Fails and Fixins

Dave Plough

Fails and Fixins is a case study of marketing, public relations, and social media campaign failures. We research what went wrong and offer ways to prevent it from happening again. If you've ever wondered how a campaign went off the rails or sat back watching a PR crisis unfold while thinking, "Wow, they handled that poorly." Fails and Fixins is the public relations podcast for you.

  1. 09/14/2021

    A&W's One-Third Pound Burger

    That meme about A&W and their 1/3rd pound burger; is it fact? Fiction? Some mix of the two? In this episode, we are looking at why McDonald's Quarter Pounder outlasted A&W's "Thirds the Word" campaign.

    11 min

  2. 09/07/2021

    Burger Kings Moldy Whopper

    Let's go all the way back to 2018. It was the year every fast-food company decided sustainability was vital. White Castle and Burger King debuted plant-based burgers, but McDonald's was still winning the fast-food wars. So why did Burger King choose to grab viewers' attention with a decomposing whopper? Listen to this episode to find out why I think an award-winning ad campaign was actually a fail. Hosted by: Dave Plough

    16 min

  3. 08/31/2021

    The Ford Edsel

    In 1939 the Ford Automotive Company was facing a possible problem. GM was eating into their market share, and Ford believed it was because they'd not release a new line of cars in nearly 19 years. After ten years of research, over $250 million (in 1940's money) spent, and a two-year ad campaign, Ford unleashed a vehicle so notoriously awful The Simpsons parodied it 34 years later. In this episode, we are taking a look at the Ford Edsel.  Hosted by Dave Plough

    18 min

  4. 07/12/2019

    The North Face

    When a popular outdoors brand like The North Face makes a bad marketing decision it can affect how its perceived by loyal customers. Even worse, it can affect how potential future customers make decisions. This episode looks at a recent misstep made by Leo Burnett Tailor Made in an attempt to get The North Face on top of Google search results. Produced by Digital Buzz Hosted by Dave Plough

    13 min

  5. 06/27/2019

    Amy's Kitchen Nightmare

    In 2013 the Fox series Kitchen Nightmares sent Gordon Ramsey to Scottsdale, Arizona. Amy's Baking Company quickly became the most infamous episode of the entire series, and the only one where Chief Ramsey walked away. The resulting press gave Amy and her husband, Sammy, a chance at financial redemption but could they keep cool long enough to cash in? Spoiler alert: No, they could not.  Produced by Digital Buzz  Hosted by Dave Plough

    13 min

  6. 06/21/2019

    Snakes on a Plane

    In 2006 there was a movie. One with a title so outlandish, yet so on the nose, there was no way it could ever get made. Thanks to Samuel L. Jackson, the movie was made and an internet sensation was born. This episode dives deep into Snakes on a Plane and the reason it's box office results didn't match it's hype. Produced by Digital Buzz Hosted by Dave Plough

    14 min

  7. 06/13/2019

    Sin to Win

    When Electronic Arts began promotion for the 2010 action game "Dante's Inferno" it was natural to utilize the 9 circles of Hell. Every level of the game was based around one of the circles and so too would be every tactic in their advertising strategy. Limbo, gluttony, greed, anger, heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery all worked. But when it came to lust, EA faltered. Produced by Digital Buzz Hosted by Dave Plough

    15 min

  8. 05/23/2019

    The New Coke Strikes Back

    We're talking the changing media landscape and what that means for production companies. Specifically, we're taking a look at how Netflix and Stranger Things season 3 resurrected New Coke. If you've not listened to our first episode, go back to take a deep dive into what really happened in the summer of 1985 when Coca-Cola ditched it's hundred year old recipe.  Produced by Digital Buzz Hosted by Dave Plough

    8 min
See All (20)

Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Fails and Fixins is a case study of marketing, public relations, and social media campaign failures. We research what went wrong and offer ways to prevent it from happening again. If you've ever wondered how a campaign went off the rails or sat back watching a PR crisis unfold while thinking, "Wow, they handled that poorly." Fails and Fixins is the public relations podcast for you.

Information

  • Creator
    Dave Plough
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2021
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dave Plough
  • Show Website
    Fails and Fixins