Detroit learned the Bud Light lesson heavily in ’57 to ’60. Executives, drunk with complacency and EXTREMELY drunk on actual martinis, decided to leave their dull boring customers behind. GM got rid of Buick’s portholes, then got rid of its traditional brand distinctions entirely. Ford dropped its beloved circular taillights. Chrysler got rid of quality and interior ergonomics, which had been its traditional substitutes for exterior styling. All lost customers. Only Rambler gained, because SOBER Romney continued giving his uncool customers what they unfashionably expected.
When a company says you’re dull and boring, it’s essentially packing up and leaving you for another mate. The pain of brand rejection isn’t remotely comparable to finding your wife in bed with another man, but it’s still rejection and it’s still pain.
Heinerschneider or whatever said it out loud. She was tired of Bud’s traditional male customers and wanted to go bi. The customers recognized the betrayal and went byebye.
Polistra's Mill 