Oscar Mayer’s epic fail “Wake Up and Smell the Bacon” is an interesting marketing case that did not have the desired outcome. In 2014, Oscar Mayer, a company known for its meat products, launched an advertising campaign for a unique device: a smartphone attachment that, when plugged in, emitted the smell of bacon when waking up.
The idea was that users could download an associated app, set the alarm time, and wake up to the smell of bacon without actually having to cook. The device, called “Wake Up & Smell the Bacon,” presented itself as an innovative way to start the day.
However, the initiative was not taken up as planned. Although the idea might have seemed intriguing to bacon lovers, several factors contributed to its failure:
- Niche Targeting: The product was clearly aimed at a very specific audience, bacon lovers, thus reducing its overall appeal.
- Practicality: Many have questioned the practicality of waking up to the smell of bacon without actually having actual food to consume, which can be frustrating rather than pleasant.
- Limited Availability: The device was not for sale, but it could be won through a contest, further limiting its spread.
- Mixed Reactions: While some found the idea amusing and original, others found it unappetizing or even distasteful, especially for those who do not consume meat or do not appreciate bacon.
Despite the ingenuity and originality of the concept, “Wake Up and Smell the Bacon” failed to become a lasting success, remaining a curious episode in the history of food marketing.
