Absolut PR nightmare
April 11, 2008
You might have heard about a recent ad by Absolut Vodka. I’ll let the AP explain:
“The campaign, which promotes ideal scenarios under the slogan ‘In an Absolut World,’ showed a 1830s-era map when Mexico included California, Texas and other southwestern states. Mexico still resents losing that territory in the 1848 Mexican-American War and the fight for Texas independence.”
The ad ran only in Mexico and — not that shockingly — stimulated a bit of American anger over immigration concerns with the U.S./Mexico border. Americans for Legal Immigration PAC (ALIPAC) began a Web site calling for a boycott of Absolut. The company has since apologized and withdrawn the ad.
But the boycott lives on. SKYY Vodka, one of Absolut’s competitors, has — also not that shockingly — come out in favor of the boycott, drawing praise in a release from ALIPAC spokesman William Gheen.
“I like SKYY Vodka!”, said William Gheen. “It is great to be able to have an occasional martini without contributing to a Global corporation, like Absolut, that is encouraging the invasion of my nation.”
Personally, I think that would look great on a t-shirt or bumper sticker. I also love it when a modern company such as SKYY comes out in support of the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. (I’ve always wondered about Procter & Gamble’s opinion of the 1814 Treaty of Ghent.)
And here’s the point in the blog post where I admit looking at the ad and not understanding the fuss. “What a neat old map,” I thought. Didn’t even notice the immigration issue. Maybe it’s because I’m a gin guy.
What are your thoughts on the ad and the various responses to it?
JOE BACCHUS, Web Specialist
Sphere: Related ContentThe cost of closing the ‘bux
March 3, 2008
By closing for three hours last week, Starbucks reportedly lost out on $2-$4 million in sales. There’s been a range of reactions to the event, which Advertising Age calls “part boot camp for baristas and part mass marketing for a company that wants to demonstrate that its improving product and customer experience.”
- Some felt the coffee chain turned away customers who have plenty of other ways to get the goods. Dunkin’ Donuts stepped up to offer a range of drinks for 99 cents during the promotion, and it paid off: a marketing exec said franchisees experienced increased store traffic and sales.
- Some argued that the closing, which drew plenty of media attention, alienated customers who didn’t anticipate being turned away - such as this InformationWeek columnist (”What, no email?”) or the customers in the Sacramento newscast below.
- And still another said that Starbucks “pointed out that its baristas didn’t understand how to work the automated machines … Starbucks actually raised the awareness of a new problem. Check the past coverage of Starbucks’ recent woes, and you’ll see little criticism of the actual quality of the coffee.”
I’m unsure if the Powers That Be at Starbucks made the right call with the shutdown, but I know this: It’s lame to tell your customers to roast a turkey while they’re waiting for a revamped espresso.
JACKIE SAUTER, Web Editor
Sphere: Related ContentU.S. Olympic delegation to pass on Chinese food
February 22, 2008
Apparently the phrase “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” doesn’t apply to the U.S. Olympic Committee. According to an article on ESPN.com, the more than 1,000-member delegation of athletes, coaches, trainers and other personnel will be bringing their own food supply to China this August for the 2008 Olympics.
Really.
It’s got the Beijing officials understandably disappointed, although the article also points out that food safety in China has become a major issue for the Olympics. Tainted products and reported use of drugs and insecticides in food production could trigger a positive drug test, ruin an athlete’s career and be a public relations disaster for China, the article said.
While the U.S.’s 600-plus athletes will still be dining in the Olympic Village, the rest of the delegation (which isn’t eligible for meals at the village) will fill up at a training camp at Beijing Normal University, where the committee plans to ship “tons of meat and other foods.”
OK, I understand the drug-testing thing. But if the athletes are eating at the Olympic Village anyway and the U.S. food will be consumed primarily by non-competitors, why the concern?
I’ve never been to China, but I lived in rural Mexico and not once did I get sick off the food. I don’t say that to pat myself on the back, but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the water there should not touch your lips or your dishes unless it comes from a bottle.
So what gives? Does anyone think this undermines the spirit of the games and the privilege of being the host country? Or in this day and age is it better to play it safe?
LIZ FARMER, Business Writer
Sphere: Related ContentWord play
September 5, 2007
As one who reads and writes news stories for a living, I am continually amazed and revolted at the bastardization of the English language by PR people who write news releases for a living. My pet peeves are the overuse of the words “leading” and “solution.”
According to Merriam-Webster, the “leading” definition of “leading” is “coming or ranking first.” The definition of “solution” is “(a) an action or process of solving a problem,” or “(b) an answer to a problem.”
The fallacy of using “leading” to describe a company is obvious: Not every company is a leader. And a “solution” frequently causes more problems than it solves.
Here is a sample of offenders, taken from one day’s perusal of releases carried on the PRNewswire and Business Wire.
“Stratos Global Corp. (TSX: SGB), the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced …”
“GetWellNetwork, Inc., a leading provider of Interactive Patient Care solutions, today announced …”
“I4 Commerce [helps] to connect leading merchants with high value customers. … I4 Commerce’s payment and marketing technology solutions help establish and maintain …”
“CDW Government, Inc. (CDW-G), a … leading source of Information Technology (IT) solutions to governments and educators, and Discovery Education, the leader in digital video and multimedia-based learning …”
My “solution” for this problem is simple: Just eliminate these two words from the public relations vocabulary.
Imagine what that would do for the quality of business writing.
-PAUL SAMUEL, Associate Editor
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