Share the post "Microsoft’s Latest Misguided Marketing Effort – A Clothing Line"
Bet you never thought you’d hear that Microsoft is launching a clothing line?
But it gets even better (or worse, I suppose would be more accurate). Microsoft is launching a clothing line and turned to rapper Common to help. Apparently, Common would ad “street-cred” to Microsoft’s new line of T-shirts imprinted with phrases that celebrate Microsoft’s heyday.
It reminds me of that old Sesame Street clip with Cookie Monster singing, “one of these things just doesn’t belong,” but in this case, none of these things just doesn’t belong.
Oh my. Where to begin? According to an article in Ad Age, Microsoft’s T-shirt line is an extension of its advertisements that responded to the very popular Mac vs. PC commercials. Well, the Microsoft commercials were not particularly successful, so why not launch a T-shirt line? You can see the logic, can’t you? Neither can I.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m sure there are some people out there who can’t wait to get their hands on a T-shirt with “DOS” imprinted on it or a Bill Gates mugshot T-Shirt (note sarcasm), but this seems like a pathetic effort to me. Is this really the best Microsoft could come up with? There are so many things wrong with this plan that I don’t even know where to begin. I’m not saying it will completely fail, but there are just so many better ways to invest time and effort.
What do you think? Leave a comment and help me understand. I’m at a loss.
Image: Microsoft via AdAge.com
Share the post "Microsoft’s Latest Misguided Marketing Effort – A Clothing Line"
Susan Gunelius
Susan Gunelius is President & CEO of KeySplash Creative, Inc. and Founder & Editor in Chief of an award-winning blog, WomenOnBusiness.com. She is a 25-year veteran of the marketing field and has authored 10 books about marketing, branding, and social media, including the highly popular 30-Minute Social Media Marketing, Content Marketing for Dummies, Blogging All-in-One for Dummies and Kick-ass Copywriting in 10 Easy Steps. Susan’s marketing-related content can be found on Entrepreneur.com, Forbes.com, MSNBC.com, BusinessWeek.com, and more. Susan is President & CEO of KeySplash Creative, Inc., a marketing communications company. She has worked in corporate marketing roles and through client relationships with AT&T, HSBC, Citibank, Intuit, The New York Times, Cox Communications, and many more large and small companies around the world. Susan also speaks about marketing, branding and social media at events around the world and is frequently interviewed by television, online, radio, and print media organizations about these topics. She holds an MBA in Management and Strategy and a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing.
Follow Me:
I think microsoft should work on keeping my stock price high & improve vista – haha.
And let the kids design the T shirts.
Here’s ” go binary” from our T shirt Competion site. http://www.BlackEyedT.com.
sorry – don’t know how to post photo – you’ll have to go to the site.
Marc, very well said!
Hi Susan
I came by via About.com and of course, I couldn’t help but visit and sign up for Women on Business. 😉 I run my own women entrepreneurs’ group too and I would love to know how other business women think.
Microsoft has always reminded me of a geeky kid who tries so hard to belong but always fails, not knowing that if he only focused on using his geekiness as a strength (and like Marc said, improve its slew of products), we’d all root for the geeks. But Microsoft always wants to look and act ‘hip’ despite not being very hip – I think a branding problem occurred somewhere in its past. They try all sorts of stuff to be cool but end up being pitied instead. Poor Microsoft!
Krista, I’m laughing so hard at your analysis of Microsoft – so true!
I’m glad you found Women On Business, too. Welcome!
So, is Microsoft considered “West Coast” then since they’re in rough & tumble Redmond? I’m waiting for the t-shirt that says “Vista Mista” and maybe I’ll spring the $40 they’ll probably want…As Krista mentioned they’re so pitiful and yet I can’t produce a drop of pity for a company that dug their own hole.