Pepsi's huge marketing fail proves the importance of careful editing

Back in the '90s, branded merch was all the rage, something that soft drink giant Pepsi cottoned onto, prompting it to begin one of the biggest campaigns of all time – aptly named Pepsi Stuff. The basic premise was, consumers bought Pepsi goods, collected points and could trade them in for a bunch of, well, stuff. Sounds simple, right?

In case you hadn't yet heard, no, not simple at all. It actually turned out to be one of the biggest marketing disasters of the modern age – and it was all because of an aesthetic choice made on the editing room floor regarding a couple of zeros. This tale proves the importance of spot-on copy and careful ad choices (much like our favourite print adverts nailed, by the way).

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Georgia Coggan
Editor

Georgia has worked on Creative Bloq since 2018, and has been the site's Editor since 2022. With a specialism in branding and design, Georgia is also Programme Director of CB's award scheme – the Brand Impact Awards. As well as immersing herself with the industry through attending events like Adobe Max and the D&AD Awards and steering the site's content streams, Georgia has an eye on new commercial opportunities and ensuring they reflect the needs and interests of creatives.