Suzanne Killian

NIAGARA, Wis. — We all know that part of being human is making mistakes, and we have all made our fair share of them. As we journey through life, we all have had those moments when we wish for a do-over.

The saving grace of making that error is learning from it. Nothing shows us the right way more effectively than taking the wrong turn first and having to find our way back to the right path forward. If we are lucky, all the mistake costs us is some embarrassment, bruised feelings and a little lost time. And at best, some mistakes lead to eventual successes.

As it turns out, we are not the only ones to err. History is full of large companies that have tried to bring their latest brainstorm to fruition only to have it crash and burn upon implementation. But it seemed like such a good idea in committee … why didn’t it sell? Not every innovation is destined to succeed. Some ideas might sound promising on paper, but fail to meet real-world consumer needs. And these flops aren’t always easy to prevent — even the most successful companies make mistakes that end up costing millions. Today’s column tells the story of the 10 biggest product fails of all time.

1. I am sure most of you reading this remember “New Coke.” In 1985, Coca-Cola made the bold decision to change its classic formula in an attempt to compete with Pepsi’s rising popularity. This new version was sweeter and aimed at capturing more of the younger customer base enjoyed by Pepsi. Coca-Cola’s executives believed this shift would boost sales but completely underestimated the emotional attachment millions of loyal Coke drinkers had to the original formula. Consumer outrage was immediate, and the company was flooded with angry letters, petitions, and protests — all accompanied by disappointing sales. Inside of just three months, Coca-Cola was forced to reintroduce the original formula under the name Coca-Cola Classic. This costly experiment confirms the truth of the saying: “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.”

2. In the late 1950s, Ford Motor Company introduced a new automotive brand. The Edsel was marketed as the “car of the future” and named after Henry Ford’s son, Edsel Ford. The first model featured innovative elements like a push-button transmission and an overall modern design. Sadly, it became a major commercial flop. Ford executives had expected it to dominate its price segment, but consumers found the car unattractive and plagued by mechanical issues. The marketing hype had raised expectations so high that the car ultimately failed to live up to them, leading to one of the biggest automotive failures in history.

3. Believe it or not, Harley-Davidson came up with a perfume in the 1990s. Yes, you read that correctly. The rugged, tough image of the motorcycle brand doesn’t align well with the idea of a pleasant fragrance — unless grease and gasoline are your go-to colognes. Despite this being obvious to the public, the company decided to give the fragrance a try. It didn’t last long. Consumers were confused by it, and the high-end fragrance market showed little interest. Consequently, Harley Perfume was quietly pulled from shelves shortly after its release.

4. Segway, a motorized off-road scooter, was introduced in 2001. While not a complete failure, the initial product never lived up to its inflated expectations. It was marketed as a groundbreaking personal transport device that would revolutionize how people got around in cities. And while the self-balancing technology was impressive, the high cost that came with it put it out of reach for most consumers. Additionally, city infrastructure wasn’t really designed to accommodate the device, making it impractical for daily use. The original Segway was discontinued in 2020, after almost two decades of poor sales.

5. In 1974, Gerber’s marketing executives decided to target adults with “Gerber Singles,” a line of single-serve pureed meals. They believed there was an unmet need for convenient, single-serve meals for adults seeking quick nutrition. But most people weren’t interested in eating what felt like astronaut food on a daily basis. Consumers also found the idea unappealing because it felt like they were eating baby food. It quickly became an industry joke and was swiftly pulled from the market.

6. In 1998, Frito-Lay introduced a new “healthy” snack food named Wow! Chips. It was a rather revolutionary product in that it was a fat-free snack made with olestra, a fat substitute that couldn’t be absorbed by the body. It seemed like such a great idea that the company rushed to introduce it for quick profits, and “overlooked” the testing phase. Guilt-free snacking certainly seemed appealing, but the new component caused very unpleasant “laxative effects” on people. The new chip quickly earned a bad reputation, and consumers avoided it. A few years later, most olestra-based chips were removed from the market.

7. In the 1980s, Bic, known for its disposable pens, reliable lighters and inexpensive razors, attempted to introduce a line of cheap, disposable perfumes. However, the concept of throwaway perfume didn’t resonate with the public, who typically associate perfumes with luxury and longevity. Sales were dismal, and the product quickly disappeared from shelves.

8. In the 1980s, Colgate decided to venture out of its dental health realm and entered the frozen food market. Colgate Kitchen Entrees offered a range of ready-to-eat meals, from lasagna to roasted chicken. Consumers, however, did not take to the idea of buying food from a brand so closely associated with dental hygiene. Sales were terrible and this experiment is now remembered as one of the worst marketing decisions in history. The initiative was quickly terminated and product pulled from the shelves.

9. Believe it or not, McDonald’s tried to expand into the pizza industry in the 1980s with McPizza. It did not initially seem like such a stretch — after all, pizza is a quick meal. However, it did not prove to be quick enough for the fast-food industry. Pizza took too long to prepare, so clashed with the fast-food model. Also, customers didn’t really associate McDonald’s with pizza, instead preferring their classic menu items. So, by the mid-1990s most locations had phased out McPizza.

10. Futuristic glasses — a product dubbed Google Glass — debuted in 2013. This wearable device allowed users to take photos, access the internet and receive notifications. Privacy concerns over its built-in camera emerged; people feared that it could lead to covert surveillance in public spaces. But what ultimately doomed the concept was its high cost combined with limited functionality for everyday users. In reality it was more of a prototype than a finished product and struggled to find a mainstream market. It was quietly discontinued two years after its release.

As the old adage states: “Better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all.” Neither individuals nor large companies succeed every time, yet the effort may lead to a success down the road. There is a great deal to be learned from failure, so we should allow ourselves to give new ideas a try. While we certainly need to think things through before pursuing a brainstorm, being overly cautious gets us nowhere. Whether a success or a failure we learn important lessons — about ourselves and about life.

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NURSING HOMES/SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES

Freeman Nursing and Rehabilitation Community

Kingsford

906-774-1530

The center welcomes anyone who would like to entertain residents. Volunteers are also needed to help with crafts and other activities.

The third Tuesday of every month at 2 p.m. has a Memory Cafe – a fun hour to spend with others. For more information, contact Jaime Hathaway at jlhathaway@protonmail.com. The program runs on donations.

Sunday: Catholic Mass on TV, 10 a.m.; relax; coloring, 2 p.m.

Monday: Chair fun, 10 a.m.; trivia, 10:30 a.m. ball toss, 11 a.m.; card club, 1:30 p.m.

No additional information was available.

Iron County Medical Care Facility

Crystal Falls

906-874-1501

Sunday: Room visits, 8:30 a.m.; reminisce, 9:30 a.m.; chair exercise, 10:45 a.m.; room visits, 12:30 p.m.; afternoon matinee with popcorn, 1:30 p.m.

Monday: Cooking, 9:30 a.m.; DT luncheon, 11:30 a.m.; room visits, 1 p.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; bonfire, 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday: Just friends’ coffee social/”Name That Tune,” 9:30; mystery ride 9:30; travel film, 1:30 p.m.; garden club, 2 p.m.; western movie, 6pm

Wednesday: Coffee social/Sunshine Club, 10:30 a.m.; travel club, 9:30; exercise, 10:45; Dan’s songs for seniors, 2 p.m.; activity council, 3 p.m.; night bingo, 6:15

Thursday: Puzzler, 9:30 a.m.; bowling, 10 a.m.; Bible study, 1 p.m.; wildlife film, 1:30 p.m.; happy hour with Jim, 2 p.m.

Friday: Patriotic trivia 9:30; courtyard reminisce, 2 p.m.; musical movie, 6 p.m.

Saturday: Room to room bingo/trivia teasers 9:30 a.m.; geri-gym, 10:45 a.m.; social hour, 2 p.m.; romance movie, 6 p.m.

Optalis Healthcare

Kingsford

906-774-4805

Sunday: No information available.

Monday: No information available.

Tuesday: Coffee time, 9 a.m.; resident council meeting, 9:30 a.m.; room visits, 2 p.m.

Wednesday: Room visits, 8 a.m.; coffee time, 9:30 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m. bingo, 2 p.m.; movie or games, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday: Room visits, 8 a.m.; coffee time, 9:30 a.m.; daily chronicle, 10 a. m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; Scattegories, 2 p.m.

Friday: Fourth of July parade, 9 a.m.; room visits/leisure cart/games, 11 a.m.

Saturday: Manicures, 9:30 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; craft or games, 1 p.m.

Maryhill Manor Nursing Home

Niagara, Wis.

715-251-3172

Families are allowed to attend activities and are encouraged to join in.

Sunday: Coffee and trivia, 10 a.m.; delivery of communion, 12:30 p.m.; prize bingo, 1:45 p.m.; church service, 2:30 p.m.

Monday: Rosary/communion service, 9 a.m.; pamper and polish, 10 a.m.; bocce ball, 2 p.m.; game night, 5:15 p.m.

Tuesday: Rosary/communion service, 9 a.m.; silly crafters, 10 a.m.; courtyard campfire, 2 p.m.; Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 3 p.m.

Wednesday: Rosary/communion service, 9 a.m.; yard Yahtzee, 10 a.m.; jokereno, 2 p.m.; trivia challenge, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday: Rosary/communion service, 9 a.m.; short stories, 10 a.m.; courtyard cabana — dirty orange soda, 2 p.m.

Friday: Yard Yahtzee, 10 a.m.; happy hour with Jim on the piano, 2 p.m.

Saturday: Board games, 10 a.m.; courtyard games — lawn darts, 2 p.m.

Northshore Healthcare

Florence, Wis.

715-528-4833

No information was available.

Victorian Pines

Iron Mountain

906-774-5158

Sunday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; Bible study, 1:30 p.m.

Monday: Juice time, 10 a. m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; bingo and refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; trivia and refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; bingo and refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Thursday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Friday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Saturday: Juice time, 10 a.m.

Pinecrest Medical

Care Facility

Powers

906-497-5244

Sunday: Morning visits and reality orientation; Bunco, 10 a.m.; trivia, 11:15 a.m.; church services, 1:30 p.m.; root beer floats, 2:30 p.m.; coloring pages, daily chronicles..

Monday: Morning visits and reality orientation; open room, 9:30 a.m.; “You be the Judge,” 11 a.m.; bowling, 1:45 p.m.; Bible studies, 3 p.m.; book club, 4 p.m.; movie, 6 p.m.; daily chronicles.

Tuesday: Morning visits and reality orientation; open room, 9:30 a.m.; juice hour, 11 a.m.; who-what-where/bingo, 2 p.m.; Sequence, 4 p.m.; daily chronicles.

Wednesday: Morning visits and reality orientation; open room, 9:30 a.m.; hangman, 11 a.m.; crafty Wednesday, 1:45 p.m.; rummy, 4 p.m.; daily chronicles.

Thursday: Morning visits and reality orientation;  bingo/trivia, 10:30 a.m.; off to the races, 2 p.m.; table talk, 4 p.m.; daily chronicles.

Friday: Morning visits and reality orientation; Catholic Mass, 10:30 a.m.; Fourth of July parade, 11 a.m.; movie “Independence Day,” 1:30 p.m.; book club, 4 p.m.; game night, 6 p.m.; daily chronicles .

Saturday: Morning visits and reality orientation; exercise group, 10 a.m.; Bible studies, 11 a.m.; juice hour, 11 a.m.; bingo, 1:45 p.m.; one-to-one visits, 3 p.m.; daily chronicles, activity packet.

SENIOR CENTERS

Amasa Center

906-822-7284

Menu for the week —

Tuesday: Smothered pork chop, mashed potatoes and gravy, candied carrots, brownies.

Wednesday: Garlic linguine with fish, green beans, dinner roll.

Thursday: Mushroom Swiss burger, oven-baked fries, macaroni and cheese.

Breen Center

Kingsford

906-774-5110

Dine-in eating Monday through Thursday at noon, salad bar at 11:30 a.m. Carryout meals are available. Soup and salad bar are also available. Friday and night meals are on hold indefinitely. Menu for the week —

Monday: Closed.

Tuesday: Smothered pork chop, mashed potatoes and gravy, candied carrots, brownies.

Wednesday: Garlic linguine with fish, green beans, dinner roll.

Thursday: Mushroom Swiss burger, oven-baked fries, macaroni and cheese.

Crystal Falls Center

Head Cook: Elizabeth Peryam

Assistant Cooks: Debbie Bigalke and Shannon Stapleton

906-875-6709

The center is serving meals for dine-in or takeout – call the center by 1 p.m. to make reservations or place an order. All food purchased from local vendors. All dinners include warm vegetables, salad bar, soup, homemade desserts, coffee, tea or milk. Salad bar begins at 4:30 p.m. and dinner is served at 5 p.m. Pickup for takeout meals is 4 p.m. – call ahead and leave a message with a phone number. Deliveries can be made to homebound citizens only. Menu for the week —

Monday: Chicken parmesan, garlic bread.

Tuesday and Wednesday: No information was available.

Home-delivered meals (prepared by DICSA — independent from above menu) —

Monday: Philly cheese sandwich with ground beef, macaroni and cheese, corn.

Tuesday: Smothered pork chop, mashed potatoes and gravy, candied carrots, brownies.

Wednesday: Garlic linguine with fish, green beans, dinner roll.

Thursday: Mushroom Swiss burger, oven-baked fries, macaroni and cheese .

Dickinson-Iron Community Services Agency

DICSA

Iron Mountain

906-774-2256, ext. 230 or 235

This is a Meals on Wheels program only. Home-delivered meals only — call to make arrangements. Menu for the week —

Monday: Philly cheese sandwich with ground beef, macaroni and cheese, corn.

Tuesday: Smothered pork chop, mashed potatoes and gravy, candied carrots, brownies.

Wednesday: Garlic linguine with fish, green beans, dinner roll.

Thursday: Mushroom Swiss burger, oven-baked fries, macaroni and cheese.

Friday: Chicken salad on a bun, yogurt, string cheese, fresh banana.

Note: All meals include a choice of skim milk, juice or no beverage.

For more information, call Christine McMahon at 906-774-2256.

Crystal Lake Center

Iron Mountain

906-828-1776

Schedule for the week:

Monday: Les Artistes art club, noon to 3 p.m.; woodcarvers, starting at 9 a.m.

Tuesday: Cards — Pinochle and cribbage, noon to 4 p.m.; Happy Quilters, noon to 3 p.m.

Wednesday: Bingo, 1 to 3 p.m.; cards cost 25 cents with 10 games played.

Thursday: Spinning Spools quilting, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; board games, 1 to 3 p.m.

Friday: Cards — Smear, noon to 4 p.m.; chess, noon.

Felch Center

906-246-3559

Head cook: Joan Wickman, 906-246-3559

Program president: Lisa Casey, 906-282-7899.

Salad bar opens at 11 a.m., with the meal at 11:30 a.m. and dessert to follow. Evening meal is served every third Wednesday of the month, with sponsored activities. Takeout meals are available. Delivery offered to homebound residents within Felch, West Branch and Breen townships.

Menu for the week —

Monday — Chicken chop suey over rice and fortune cookie.

Tuesday — Shepherd’s pie with roll.

Wednesday — Brats, potato salad and baked beans.

Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Florence County, Wis.

715-528-4890

Menu for the week–

Monday: Chef’s salad — mixed greens, ham, turkey, cheese, egg, tomato, croutons, breadstick, cottage cheese, fruit.

Tuesday: Cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato and onion, baked beans, fruit.

Wednesday: Meatloaf, baked potato, broccoli, fruit, lemonade dessert.

Thursday: Fourth of July picnic — barbecue chicken, potato salad, corn-on -the-cob, watermelon.

Friday: Centers closed for July 4 holiday.

Note: All meals served with whole grain bread, butter and milk.

Aurora-Hillcrest Dining Center

Serving at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. For reservations, call 715-589-4491.

Florence Community Center

Serving at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday. For reservations, call 715-528-4261.

Fence Town Hall

Serving at noon Wednesday only. For reservations, call 715-589-4491.

Tipler Town Hall

Serving at noon on second Thursday only. For reservations, call 715-528-4261.

Hermansville Center

Coordinator: Barb Peters

906-498-7735

Center is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Meals are served through the Menominee-Delta-Schoolcraft Community Action Agency in Escanaba. Meals on Wheels program is available for those who are homebound.

Monday: Hamburger stroganoff, diced beets, root vegetable blend, fruit cocktail.

No additional information was available.

Iron River Center

906-265-6134

Salad bar opens at 11 a.m., with the meal served at 11:30 a.m. No night meals are available. Meals can be prepared for carryout.

Menu for the week —

Monday: Closed for July 4 holiday.

Tuesday: Smothered pork chop, mashed potatoes and gravy, candied carrots, brownies.

Wednesday: Garlic linguine with fish, green beans, dinner roll.

Thursday: Mushroom Swiss burger, oven-baked fries, macaroni and cheese.

All meals are served with choice of skim milk or juice and fruit.

Niagara Senior Center/Cafe

715-251-1603

Dinner is served at noon Monday through Thursday. Reservations are required one day in advance. Suggested donation for the meal is $5 for those older than 60 and $11 for 60 and younger. Bingo is played on most Wednesdays. Transportation to the meal site is available.

Tuesday: Barbecue chicken breast, brown rice, stir-fry vegetables, side salad, creamy fruit salad.

Wednesday: Pork roast, sweet potatoes, green beans, applesauce, wheat bread.

Thursday: Hamburger on a bun with lettuce and tomato, German potato salad, strawberry shortcake.

Norway Center

Director: Alicia Rochon

906-563-8716

Dine-in eating begins at 11:15 a.m. Takeout meals are available for pick-up from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Those attending should let staff know in advance if planning to dine in or picking up the meal.

Menu for the week —

Monday: Baked cod, baked potato, Brussel sprouts, Mandarin oranges, banana bread.

No additional information was available.

Center activity schedule:

Mondays and Thursdays — Exercise at 10 a.m. and card bingo after the meal.

Monday through Thursday — Card game 101 from noon to 3 p.m. Call Joe at 906-563-5587 for information.

Tuesdays — Quilting and sewing.

Wednesdays — Ceramics and crocheting.

Last Monday of each month — Book club at 9 a.m.

Sagola Center

906-542-3273

Dine-in meals served. Salad bar opens at 11 a.m. and meal is served at 11:30 a.m. Carryout meals also available.

Tuesday: Baked ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, Brussel sprouts.

Wednesday: Corned beef and cabbage, green beans, dinner roll.

Thursday: Mushroom Swiss burger, oven-baked fries, macaroni and cheese, brownies.

All meals served with an option of milk, juice or no beverage.

Home-delivered meals —

Monday: Philly cheese sandwich with ground beef, macaroni and cheese, corn.

Tuesday: Smothered pork chop, mashed potatoes and gravy, candied carrots, brownies.

Wednesday: Garlic linguine with fish, green beans, dinner roll.