Amazon Dash Button - Failure Museum

Amazon Dash Button

Launched in 2015, the Amazon Dash Button was a tiny piece of equipment that eased the process of repeatedly ordering certain products from Amazon. Dash buttons were available only to Prime users and cost $5 a piece.

Their small and compact size made them easy to be attached to the kitchen’s refrigerator, the bathroom shelf, or wherever it was helpful in reminding the user to reorder a product. While designing Dash Buttons, Amazon did not realize that users would need over 500 buttons in their house for various items.

Plus the buttons weren’t necessary since systems in appliances know when they needed replenishment, like a detergent in the washing machine, and preorders them automatically. Thus, there was no need to press a real button in this case.

Amazon’s Subscribe and Save program allows users to receive their monthly required items without placing an order or searching for them repeatedly. Moreover, the program offered discounts.

Faraday Future - Failure Museum

Faraday Future

In 2021, Faraday Future went public on the NYSE via a SPAC valuing the company at $3.4B. The company has raised nearly $3B in equity and debt since its founding in 2016. As of the start of 2024, the company is at the risk of being delisted as the stock is worth below $20M.

Much like its peers, Faraday Future has been battling mounting costs and supply-chain disruptions that have delayed the deliveries of its electric car.

Costs of lithium and raw battery materials rose as the war in Ukraine exacerbated the pandemic-induced disruption of global supply chains.

Higher costs and depleting cash reserves have forced investors to question the health of EV startups’ balance sheets.

Fruit Stripe - Failure Museum

Fruit Stripe

In 2023, Fruit Stripe, which was launched 54 years ago was known for its fruit-inspired flavors and zebra-print product was discontinued. The gum came in five flavors: Wet n’ Wild Melon, Cherry, Lemon, Orange and Peach. Each pack came with a temporary tattoo of its mascot, Yipes the Zebra. They considered many factors before coming to this decision, including consumer preferences, and purchasing patterns – and overall brand trends for Fruit Stripe Gum.

CNN+ Plus - Failure Museum

CNN+

In 2022, CNN pulled the plug on the network’s $100 million venture into online streaming only 3 weeks after launching CNN Plus.

CNN Plus was the cable-news giant’s bet on digital streaming and its hedge against the rising popularity of the “cord cutting” that has led to a steady erosion of cable subscriptions. It sought to lure viewers with exclusive, original programs hosted by familiar CNN journalists and newcomers such as former Fox News host Chris Wallace and actress Eva Longoria that could be watched live or on-demand. It also offered documentaries and special series already aired by CNN, including the popular food-and-travel programs hosted by Stanley Tucci and the late Anthony Bourdain.

But CNN Plus was unable to offer its subscribers streaming access to CNN’s popular daily television news programs because of noncompete restrictions in its contracts with cable distributors. And in its first month, it appeared to be having trouble persuading enough customers to sign on to the $5.99 monthly service.

Boston Yankees - Failure Museum

Boston Yankees

The Boston Yankees were an NFL team who played from 1944-1948. The team played its home games at Fenway Park. Team owner Ted Collins picked the name Yankees because he originally wanted to run a team that played at New York City’s old Yankee Stadium.

After three continuous losing seasons, Collins finally was allowed to move to New York City. But instead of an official relocation, he asked the league to officially fold his Boston franchise and give him a new franchise, for a Federal tax write-off.

The Boston Yankees are the only officially defunct NFL team ever to have the first overall NFL draft pick. They had it twice, in 1944 and 1946.

Tampa Bay Bucs 1976 - Failure Museum

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1976

In 1976, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were the NFL’s first winless team once the season expanded to 14+ games with an 0-14 record. Detroit was 0-16 in 2008, while the Cleveland Browns were 0-16 in 2017.

This was the Buccaneers’ first season; they did not score until their third game and did not score a touchdown until their fourth. They lost by more than a touchdown eleven times. They were last in the league in points scored, touchdowns, and rushing touchdowns.

Palm Treo - Failure Museum

Palm Treo

Palm Treo was developed by Handspring, which Palm acquired in the early 2000s. Palm, one of the earliest makers of smartphones, was unable to follow up its success in the personal organizer business. The company was slow to realize that consumers wanted wireless voice and data from the same device. Palm couldn’t find the formula for over-the-air synchronization with Microsoft Outlook, which business users demand and RIM nailed with its BlackBerry device. Palm also suffered from multiple product delays.

Crazy Crab - Failure Museum

Crazy Crab mascot of the SF Giants

With fans not having much reason to show up to Candlestick Park in 1984, the Giants and its copywriters introduced the Crazy Crab, a proto-Gritty crustacean designed to be hated. The season’s tagline was “Hang in There” was they were the worst team in baseball with a 66-96 record. In 1996, the Giants introduced their current mascot, Lou Seal, while they added a Crazy Crab sandwich station when Oracle Park opened in 2000.

OpenView - Failure Museum

OpenView Venture Partners

9 months after OpenView raised its largest fund ($570M) in March 2023, they abruptly laid off staff and stopped making new investments after two of its 3 leaders left the firm.

Kelly-Moore Paints - Failure Museum

Kelly-Moore Paints

In 2024, after 78 years in business, Kelly-Moore Paints shut down and closed its 157 stores nationwide.

For over 30 years, the company had been grappling with thousands of asbestos litigation claims related to the company’s past use of asbestos in cement and texture products under prior ownership, a practice that was discontinued in 1981. Through the cumulative cash drain caused by legal settlements and the cost of defending ever-continuing case filings, the company’s ability to reinvest in the business – including investments needed to address historical supply chain challenges that were exacerbated by the pandemic – had been severely constrained for an extended period of time. Despite paying out approximately $600 million over the past 20 years to settle asbestos claims, a study commissioned by the company estimated future asbestos liabilities exceed $170 million.

Largely due to the asbestos litigation overhang, it was impossible to attract any additional funding or interest to recapitalize, restructure or reorganize the business. Ultimately, the company’s leadership team determined with the assistance of outside advisors that the company was financially unable to continue operations.