In 1978, the set depicts two brewery workers as secretaries; if it’s a role play item what’s with the tiny, useless book case?
Olestra
In 2000, chips with Olestra had 50% fewer calories but the body could not absorb the substance, which caused gastric cramps and diarrhea.
New Coke
In 1985, Coca-Cola reformulated Coke because they were losing market share to the sweeter tasting Pepsi-Cola. Consumers rejected New Coke as they had a deep emotional attachment to the original Coca-Cola. New Coke was discontinued 79 days after it’s release.
Busch Light Apple
Seasonal beer that hasn’t had the staying power of summer favorites like Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy led to it’s demise in 2022.
Zima
Launched in 1993 by Coors, Zima was marketed as a clear malt beverage – not quite beer, not quite a cocktail. Beer drinkers thought it was too sweet and weak, while spirits drinkers didn’t see it as a “real” drink. In addition, many people didn’t like the taste – often described as bland or medicinal.
Segway
In 2020, Segway was banned from sidewalks and roads in many countries because it did not fit any existing categories, nor could they solve a problem for a clearly defined audience. Segway targeted everyone in their marketing strategy, but most people didn’t need an alternative to walking or biking.
Billy Beer
Launched in 1977 and discontinued in 1978, Billy Beer was created by Jimmy Carter’s brother Billy. The entire brand leaned on Billy Carter’s personality (“the President’s beer-drinking brother”). Once the novelty wore off, drinkers didn’t come back. The brand was described as bland, forgettable, and low quality, while couldn’t compete with established brands on taste.
Orbitz
In 1997, the Orbitz fruit drink featured brightly colored balls of gelatin floating inside and some compared it to a lava lamp. It was short-lived and after its demise, a travel company bought the name and continues to operate as Orbitz to this day.
Pro Thumb Wrestling
Created in 2009, consumers realized it’s easier to thumb wrestle with just your thumbs.
TaB (soda)
When Diet Coke launched in 1982, it instantly became Coca-Cola’s flagship diet brand. Diet Coke tasted more like regular Coke and had a broader marketing push. Once Diet Coke exploded in popularity, TaB became redundant inside Coca-Cola’s portfolio. In addition, TaB was sweetened with saccahrin, which had a metallic aftertaste and studies linked it to cancer in lab rats.