Fortune heart healthy oil: when a strong brand strategy hits a cardiac roadblock!

Abstract

Learning outcomes

The case will familiarize students to TEARS model and No TEARS approach for brand endorser selection. It will enable the students to understand the extent of influencer impact on the brand. It will make students to realistically assess the pros and cons of ambassador marketing using celebrities. It will also enable the student to devise brand strategies to mitigate the risk associated with ambassador-based marketing.

Case overview/synopsis

The case explains the strategic challenge the brand faces in ambassador marketing due to the uncontrollable personal crisis of the celebrity. Brand ambassador is an integral element of the brand persona and is appointed to boost the brand’s unique proposition and sales. The selection of the brand ambassador is a strategic decision with direct implication on the brand equity. A strong celebrity–brand congruence is ideal to establish credibility, but it can backfire if anything negative occurs on either side. This case evaluates the crisis faced by Fortune oil which has been positioned as “the heart healthy oil” when its celebrity ambassador suffers heart attack. In the backdrop of the case, the students can analyse brand strategies with respect to ambassador marketing, TEARS model with No TEARS approach for endorser selection and endorser-related credibility risk management.

Complexity academic level

MBA BBA PG/Graduation in Marketing/Advertising.

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 8: Marketing.

Citation

Unnithan, D., Pathy, G.S. and Ramanathan, H. (2022), "Fortune heart healthy oil: when a strong brand strategy hits a cardiac roadblock!", , Vol. 12 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/EEMCS-01-2021-0014