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The Coca-Cola Fiasco of 1985: Why in Business It Can Be Important to Think "Inside the Box!"
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In 1985, the chieftains at Coca-Cola decided to think "outside the box." They decided to replace a product which seemingly needed no replacement, yes, Coca-Cola. "New Coke," as it was unofficially named was rolled out to the public on April 23, 1985 amid a huge marketing campaign, an enormous advertising blitz, public parties in which free cans were passed out by the millions and press-conferences; that same week, Coca-Cola ceased production of the original formula Coke, that which an adoring public had been happily consuming en-masse since its introduction in 1886. It seemed that the folks at Coca-Cola had a hard time leaving "well-enough" alone…
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Much of the public, myself (18-years old at the time) included, met the change with confusion, anger and derision. It should be pointed out, in order to remain fair, that some did accept "New Coke." Very quickly, however, Coca-Cola began receiving hundreds-of-thousands of protest letters and no less an amount of angry calls to the company’s switchboard. The company actually employed a consulting psychiatrist to examine the negative feelings which so many were displaying.
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What were some of the feelings people expressed when original Coke, a beloved piece of "Americana," was no longer available? Depression. Despondency. Sorrow. Animosity. Fury. Indignation. And many stated the same thing: the feeling that they had lost a "member of the family."
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At this point, Pepsi, Coca-Cola’s chief rival, gleefully sensing the public’s dismay and uncontrollable anger, publicly announced that it had won the ongoing "Cola-War." Yes, for Pepsi it was a public relations dream-come-true!
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No longer able to deal with the implications of their epic blunder, on July 10th, in a major announcement, the head-honchos at Coca-Cola publicly stated at a press-conference that they would reverse the decision and re-introduce the original formula. The death of "New Coke" was now a given and only a matter of time.
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Peter Jennings of ABC News interrupted regular programming to deliver the news to the jubilant public.
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And one U.S. Senator, David Pryor of
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"New Coke," and the decision to bring an end to "Old Coke," is generally pointed to as one of the biggest business and marketing fiascos in history!
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It seemed that not since the devastating crash of the Hindenburg had a new product gone down in flames in such full public view. What the people at Coca-Cola thought was such a great idea turned into an abject and abysmal failure…
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"Lessons from the "New-Coke" Disaster"
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As business-people, whether business-owners, marketers, or freelancers such as myself, we must never forget an important fact. There are those who are always seeking the "Next Big Thing." Whether they are "tech-junkies" awaiting the next development in the I-Pod, the latest leap-forward in cell-phones or the next technological jump forward in T.V., many await the next big innovation for which they will gladly shell out their hard-earned cash. BUT…and this is the "biggie"…we must never forget that there are also "traditionalists" out there! Included are people such as myself who look back at the "good-old-days" when Coke was Coke, when to dial a phone you actually had to "dial," and didn’t think it was so horrible that to change channels on the television set you actually had to stand up and turn the dial! And when we see a new product, especially one touted as "new and improved," we ask ourselves, "what the heck was wrong with the old one?!"
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As a professional writer, I try to bear in mind that some prospective clients seek snappy ads and innovative marketing content, but there are others who, rightfully so, seek a more traditional approach. But it is not just in writing. There are those who seek "Generation-X" vacations with days consumed by cliff-jumping, bungee-jumping from suspension bridges and parachuting from
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As professionals, it can be quite tempting to think "newer is better" and design our businesses accordingly, but to ignore those millions of "traditionalists" out there can end in fiasco. One only need remember "New Coke" to put this into perspective!"
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My name is Yonatan Maisel. I am a professional writer and published author. Whatever your writing needs may be, whether "innovative" or "traditional," I specialize in meeting your unique goals and aspirations. From marketing and advertising content to corporate bios and resumes, from speeches to research…and much more, I will provide you with expert service at a reasonable price! By clicking the following link: http://jobshuk.com/yoni67, you will be transported to my profile where you will find information on the services which I provide. You will also find a link to my website where you will find my portfolio, testimonials and contact information.
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Dear Reader,
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If you enjoyed this article, I cordially invite you to partake of another! Come check out my 3 nominees for "The CEO Hall of Honor" where making a profit is not the only criteria. Come meet a CEO who launched a commando operation to rescue his employees who were held in an Iranian prison durng the height of the 1979 Islamic Revolution! And two others whose incredible acts will blow your mind!
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