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Avert Virucidal Tissues
This Kimberly-Clark product lasted ten months
in the test market before it was pulled from the shelves in Upstate New York back in 1985. The tissue contained vitamin C derivatives and was the first tissue scientifically designed to kill cold and
flu germs when sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose into them.
Unfortunately for Kimberly-Clark, people didn't believe the claims
and they were frightened by the name. |
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Premier Cigarettes
R.J. Reynolds (RJR Nabisco Inc., subsidiary) spent
over $300 million to market its Premier Smokeless Cigarettes. However,
the flame for Premier burned a short-lived 5 months after its launch
in test markets back in 1988 due to several concerns. Premier was
priced at a 25% premium to other cigarettes, but cost was not the
greatest issue. The problem was that smokeless cigarettes appealed
to non-users-non-smokers! |
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Hey! There's A Monster In My Room-Spray:
In 1993, OUT! International,
Inc. introduced this monster-buster spray to rid scary creatures from
the rooms of children. The spray came in a bubble gum fragrance. The
idea was cute, but the name was not, and set up a fright for the kids. |
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Clairol Look of Buttermilk
Clairol introduced this shampoo in test markets
back in 1974 and left many consumers asking just what exactly is the
"Look of Buttermilk" anyway? |
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Country
People/City People
Yellow Emperor, Inc. introduced these shampoo
products back in the early 80s, claiming that they were the first
shampoos promoted to protect against the environment. For example,
City People shampoo protected against pollution and exhaust fumes
while Country people protected against the sun and wind. Unfortunately,
"country" didn't sell in the city, and vice versa. |
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Wheaties
Dunk-A-Balls Cereal
General Mills introduced this product back
in 1994 under the Wheaties name. The basketball shaped, sweetened
corn and wheat puffs cereal that kids can play with before eating
was advertised as "available for a limited time only." However,
moms have never wanted to encourage kids to play with their food and
the offering wasn't the slam dunk that General Mills had hoped
for. |
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Dr.
Care
As a result of R&D efforts conducted by Dairimetics,
Ltd., Dr. Care family toothpaste in aerosol container was introduced
over two decades ago. While the vanilla mint flavored product was
advertised as easy to use and sanitary, many parents questioned the
thought of letting their kids loose with an aerosol toothpaste. |
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Garlic
Cake
Gunderson & Rosario, Inc. introduced Garlic Cake back
in 1989. The product was supposed to be served as an hors d'oevre
with sweet breads, spreads, and meats, but somehow the company forgot
to mention potential usage occasions to consumers. They were left
wondering just what is garlic cake and when on earth would a person
want to eat it? |
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Gerber's
Singles
This product for adults was launched in 1974 in a variety
of fruits, vegetables, and entrees. However, consumers simply could
not relate to adult food products sold in baby food jars. |
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Wine
& Dine Dinners
Heublein, a wine and liquor importer and distributor,
introduced this product in the mid-1970's. "Wine & Dine
Dinners" came with pasta and sauce mix and a mini bottle of salted
wine that was intended for creating the sauce. However, this rather
important instruction wasn't properly explained, and consumers
assumed the wine was for drinking. The misunderstanding left a bitter
taste in the mouths of unforgiving consumers. |
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