A Flavour” Campaign
Top marketing mistake in 2008, Walkers crisps launched a campaign where they asked the public to come up with a new flavour of crisps. The winning flavour would then be put into production. Unfortunately, the company didn’t anticipate the ridiculous suggestions that would flood in. Some of the top suggestions included “Builders’ Breakfast,” “Cajun Squirrel,” and “Fish and Chips.” Despite the silly entries, the winner was actually “Builder’s Breakfast,” which included flavours like bacon, sausage, and egg.
- Cadbury’s Creme Egg “GooGate”
In 2015 we see another top marketing mistake, Cadbury’s Creme Egg decided to change the recipe of their beloved chocolate treat. The new recipe was met with widespread outrage, as customers claimed it didn’t taste as good as the original. However, the real controversy came when people noticed that the “goo” inside the egg was different. It was no longer the runny, white and yellow filling that people loved, but instead a thicker, white-only filling. Cadbury’s had to deal with an angry public, with some even creating online petitions to bring back the original recipe.
- The Royal Mail’s “Error of Olympic Proportions”
In 2012 a top marketing mistake came via the Royal Mail, they issued a set of stamps to commemorate the London Olympics. Unfortunately, they made a huge mistake. The stamps featured images of American athletes instead of British ones. The Royal Mail apologised for the error, but it was too late. People were already making fun of the blunder on social media, with many pointing out that it was a “gold medal” mistake.
- Iceland’s “Rang-tan” Christmas Advert
In 2018 our top marketing mistake comes with Iceland releasing a Christmas advert that was meant to highlight the impact of palm oil on the environment. The advert featured an animated orangutan who had lost its home due to deforestation caused by palm oil production. The advert was initially banned from TV for being too political, but it gained a lot of attention online. The company had accidentally created a viral marketing campaign, as people shared the advert on social media to protest the ban.
- The Co-operative Bank’s “Crystal Methodist”
In 2013 another top marketing mistake grabs everyone’s attention, the Co-operative Bank was hit by a scandal when it was revealed that the former chairman, Paul Flowers, had been caught on camera buying drugs. The tabloid newspapers dubbed him the “Crystal Methodist,” and the story made headlines worldwide. The bank had to deal with the fallout from the scandal, and it suffered a loss of public trust. To make matters worse, the Co-operative Bank had previously marketed itself as an ethical alternative to traditional banks, making the scandal even more damaging.
These are just a few of the biggest marketing mistakes of UK-based companies. Despite their best efforts, even the most successful companies can make a blunder. However, these mistakes also offer an opportunity to learn and improve in the future. Who knows what marketing mistakes we’ll see in the years to come?
We hope you enjoyed this light-hearted article on some of the biggest marketing blunders from some of our most successful brands here in the UK.
If you’d like to discuss how Red Thread Creative can help you avoid any marketing mistakes, then do not hesitate to contact us: