Brands come and go, but the more beloved one is, the less likely it seems that it will ever go away. However, not all brands can live forever. In the just the next couple of years, even the most famous clothing or food can just disappear from the marketplace. Sales are going down and it doesn’t seem as though things will be getting any better. Here are some of those brands that may soon disappear.
Ann Taylor
There have been multiple reports stating that Ascena, the parent company of Ann Taylor, is nearing bankruptcy. As a result, it was forced to close around a third of its stores. This didn’t just negatively impact stores belonging to Ann Taylor either, but other brands such as Loft and Catherines. They already had to sell Maurices and Dressbarn in 2019. Things don’t seem to be boding well for the company.
Crocs
Crocs really had a massive explosion in popularity during the 2000s. They were a popular shoe brand because they were comfy and quick to slip on. Ironically, it’s the quality of the product that’s causing its downfall. The shoes are so durable that they don’t need replacing that often. Plus there’s a good chance they’re bad for your feet. And their simple design make them easy to replicate. Cheaper copycats have already flooded the market, taking a big chunk out of the potential profit Crocs already wasn’t making.
iPod
The iPod was a massive breakthrough for Apple in 2001. It was more expensive than similar portable music players at the time, but it quickly became a sensational product, regardless. However, since the creation of the iPhone, the iPod’s lost a lot of the luster it once had. The iPhone could just do everything the iPod could and so much more. Currently, the only iPod variation still being made is the iPod Touch.
Victoria’s Secret
Victoria’s Secret is a lingerie brand, and its always used its fashion shows and general skimpiness to get eyes on their products. However, their style is seemingly losing relevance in today’s modern culture. Sales have been steadily declining since 2016, forcing them to close 250 stores in 2020 alone.
Campbell’s
U.S. consumers between the ages of 18 to 34 just aren’t into Campbell’s soup anymore. People have become more health-conscious overall and the high sodium in canned soups just isn’t as appealing. Sales have been pretty flat for the brand since 2012. They’re focusing more on organic soups and broths, but those haven’t been selling well either nowadays.
Budweiser
Budweiser hasn’t been the “King of Beers” since 2018. That was the year the brand fell to fourth for domestic beer sales in the US. Craft beer production has simply exploded across the country and they’ve created new and exciting drinks. Budweiser just can’t keep up. And the hard seltzers and other alcoholic drinks popping up haven’t been helpful either.
Kodak
When was the last person you even saw someone with a disposable camera? Kodak just wasn’t able to bounce back from bankruptcy in 2012. It just didn’t help when smartphones introduced their own digital, high quality camera. Kodak’s been trying to get into the crypto market with Kodakcoin, but that market hasn’t been doing well either.
Harley Davidson
With the rise of ride-hailing apps and public transportation, motorcycles in general have become a much less desired commodity. Motorcycle riders have been on the decline in recent years, so of course Harley Davidson would be struggling. And the number of riders is projected to continue to fall in the coming years.
Jell-O
Jell-O’s perhaps the most iconic jello brand there is. However, the company’s had trouble responding to current food trends and healthier living. They’re trying their best to stay afloat, even introducing things like Jello-O Play, an edible slime/toy. However, things don’t seem as though they’ll be going well for the brand.
Gap
Gap Inc., which owns numerous clothing chains, appears to be on the verge of closing many of its flagship stores. The image is possesses is generally considered lackluster and boring. People are just tired of the retailer. And the fact that people don’t really shop in malls anymore probably hasn’t helped either.
Chevrolet Volt
General Motors isn’t making the Chevrolet Volt anymore. As a matter of fact, they’ve pulled the plug on the similar gas-powered Cruze small sedan. This happened back in 2019, so you might stop seeing them on the road at all pretty soon. The car just wasn’t selling well. People just preferred getting behind the wheel of SUVs and crossover vehicles over the Volt.
Chef Boyardee
The Chef Boyardee brand has been around since 1928 when it was created by the Boiardi family. However, as time has passed, his canned pasta has been losing its luster. Its parent company, ConAgra Foods has been trying to update the brand with higher-quality ingredients, but that just makes the price go up. Executives say the experiment is showing promise, but only time will tell.
Twitter’s still probably the biggest social media platform out there, but its user base has been getting chipped away at by others, such as SnapChat and Instagram. Twitter put itself up for sale in 2016 and ended up getting bought out by Elon Musk. And the policies he’s been implementing as the CEO have been less than well-received. The stock’s actually continued to plummet.
Tiffany & Co.
This brand of jewelry is almost 200 years old. Yet, it seems as though its on the verge of going away. Americans have simply begun to lose interest in the company’s signatures. Some couples are also avoiding on splurging on diamond engagement rings, or even avoiding marriage altogether. The company’s stock has gone down about 20%.
Fiat
Fiat is still popular in Italy, but it’s been losing its popularity in the US. They just have a reputation for being unreliable and giving “choppy” rides. The sales have apparently been dropping every month for years. US consumers just have different interests when it comes to cars.
SlimFast
SlimFast was recently sold for $350 million. In comparison, Unilever bought it for $2.4 billion in 2000. It really shows how unpopular the brand has become over time. They’ve been trying to add new products to their line, such as cookies and protein bars, but consumers just continue to look at other sources to actually “slim fast”.
Kenmore
Sears has been taking pretty big hits recently. As such, the department store’s chain of Kenmore appliances is going down as well. Appliance makers used to put the Kenmore nameplate on their best products, but now the line isn’t competitive anymore. Sean Maharaj, director in the retail practice at the consulting firm AArete, even told CNN that owning a Kenmore was like owning “a flip phone in the smartphone era”.
Wheaties
General Mills’ classic breakfast cereal just hasn’t been doing as well anymore. They still have other brands of cereal, but Wheaties just doesn’t appeal to the kids anymore. Although, there is a not, insignificant number of people that have moved on to different sources of breakfast food as well.
Odwalla
Coca Cola announced plans to shut down its juice and smoothie brand Odawalla and it’s already followed through on that promise. It was initially marketed as a healthy drink option, but it drew criticism for its high sugar content. Some bottles had as much sugar as a can of soda anyway.
Kraft Singles
The appeal of American cheese has certainly waned in more recent memory. And Kraft Singles took the biggest hit. The artificial and plastic-like “cheese” just isn’t appealing to the average consumer anymore. Although they’re expected to endure better than most, a general drop in sales of “cheese food” is expected.
Forever 21
Fast fashion just isn’t trendy anymore. Forever 21 actually already filed for bankruptcy in 2019, but a team a three buyers were able to help expand the brand internationally and preserve it. Although, Forever 21 as a whole has still lost a lot of its relevancy in the US. Nowadays, more vintage or long-lasting clothing is more popular than just chasing trends.
Kellogg’s Cereal
While Eggo waffles are enjoying a resurgence thanks to Stranger Things, the rest of Kellogg’s breakfast lineup is waning. In February, the company lowered its expectations for 2020 as cereal sales continued to slide.
Americans are turning toward on-the-go foods for their commute to work or school and aren’t as thrilled by the super-sweet cereals of their childhood, like Corn Flakes and Froot Loops. Even “diet friendly” option Special K isn’t selling like it once did.
While Kellogg’s the company isn’t going anywhere — its snack sales have remained strong — a few members of the breakfast crew could vanish sooner than you think.
Applebee’s
Applebee’s has been fading into the background for a while now. While the pandemic isn’t the sole source of blame, it certainly didn’t help. Younger generations just prefer faster dining experiences over sitting in at a chain. And Applebee’s selection of unhealthy food hasn’t really been beneficial. They’ve had to close more than 200 locations since 2016.
Claire’s
The charm of Claire’s has really just faded in the last decade or so. Teen jewelry stores just aren’t as popular as they used to be. In 2018, the store had to file for bankruptcy, blaming it on slow earnings and reduced foot traffic in the mall. Its free piercing service also doesn’t translate online, so when the pandemic started, Claire’s took an even bigger hit.
H&M
H&M is faring better than Forever 21, but its still suffering. It was shutting down stores before the pandemic began and was struggling to get rid of billions of unsold inventory. The surprisingly high prices also made it more difficult to compete with more easily sustainable brands.
