Abercrombie & Fitch's
The store's management staff and security ended up driving out the offenders, even though it looked as though many customers found it amusing. And how's this for irony? Several of the shirtless men were turned away from trying to buy $45 shirts. (They clearly needed them.) Meanwhile, this same Abercrombie store happens to have a live, shirtless male model greeting customers, as well as a bronze statue of -- you guessed it -- a shirtless man.
Improv Everywhere has pranked many big-name corporations over the years. It sent a crowd wearing blue shirts and brown khakis into Best Buy
I write for an investing website, so should I really think it's funny? Well, sure ... because it is. This is the type of homegrown entertainment that makes it big on social-networking sites such as Google's
Of all the companies I've mentioned, you'd think Abercrombie would take it the best, since it's aimed at a youthful demographic and has gotten into hot water for its own controversial irreverence at times. However, maybe some of the managers of its stores take the Abercrombie brand a little too seriously. Although maybe we can't blame store-level managers too much for their judgment call, it reminds me a little of Coca-Cola's
Sure, brands are serious parts of business, and they ought to be protected. But then again, some companies may want to remind their employees that taking brands too seriously might be worse than -- at least in some cases -- letting the good times roll.