In a big case of "Whoops," This new sports shoe inspired by the Red Devils (Manchester United Football club) has attracted all sorts of negative attention. The reason? Well one look at the shoe should explain everything. The shoe is for Manchester United who's club colours is Red. The shoe though is in blue. The worst thing is that the shade of blue is eerily close to the cross town rival Manchester City. The result? A lot of very angry fans.

1. Pay close attention to branding colours.
2. Cultural context can affect colour meaning.
3. Brands should learn from Adidas' error.

Adidas Sponsorship of Manchester United

Adidas is the official brand supplier to the great Manchester United Football club in England. For this privilege, Adidas paid a staggering 1.5 billion dollars over 10 years. For this amount of money I am sure Adidas will want to appease Manchester United Fans as much as possible. Based on the amount of angry tweets this limited edition shoe has generated, I am sure someone is in a wee spot of trouble within Adidas.

Ode to the Past?

In the defence of Adidas, they explained they were trying to replicate the jersey colour of the 1968 European Cup winning team. Perhaps, this maybe true. Here is a picture of the 1968 Cup winning team. (there is a small resemblance to the shade of blue on the shirt compared to their jersey)

Personalised Details

The shoe itself though in my opinion looks quite smart. It features many little details that only a true football fan will appreciate including:

• The name of the shoe is Stretford, which is also the same name as the Stretford end of the stadium, which is the seating location of the most passionate fans.
• Red Devil Logo on the back
• Stretford logo on the tongue and the side

Also the iconic Adidas shape is one that I absolutely love.

Care With Branding Colours

So it seems like it is just the colours that have caused offense. Such a small minor piece of detail can cause a huge emotive difference to a product. It just goes to show how important paying close attention to small details can be in the world of personalizing products from shoes, through to promotional bags and other types of merchandise.

Colour Psychology in Branding

Colour psychology refers to the way that different colours affect our moods and behaviour. Here are just a few examples:

• Blue: This colour is often associated with trustworthiness and professionalism – which might explain why so many corporate logos feature shades of blue.
• Red: Bold and attention-grabbing, red is great for creating excitement or encouraging action – think sale signs or emergency warnings.
• Green: As well as being associated with nature and the environment, green can also indicate growth and freshness. Perfect for businesses that want to emphasize their eco-friendliness.

Branding Colour Tips

When it comes to choosing colours for your branded products, there are a few key factors to consider:

• Brand identity: Your branded merchandise should be consistent with your logo and website palette. We don't want any accidentally blue Man United shoes situation here.
• Emotional impact: Different colours can evoke different emotions in consumers, so it's crucial to think about what you want your brand to convey. For example, if you're looking to create a calming atmosphere, consider lighter shades of blue or green.
• Context: Keep in mind that certain colours may have different meanings depending on cultural context. In some parts of Asia, white symbolizes death rather than purity.

Takeaway

To sum up, the Manchester United shoe debacle serves as a reminder of how important it is for brands to pay attention to small details when personalizing their merchandise. While colours may seem like a minor factor, they can evoke strong emotions in consumers and impact brand identity. By considering factors such as brand identity, emotional impact, and cultural context when choosing colours, businesses can create effective branding that connects with their audience. As for our friends at Adidas, here's hoping they learned their lesson from the blue Manchester United shoes!

Images first seen on website: http://www.news.com.au/sport/sports-life/adidas-released-a-manchester-united-inspired-shoe-but-red-devils-fans-arent-happy/story-fno61i58-1227574720783