$5 Dollar Doughboy – What’s a Brand to Do?

February 26, 2010

6a00d83451fc1869e201310f4049fa970cFirst, Subway spokesman Michael Phelps gets caught smoking a bong, and now the brand’s miracle dieter Jared Fogle looks like he got a heavy case of the munchies. These indiscretions aren’t nearly as bad, or costly, as Tiger Woods’, but for Subway and Fogle, both of whom have raked in a lot of money off his weight loss, it isn’t good. According to industry reports, Subway is going to turn this into a positive by having Jared slim down again and train with co-spokesmen Michael Strahan. Smart move. But like Woods, this again brings to light the peril of so closely associating your brand with a celebrity, especially one you created. The rewards typically outweigh the risks (pun intended), but it’s still risky. What’s your take?

BACK TO BLOG