Research shows ad campaigns that are more inclusive have a positive impact on profits, sales and brand worth
The cringe factor can be high when an established brand suddenly aligns itself with up-to-date values. It did not appear to work well for Gillette, which suffered a public backlash five years ago to its “toxic masculinity” advert, or for Marks and Spencer when it brought out an LGBT rainbow- coloured sandwich to mark Pride.
But new academic research carried out for the advertising industry suggests that “Go woke, go broke”, the snappy catchphrase devised by rightwing groups as a warning to brands, has got it all wrong.
More Stories
Jane Birkin’s original Hermès handbag to be sold at auction in Paris
Trump trade deal shows how vital China’s rare-earth metals are to US defense firms
BYD launches cheapest UK model in bid to overtake Tesla as biggest electric carmaker