"If you were looking forward to soon purchasing "Jesus Juice" wine, well, you'll have to wait a bit longer. The California couple who filed an application to trademark the term so that they could slap it on bottles of merlot have dropped their bid, according to a December 15 U.S. Patent and Trademark Office filing. While the USPTO notice, which you can find below, does not state a reason for the abandonment by Dawn Westlake and Bruce Rheins, it is likely that criticism directed at the couple played a role in their decision." - The Smoking Gun
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Trademarked Wine Names
- Companies can leverage creating unique trademarked wine names to differentiate their products in a crowded market.
- Brand Backlash
- Businesses should have contingency plans in place to address immediate and intense customer criticism that can cause marketing and PR issues.
- Spiritual And/or Religious Products
- Entrepreneurs could create unique products to meet spiritual or religious needs for consumers seeking alternative products that align with their faith.
Sectors Adopting This
- Wine and Spirits
- Companies in the wine and spirits industry could invest in branding strategies that allow them to differentiate their products in an overcrowded space.
- PR and Marketing
- Businesses could strengthen their PR and marketing departments to ensure they have plans in place if brand backlash occurs.
- Religious Products and Services
- Entrepreneurs could create unique products and services to meet the niche needs of consumers seeking religious or spiritual options.
