Budweiser is trying to turn things around with a patriotic appeal, invoking “patriotism” as seen stereotypically by New Yorkers who hate America. It didn’t work on Americans.
Budweiser is learning the hard lesson of real business. After you kick your best customers in the balls, they aren’t likely to come back for more.
This rule doesn’t apply to absolute monopolies like “medical” murder, where the victims are required by law to report for poisoning and strangulation at regular intervals. But beer is not a monopoly, and customers have many other choices.
Since I’m in GM mode today, I wonder if this own-goal was created by one of the competitors. Similar traps happened often in the auto industry. GM owned the media conversation and owned the spy networks. GM planted rumors that turned customers against other brands, and GM also planted rumors in Detroit social circles to influence other CEOs.
Chrysler got caught by such a rumor in 1962. GM executives were “accidentally” overheard discussing a planned downsizing, and Chrysler’s dumb CEO immediately downsized his upcoming products to match. GM didn’t downsize, and Chrysler was trapped.
Later GM was “planning” a Wankel rotary and “offered” it to others. AMC heard about the “offer” and designed its new Pacer around the dimensions of the rotary. GM then “abandoned” the rotary after it was too late for AMC to abandon the Pacer. AMC had to stuff its own long inline six into the engine compartment, with a big bulge into the passenger area.
= = = = =
Irrelevant: The tone-deaf “patriotic” appeal reminds me of something.
Polistra's Mill 