Fails and Fixins

Let's go all the way back to 2018. It was the year every fast-food company decided sustainability was vital. White Castle and Burger King debuted plant-based burgers, but McDonald's was still winning the fast-food wars. So why did Burger King choose to grab viewers' attention with a decomposing whopper? Listen to this episode to find out why I think an award-winning ad campaign was actually a fail. Hosted by: Dave Plough

In 1939 the Ford Automotive Company was facing a possible problem. GM was eating into their market share, and Ford believed it was because they'd not release a new line of cars in nearly 19 years. After ten years of research, over $250 million (in 1940's money) spent, and a two-year ad campaign, Ford unleashed a vehicle so notoriously awful The Simpsons parodied it 34 years later. In this episode, we are taking a look at the Ford Edsel.  Hosted by Dave Plough

That meme about A&W and their 1/3rd pound burger; is it fact? Fiction? Some mix of the two? In this episode, we are looking at why McDonald's Quarter Pounder outlasted A&W's "Thirds the Word" campaign.

When a popular outdoors brand like The North Face makes a bad marketing decision it can affect how its perceived by loyal customers. Even worse, it can affect how potential future customers make decisions. This episode looks at a recent misstep made by Leo Burnett Tailor Made in an attempt to get The North Face on top of Google search results. Produced by Digital Buzz Hosted by Dave Plough

In 2013 the Fox series Kitchen Nightmares sent Gordon Ramsey to Scottsdale, Arizona. Amy's Baking Company quickly became the most infamous episode of the entire series, and the only one where Chief Ramsey walked away. The resulting press gave Amy and her husband, Sammy, a chance at financial redemption but could they keep cool long enough to cash in? Spoiler alert: No, they could not.  Produced by Digital Buzz  Hosted by Dave Plough

In 2006 there was a movie. One with a title so outlandish, yet so on the nose, there was no way it could ever get made. Thanks to Samuel L. Jackson, the movie was made and an internet sensation was born. This episode dives deep into Snakes on a Plane and the reason it's box office results didn't match it's hype. Produced by Digital Buzz Hosted by Dave Plough

When Electronic Arts began promotion for the 2010 action game "Dante's Inferno" it was natural to utilize the 9 circles of Hell. Every level of the game was based around one of the circles and so too would be every tactic in their advertising strategy. Limbo, gluttony, greed, anger, heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery all worked. But when it came to lust, EA faltered. Produced by Digital Buzz Hosted by Dave Plough 

We're talking the changing media landscape and what that means for production companies. Specifically, we're taking a look at how Netflix and Stranger Things season 3 resurrected New Coke. If you've not listened to our first episode, go back to take a deep dive into what really happened in the summer of 1985 when Coca-Cola ditched it's hundred year old recipe.  Produced by Digital Buzz Hosted by Dave Plough 

Game of Thrones has been the biggest hit on TV for years. With its end in sight, HBO tried to find a way to capitalize off of the GoT brand by tapping its show runners to create another series about an alternate reality. How could any of that go wrong? The title of this episode should tell you everything you need to know.  Produced by Digital Buzz  Hosted by Dave Plough

By 2005 Adult Swim had made it as an entity from Cartoon Network. In 2007 they planned to release their first movie, Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film For Theaters. To promote, they decided on gorilla tactic which their audience would find entertaining, but those outside of the Adult Swim bubble weren't impressed.  How did Frylock, Master Shake, Meatwad and the Mooninites disrupt the city of Boston? Listen to find out.  Produced by Digital Buzz  Hosted by Dave Plough

Microsoft's Internet Explorer has a rocky history. In 2009 they finally seemed to figure out what the people wanted out of a web browser. However, the public had already decided they didn't want another IE. Microsoft decided to run a marketing campaign to change the public's mind. Instead, they turned the public's stomach.  Produced by Digital Buzz  Hosted by Dave Plough 

In the beginning of the internet era no one knew identity theft was a thing. LifeLock made it their business, literally, to ensure everyone know of the dangers presented online and that they could protect their subscribers. To illustrate this point, CEO Todd Davis took one of teh biggest, least thought out, gambles in modern marketing. On this podcast exclusive episode of Fails and Fixins we look back on what he did and why it was a bad idea. Produced by Digital Buzz Hosted by Dave Plough

In April of 1991 the Ratner Group was the premiere British jewelry company. They owned about 50% of the market and were the place where "Working class boys bought rings for working class girls." It took Gerald Ratner minutes to cost the company nearly half a billion pounds. Today that's known as "Pulling a Ratner" Produced by Digital Buzz  Hosted by Dave Plough

 In November of 2012 Nintendo released its follow up to the massively successful Wii home gaming console, the Wii U. The original Wii sold over 100 million units in route to becoming a hugely successful platform for hardcore and non-traditional gamers alike. Five years later the Wii U was dead. As of June 2016, Nintendo reported they had only sold 13.02 million units. Where'd Nintendo go wrong and what could they have done to avoid such a failure? We're taking another deep dive on this episode of Fails and Fixins. Produced by Digital Buzz Hosted by Dave Plough

In late 1985 Burger King was the second most successful burger joint in America. With McDonald's owning 37% of the fast food market share and Wendy's coming off of their "Where's the beef?" campaign, Burger King felt they needed to captivate the nation with a mysterious new spokesmen. What they created generated a lot of early buzz, then fell flat during Superbowl XX. This week Fails and Fixins takes a look at Burger King's Herb the Nerd. Produced by Digital Buzz LLC  Hosted by Dave Plough

How could an award winning campaign go sailing off the rails? A bad tweet here and a tone def label there is all it took for Bud Light to find out being #UpForWatever wasn't always a good thing. Produced by Digital Buzz LLC   Hosted by Dave Plough 

Over the past 50 years Tim Hortons has moved from regional coffee joint to Canadian way of life. That doesn't mean they are impervious to bad press. In fact, a company decision from 2003 seems to still be haunting them today. On this episode we take a deep dive into the world of Canadian doughnuts and "double, double's." Produced by Digital Buzz LLC.  Hosted by Dave Plough.

In the 1970s Disco was king. To dethrone a king all you need is a scorned radio DJ, a crate full of explosives, and the Chicago White Sox. In this episode of Fails and Fixins we go back to 1979 to learn about  Steve Dahl and the day disco died. Produced by Digital Buzz LLC Hosted by Dave Plough

The Volkswagen Jetta won "Green Car of the Year" in 2009. In 2015, VW's entire line of "clean diesel" engines had been recalled for breaking EPA emission regulations. In this episode we look at how Volkswagen mishandled this crisis communication and how they could have done better. Produced by Digital Buzz LLC Hosted by Dave Plough

Coca-cola spent five years and $4 million researching a new formula. It took less than three months for the public to reject it and demand the original Coca-cola Classic return. On this episode of Fails and Fixins we take a look at why New Coke failed and theorize ways it could have worked. Produced by Digital Buzz LLC Hosted by Dave Plough