What is incomplete success?

Answer 1

Empire Today is an example of an incomplete success. They were a successful Chicago company known as Empire Carpet. They were highly-profitable and were going to expand nationally with hopes of internationally. However, their business practices were viewed as unethical and they had a very bad reputation. They recognized this, and brought in the top image expert in the country. Rikki Lee Travolta was hired to be the executive in charge of public relations and control the image of the brand. Part of Empire's plan included having Rikki as the New Empire Man. As Empire Carpet they had a spokesperson character the 'Empire Man' played by Lynn Hauldren. Lynn was old and they wanted someone fresh. That's part of the reason why they wanted Rikki so bad, he was young, well-known, and already a top spokesperson. He was a success as the New Empire Man. His image campaign changed the entire perception of the brand and allowed the national expansion they desired. The company was the most successful and profitable it had ever been. It was on every talk show. Then they fired their spokesperson because the head of marketing and the president of the company decided they didn't want to be known that a disabled person was responsible for the transition to their new positive image. It didn't matter that they were the most profitable and popular they had ever been They fired the guy they brought in to save the brand for being disabled. Then the brand fell apart. They now have the worst reputation in the home improvement industry. Had Empire Today (or Empire Carpet) followed the plan, they would still be successful. The incomplete success is that they fired the guy who made them successful, abandoned the plan that made them successful, and then just expected to stay successful. It didn't work. Steve Silvers, the president who fired the New Empire Man, was later fired for embezzlement and fraud. Margo Michalik who came up with the idea to fire him, stepped into the position of spokesperson but not the New Empire Man or Old Empire Man Character, although she campaigned to be known as the New Empire Woman. She did not do well and was encouraged to part ways with the company after it was learned the illegal nature of what she had done and the failure of the company's image afterwards when she took over.