Top brands and their biggest flops on display in the Museum of Failure

Learning from mistakes...

Learning from mistakes..., Apple’s Newton, 'Trump The Game', Google Glass smart glasses, The 'Rejuvenique' mask, The revolutionary Segway, 'Bic for her' pens, Colgate’s lasagna

Many say that mistakes should be considered an unparalleled source of learning. And many of the big brands in this gallery know this well, as their products didn't always achieve the desired success.

Apple’s Newton

Learning from mistakes..., Apple’s Newton, 'Trump The Game', Google Glass smart glasses, The 'Rejuvenique' mask, The revolutionary Segway, 'Bic for her' pens, Colgate’s lasagna

It was 1992 when Apple launched what would be considered its biggest failure: Newton, a PDA (personal digital assistant), a term coined by Sculley, Apple's co-founder, who had ousted Steve Jobs at the time.

Learning from mistakes..., Apple’s Newton, 'Trump The Game', Google Glass smart glasses, The 'Rejuvenique' mask, The revolutionary Segway, 'Bic for her' pens, Colgate’s lasagna

It was supposed to be a mini computer that fit in the palm of your hand, capable of recognizing handwriting and voice. But it took a long time to reach the shelves and didn’t work as promised. When Steve Jobs returned to Apple in 1998, one of his first actions was to permanently cancel the project.

'Trump The Game'

Learning from mistakes..., Apple’s Newton, 'Trump The Game', Google Glass smart glasses, The 'Rejuvenique' mask, The revolutionary Segway, 'Bic for her' pens, Colgate’s lasagna

Another item that has rightfully entered the collections of the worst ideas in business history is the board game 'Trump The Game', endorsed by the former president of the United States... well, before he was president.

Learning from mistakes..., Apple’s Newton, 'Trump The Game', Google Glass smart glasses, The 'Rejuvenique' mask, The revolutionary Segway, 'Bic for her' pens, Colgate’s lasagna

Launched in 1989, Donald Trump’s version of Monopoly was included in Time’s 2011 list of the billionaire's top ten failures, alongside other flops like Trump Vodka and Trump Magazine.

Google Glass smart glasses

Learning from mistakes..., Apple’s Newton, 'Trump The Game', Google Glass smart glasses, The 'Rejuvenique' mask, The revolutionary Segway, 'Bic for her' pens, Colgate’s lasagna

Another product that has become part of the Museum of Failure's collection is from another giant in the global market in recent years: Google, with Google Glass, the smart glasses launched in 2014.

Learning from mistakes..., Apple’s Newton, 'Trump The Game', Google Glass smart glasses, The 'Rejuvenique' mask, The revolutionary Segway, 'Bic for her' pens, Colgate’s lasagna

Over the past 10 years, Google did everything to make these glasses appealing to consumers, but without success. In 2016, it permanently ceased production. According to a Forbes article, “Why Google Glass Failed: A Marketing Lesson,” the product's failure was due to poor communication and marketing strategies, among other things.

The 'Rejuvenique' mask

Learning from mistakes..., Apple’s Newton, 'Trump The Game', Google Glass smart glasses, The 'Rejuvenique' mask, The revolutionary Segway, 'Bic for her' pens, Colgate’s lasagna

'Rejuvenique' was a beauty mask designed to tone the face through electric pulses, to be used during 15-minute sessions at least 3 or 4 times a day. But this invention didn’t last long either…

Learning from mistakes..., Apple’s Newton, 'Trump The Game', Google Glass smart glasses, The 'Rejuvenique' mask, The revolutionary Segway, 'Bic for her' pens, Colgate’s lasagna

It lasted only a year! Rejuvenique was pulled from the market because it hadn’t received safety approval. Additionally, many users reported a sensation similar to a thousand ants biting their faces. Not to mention its appearance: straight out of a horror movie! Yikes!

The revolutionary Segway

Learning from mistakes..., Apple’s Newton, 'Trump The Game', Google Glass smart glasses, The 'Rejuvenique' mask, The revolutionary Segway, 'Bic for her' pens, Colgate’s lasagna

Launched in 2001 as a revolutionary and innovative mode of transport, the Segway has accumulated many technological and safety problems over the years. Despite the revolutionary idea, the producers didn’t account for road regulations, the high price ($5000), and some technical issues.

Learning from mistakes..., Apple’s Newton, 'Trump The Game', Google Glass smart glasses, The 'Rejuvenique' mask, The revolutionary Segway, 'Bic for her' pens, Colgate’s lasagna

We remember that magnate Jimi Heselden, who bought Segway in 2009, was found dead in a ravine following an accident with a Segway. In 2019, its production was permanently stopped.

'Bic for her' pens

Learning from mistakes..., Apple’s Newton, 'Trump The Game', Google Glass smart glasses, The 'Rejuvenique' mask, The revolutionary Segway, 'Bic for her' pens, Colgate’s lasagna

Designed to fit comfortably in a woman's hand: this was the claim accompanying another big business flop, this time from the well-known French pen brand Bic.

Learning from mistakes..., Apple’s Newton, 'Trump The Game', Google Glass smart glasses, The 'Rejuvenique' mask, The revolutionary Segway, 'Bic for her' pens, Colgate’s lasagna

The 'Bic for her' pens, unsurprisingly, were a real fiasco, receiving countless criticisms from the public and celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres, who joked: "Can you believe this? We've been using man pens all these years."

Credit: Museum of Failure

Colgate’s lasagna

Learning from mistakes..., Apple’s Newton, 'Trump The Game', Google Glass smart glasses, The 'Rejuvenique' mask, The revolutionary Segway, 'Bic for her' pens, Colgate’s lasagna

One of the most notable flops in food history comes from another big brand: Colgate (yes, the toothpaste brand)!

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