20 people were injured, and 7 sent to hospital, when promotional stunt in Seoul for LG's G2 smartphone went wrong.  LG cancelled series of events promoting the handset as result of incident in Seoul.

Bad Idea: Race to grab 100 free smartphone vouchers hanging from helium balloons released in outdoor park.

Why?: Customers arrived with BB guns and knives on sticks to shoot down balloons and surged forward when they were released.  One person carried pointed staff to event.

LG has taken responsibility for the situation and said it would cover related medical costs.

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-23681200

CKB Solutions is all about real solutions for the real world.  To learn how we can help your business, contact Greg Kovacic in Hong Kong.

Picture a badly battered woman on crutches who is being pressed by a cop to pick a suspect out of a police lineup of five African-American males and a goat named Felicia.   The goat Felicia—in a male voice—taunts the battered woman with phrases like "snitches get stitches, fool," "keep your mouth shut" and "I'm going to get out of here and do you up."

I wonder if any of the "smartest guys in the room" signing off on this actually thought this one through.  But I guess we already know the answer - which is obvious to pretty much everyone except these people.

PepsiCo says it's pulling this Mountain Dew commercial which offended online viewers due to sensitivities towards racism and violence toward women. Duh!

The actors are members of the music group Odd Future whose alternative hip-hop ensemble's co-founder, Tyler, The Creator, developed the ad.  The only redeeming factor in this sordid episode is the ad was created by a black man.  Double standard? 

PepsiCo stated, "We understand how this video could be perceived by some as offensive, and we apologize to those who were offended."  Only "some" might perceive this as offensive?  Seems drinking Pepsi and Mountain Dew is not only bad for your health, but also your brain.

Source:
"Mountain Dew Pulls 'Most Racist Commercial in History", AdWeek, May 1, 2013
http://www.adweek.com/news/television/mountain-dew-pulls-most-racist-commercial-history-149061

CKB Solutions is all about real solutions for the real world.  To learn how we can help your business, contact Greg Kovacic in Hong Kong.

There seems to be no shortage of offensive ads from MNCs and their ad agencies these days.  Makes one wonder how disconnected from reality are these people?  This example is from GM's Chevrolet's Trax's retro-styled ad titled "After Midnight".

The ad refers to China as "the land of Fu Manchu", where people say "ching-ching, chop suey".  While this might have been considered acceptable, even amusing, when the lyrics were originally penned in the US in the 1930s, times have changed.  And China is now GM largest market.  

"The giant carmaker is now pulling the advertisement from worldwide markets, saying it had received complaints about the "offensive content"."  Duh! 

In today's media-is-everywhere environment, anything which can be interpreted, rightly or wrongly, as insensitive or offensive, certainly will be.  And the media will be there to pick up on it and carry the story globally.

Source:
"GM pulls 'racist' Chevrolet 'ching-ching, chop suey' ad", SCMP, May 3, 2013
http://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1227375/exclusive-general-motors-pulls-racist-chevrolet-ad-over-ching-ching-chop

CKB Solutions is all about real solutions for the real world.  To learn how we can help your business, contact Greg Kovacic in Hong Kong.

There is poor taste.  And then there is really poor taste.  

On Monday a man stole a car parked outside a shop in Changchun, Jilin province.  Police say when the thief realized there was a 2-month old baby on the back seat he strangled him and buried him in the snow.  The thief/killer then gave himself up on Tuesday after a manhunt involving more than 3,500 policemen and media appeals.  The death of the baby was met with shock, disbelief and outrage on Chinese media and social media.

A Buick car dealership in neighbouring Liaoning province used their Sina Weibo account to say their cars carry a GPS system "allowing the lockdown of a stolen vehicle at any time and place. Why not buy a completely safe Buick?" The advert used a picture of the dead baby, along with two of the dealership's new cars.

This attracted strong condemnation online and a calls for a boycott of the car-maker. The dealership has of course since apologised, saying the ad was totally inappropriate and it deeply regretted the "hurt it had caused to the family of the victims and society".  Damage has already been done.

In order to protect its brand in China, Buick China should:

• Release its own statement condemning the behavior of the local dealership
• Initiate support for a child-protection campaign of some kind
  
• Use this as a case study of "what not to do" to educate it dealers so nothing like this happens again

Other companies would also be wise to use this as a case study to educate its own staff and dealers.

Sources:  

1. "Chinese anger at murder of carjacked baby", BBC News, March 6, 2013.
   http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-21680747
2. "辽宁天合别克借婴儿失踪案营销 骂声一片", TopNews9, March 6, 2013.
   http://www.topnews9.com/arc/20130306/17660.html
   
3. "别克4S店借婴儿随车被盗案营销", NJ Daily, March 6, 2013.
   http://www.njdaily.cn/2013/0306/342805.shtml
   

CKB Solutions is all about real solutions for the real world.  To learn how we can help your business, contact Greg Kovacic in Hong Kong.

No disrespect to South African Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius (aka the Blade Runner), who at the time of this post was being held on suspicion of murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend.

But referencing guns, bullets, weapons, violence, etc. in your marketing is dangerous.  Even more dangerous when your marketing is centered around famous people as anything they do or happens to them gets widely covered in the press.  The buzz will focus on your company's and brand's negatives.

Nike's choice of athletes to sponsor leaves much to be desired lately: Marion Jones (doping), Tiger Woods (cheating husband and philanderer), Michael Vick (dog fighting), Lance Armstrong (doping), and now Oscar Pistorious (murder?).  Who is next?

Source: "Oscar Pistorius Nike ad takes on new, chilling resonance after tragedy", Yahoo, February 15, 2013
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics-fourth-place-medal/oscar-pistorius-nike-ad-takes-chilling-resonance-tragedy-182235671--oly.html

CKB Solutions is all about real solutions for the real world.  To learn how we can help your business, contact Greg Kovacic in Hong Kong.

Furniture retailer Domayne got its Christmas ad yanked by Australia's Advertising Standards Bureau because it showed children sleeping next to what appeared to be lit candles.  Don't try this at home kids!

Domayne’s response: the candles depicted were not actually naked flames but battery operated.  Regardless, still a bad idea.  Should have sanity-checked this with a parent before going live.



Source: "Domayne ad banned for fears families will go up in smoke", B&T, February 13, 2013
http://www.bandt.com.au/news/advertising/domayne-ad-banned-for-fears-families-will-go-up-in

CKB Solutions is all about real solutions for the real world.  To learn how we can help your business, contact Greg Kovacic in Hong Kong.