One unexpected marketing success story is that of Dollar Shave Club. Their humorous and straightforward video went viral. It was simple yet engaging, directly addressing the pain points of expensive razors. This low - budget video managed to attract a large customer base quickly and was eventually sold for a huge amount.
Another example is Glossier. They focused on building a community. Instead of traditional big - budget advertising, they engaged with their customers on social media. They used user - generated content and listened to their customers' feedback. This community - driven approach led to a very successful brand with a cult - like following. Their products became popular through word - of - mouth and social sharing among their engaged community.
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is also an unexpected marketing success. It started as a simple idea to raise awareness for ALS. People would dump a bucket of ice water on themselves and challenge others to do the same or donate to ALS research. It spread like wildfire on social media. Celebrities participated, and it became a global phenomenon. It not only raised a significant amount of money for ALS research but also made the disease much more well - known around the world.