Global Brands Attacked in China by Consumers and Media
“Some of the biggest names in global business - Heinz, Procter & Gamble, KFC, Colgate-Palmolive and Lipton instant tea - have faced consumer crises this year, calling attention to the unpredictability of China’s consumer market. Confronting sudden attacks in newspapers and on the Internet has become a vital tactic in doing business here.” (read the story…)
I’m sure these companies are thinking in terms of media relations and public relations. These are channels to deal with issues, but they don’t seem to address the core problem: reputation upkeep (or reputation management). Without a good reputation, you don’t have trust, and without trust you don’t have sales.