The Future and the Face of your brand.

Not so long ago, when there was a scandal involving a celebrity, the effect on sales was never that immediate. Nowadays, we are living in a reality where any misstep, especially of the magnitude of Kanye West or Kyrie Irving, can have immediate consequences and will require mitigating measures.

The immediate negative effect on their own brand and image, their ties to other partners, and their fan base would feel the duty to cut ties with these celebrities, no longer identifying themselves, even if covered behind the freedom of speech argument.

In such a fast-paced and easily-influenced world, it is more important than ever for companies to be careful about who they partner up with. One post or social media interaction from a company's ambassador can make or break not only their image but also years of marketing efforts. It has become essential for businesses large and small to do their research and be prepared for anything that might come up in order to protect their interests - and consequently their bottom line.

No alt text provided for this image
While luxury brands have always had to worry about producing high-quality items, the rise of social media has created new expectations. In the past, a brand could rely on word-of-mouth and traditional advertising to sell its products. However, today's consumers are increasingly turning to social media for information about brands and products. As a result, a luxury brand's reputation can be quickly damaged by a negative news story or scandal. This is particularly true for younger consumers, who are often more engaged with social media and less forgiving of brands that make mistakes. In order to protect their reputations, luxury brands must be vigilant about monitoring their online presence and must swiftly address any negative events.

This brings us to understand how important it is to choose wisely and carefully the face representing and promoting your brand. Whether it’s an influencer or a brand ambassador, it is crucial to come to a common understanding of what is at stake. The communication carried along this partner of collaboration needs to be flawless if any luxury company wishes to convey the right message throughout its brand and toward its clients. The person carrying the message must understand and embody these values themselves. Anything less will not suffice.

We have seen many examples of public figures who have failed to uphold the standards of luxury brands they represented, with disastrous consequences.

In 2008, French luxury goods retailer Christian Dior partnered with American actress Sharon Stone for a series of high-profile advertisements. However, following a devastating earthquake in China that left 68,000 people dead, Stone made comments suggesting that the disaster was a result of "bad karma" due to China's occupation of Tibet. These remarks sparked outrage in China, with the national news outlet calling her the "public enemy of all mankind." In response, Christian Dior quickly dumped Stone from their Chinese campaign and released an apology on her behalf. This incident serves as a cautionary tale for companies operating in China, where even a seemingly innocuous remark can result in significant reputational damage.

As one of the most popular athletes in the world, LeBron James has legions of fans who follow his every move. So when his Samsung phone had a meltdown, he decided to tweet about it to his 12 million followers. Not only did this call attention to the fact that Samsung phones can be unreliable, but it also gave Apple a boost in the highly competitive smartphone market. While Samsung may have been hoping to win market share away from Apple by signing LeBron James to promote their new Galaxy Note III, it seems that their plan has backfired. LeBron's tweets have definitely put a dent in Samsung's reputation!

It’s not enough for a celebrity ambassador to simply be famous – they must also be someone who can be trusted to carry the values of the brand they represent. No matter how much money is poured into marketing and advertising campaigns, it can all be lost in an instant if the wrong decisions are made.