Launched in 2023, KFC failed at launching roast beef sandwiches. Customers go to KFC specifically for chicken and couldn't compete against Arby's, the roast beef specialist. The product had no clear advantage in price, taste, or uniqueness. Meanw ...
Allbirds originally won with one simple idea: ultra-comfortable, minimalist wool sneakers. But that edge faded as it became more of a fad than a lasting staple. Plus new products and categories (running shoes, apparel) didn't resonate, while some c ...
ComputerLand was one of the largest personal computer retailers in the world in the 1980s, but it collapsed in the early 1990s. In the early PC era customers needed help choosing and installing computers so ComputerLand focused on distribution thro ...
Launched in 1977 by Radio Shack, the TRS-80 had difficulty keeping up with Apple and IBM who were building ecosystems. Radio Shack sales staff were trained to sell batteries and CB radios, not complex business systems, while corporate buyers prefer ...
Launched in 1982 and discontinued in 1985, ColecoVision, was a video game console that brought arcade-quality graphics to the home. It was launched just before the North America video game crash as retailers were drowning in unsold consoles and gam ...
Launched in 1995, Sega Saturn had difficulty competing against Sony's PlayStation resulting in selling 9 million units worldwide vs. PlayStation selling over 100 million. PlayStation had simpler, developer-friendly architecture leading to low devel ...
In 2026, Saks was the biggest name in high-end retail to file for bankruptcy since the pandemic. For more than a century, Saks served as a gateway for U.S. shoppers to discover coveted European brands. However, consumers can now turn to the intern ...
iRobot depended too heavily on robot vacuums, which became commoditized, and had limited success expanding into adjacent home robotics. Post-Covid demand collapsed, retail inventory piled up, and promotions destroyed margins.
Launched in 1985, Jolt Cola had "all the sugar and twice the caffeine." However, in the 1990s energy drinks exploded (Red Bull, Monster, Rockstar). Those brands delivered more caffeine than Jolt and were marketed more aggressively to younger consume ...
Launched in 1974, the Presto Burger was a small, electric hamburger cooker marketed as a "mini-appliance" designed to cook a hamburger quickly (in about a minute) with minimal mess. However, grease spattered everywhere, the device frequently produc ...
