Dubai: US clothing brand American Apparel offered a 20 per cent discount promotion for those in the states affected by Hurricane Sandy. American Apparel sent an email out to customers in nine US states with the promotional code “SANDYSALE.” Social media users quickly took to twitter to criticise the company’s 36-hour “in case you’re bored during the storm” promotion.
Not to be outdone, The Gap encouraged people impacted by the same hurricane to do some online shopping. The tweet was later taken down and the company issued an apology.
US home appliance brand KitchenAid was forced to issue an apology after an employee mistakenly posted an anti-Obama tweet from the company account. The tweet read: “Obamas gma [grandma] even knew it was going 2 b bad! She died 3 days b4 he became president. #nbcpolitics.” The company quickly removed the tweet and issued an apology, explaining the employee had meant to post it from a personal account.
American Rifleman, a journal affiliated with the National Rifle Association (NRA), unknowingly posted a pro-gun tweet as a mass shooting in Colorado was taking place. The tweet read: “Good Morning, shooters. Happy Friday! Weekend plans?” The tweet and account were deleted later that day.
British supermarket brand Waitrose were caught off guard when their “Finish the sentence: I shop at Waitrose because ___ #WaitroseReason” twitter campaign failed. A majority of tweeters replied poking fun at the supermarkets posh reputation. “I shop at Waitrose because it makes me feel important and I absolutely detest being surrounded by poor people #waitrosereasons” one tweeter posted. The responses were taken in good humour by the Waitrose PR team who later tweeted they had enjoyed “most of them”.
