Jeremy Moeller, Getty Images
For globally recognized brands, image is everything. Sneaker giant Nike, for example, is unlikely to ever get into the home appliance industry; Maytag will probably not be offering automobiles.
But some brands have attempted to diversify, banking on their name recognition to propel them into a new market. More often than not, they simply wind up confusing consumers. Take a look at eight products that gave brands an identity crisis.
1. Bic Pantyhose
Bic tried to squeeze into the pantyhose game.VladimirFLoyd/iStock via Getty Images
In 1950, a French fountain pen manufacturer named Marcel Bich saw an opportunity to market plastic ballpoint pens, a cheap alternative to the revolutionary ballpoints first introduced in 1945. Bich’s economy model was just 19 cents, compared to $12.50 for the expensive version (or about $180 in today’s dollars). Changing the spelling of his last name for what should be obvious reasons, Bic and his company became synonymo
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