Crisis Management for Dummies: What we can learn from the Adidas Shoe Fiasco
Samantha Jones, from Sex and the City, once said, “There’s no such thing as bad publicity.” Well, as a true SATC fan (I own every season on DVD) I have to disagree with Ms. Jones.
There is such a thing as bad PR, especially if you’re Adidas.
The brand recently faced criticism for its “shackle shoe” a sneaker with a chain and shackle attached. All I could think when I read the headline “Controversy Strikes and Adidas Cancels Plans for a Stupid Shoe” was… WHY? Who thought this was a good idea?
Without research, public relations and marketing campaigns are like throwing pasta at the wall and hoping it sticks. If the brand had taken time to research consumer attitudes, etc. perhaps this whole snafu could have been avoided.
What do you think about the shoe?
PR-Minded 
Hi Amanda. Here is a great example, from the Red Cross, of how a nimble organization can turn a potential debacle into a PR coup: http://isviral.com/pictures/the-red-cross-twitter-debacle-turned-awesome/. More on the subject, including an example of a different comms crisis management approach – double down – here: http://buridansblog.wordpress.com/2012/06/13/dont-fear-the-dragons-revisited-global-risk-network-forum/
Posted by brianinroma | July 10, 2012, 10:12 AMThanks for sharing. I will definitely take a look at these links.
Posted by Amanda Smith | July 10, 2012, 10:16 AM