Conversation

What do you call it when you take a reputable brand and swap out the quality product it is based on and substitute an inferior product, taking the temporary profits before people catch on? It’s not harvesting the brand. More like shorting brand equity via an insider trade.
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Most extreme examples are like that cult that bought Newsweek etc. But lots of subtler cases. And yeah, often a PE playbook move. It feels like the NYT has been doing it without even admitting it to itself.
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Much sharper and consciously deceptive quality-downs, not merely cost-downs or moving a brand downmarket, which tend to be more openly telegraphed.
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Uncomfortable question. Does this describe “Brand America”? Party of Lincoln —> Party of Trump. It’s still called the “Grand Old Party” and “Republican” though it is is the Petty New Party and openly monarchist. “Democrats” following fairly close behind.
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