Business Movers
Pepsi: Doing Good Business | Special Markets | 1
Feb 15, 2024
The podcast explores Pepsi President Walter Mack hiring a team of Black salesmen in the 1940s to target African American customers despite segregation. It delves into the challenges faced by the sales team in racially segregated areas, their efforts to build brand loyalty, and the innovative marketing strategies implemented to tap into the African American market.
36:17
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Quick takeaways
- Pepsi capitalized on the African American consumer market, recognizing its commercial and moral significance.
- Pepsi overcame challenges of systemic racism and segregation to establish brand loyalty among African American customers.
Deep dives
Challenges of Segregation and Racism
Herman Smith faces considerable challenges in promoting Pepsi in territories like Mississippi due to segregationist laws and racial hostility. Despite his efforts to offer free Pepsi to a group of workers in a cotton field, white opposition and threats continually hinder his sales efforts. Herman's encounters serve as a poignant reminder of the systemic racism faced by African Americans, emphasizing the difficulties of promoting products in a racially divided society.
