Guest Post: Lessons from H&M’s “Coolest Monkey” Fiasco

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[Editor’s note: This guest post on the situation H&M faced after releasing a controversial ad comes to us from friend and colleague Andrea Obston, of Andrea Obston Marketing Communications.] On Monday, I learned that H&M actually stands for Hugely insensitive and Massively out of touch. They ignited a social media …

The Case of the Swastika’d Soles

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Mistake steps on profits for footwear distributor Score another one for sharp-eyed Redditors, and another financial loss for a company that failed to spot an issue before it created public problems. California-based Conal Footwear found itself in bad spot after a Reddit user shared [warning, NSFW language at link location] an image of prints …

Bloomingdale’s Courts Controversy with Inappropriate Ad

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Spiking someone’s drink is no laughing matter Bloomingdale’s had a lot of ‘splainin to do after a ridiculously inappropriate ad ran in the store’s new holiday catalog. Take a look and we’ll dive in after the jump:   Yes, this is a real ad that was undoubtedly created by a …

Sexual Innuendo Bus Ad Backfires

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Another easily preventable crisis creates financial loss In a perfect example of the type of crisis that would have been averted had those responsible thought to use the just-launched AvoidTheApology.com, UK-based New Adventure Travel Limited thought it would be brilliant if there were images of half-naked folk holding signs that …