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“That Sh*t Will Never Sell!”
The Story of the Men Who Sold The World What it Didn't Know it Wanted. Again and Again
by David Gluckman
In “That Sh*t Will Never Sell!”, David Gluckman, a renowned figure in drinks branding, offers a witty and revealing look behind the scenes of some of the world’s most famous tipples. Drawing on decades of experience, Gluckman recounts the unlikely origins and colourful histories of brands like Baileys Irish Cream and Tanqueray Gin, as well as the spectacular flops that never made it to our glasses.
The book opens in the smoky bars and bustling streets of 1930s London, whisking readers through the decades to the boardrooms of global drinks giants. Gluckman’s storytelling is sharp and irreverent, peppered with anecdotes about billion-dollar ideas born in minutes, sceptical American executives, and the odd marketing disaster—such as the ill-fated Guinness Light and the peculiar invention of take-home Draught Guinness, complete with a plastic syringe.
What sets this book apart is Gluckman’s candid, sardonic tone and his knack for finding humour in both triumph and failure. Whether he’s describing a standing ovation from a roomful of unimpressed Koreans or the misguided attempt to sell red-coloured Chardonnay, his tales are as entertaining as they are insightful.
“That Sh*t Will Never Sell!” is a must-read for anyone fascinated by business, branding, or the unpredictable world of drinks. Gluckman’s memoir is both a nostalgic journey and a masterclass in creative thinking, making it a spirited addition to any bookshelf.
Published by Prideaux Press on 2024-08-22
David Gluckman loves taking chances. His mantra is “If you don’t know what you can’t do, you can do anything!” Born and educated in South Africa, he was inspired by a book called Madison Avenue USA, by Martin Mayer to go into advertising. He made a wrong turn to start with and became an account executive, a ‘suit’, a job he did for ten years in Johannesburg and London.
In 1969 he switched to become a creator of brands and has been doing it ever since. He loves ideas but feels that people approach them too cautiously. Based in the UK, he has worked all over the world. The bulk of his experience has been in the US, but other countries on his visa list include India, Brazil, Russia, Australia, Spain, France, Italy, Hungary, Hong Kong and South Korea. He even managed four trips on Concorde. His list of brands includes Baileys, Sheridan’s, The Singleton, Purdey’s, Aqua Libra and Tanqueray Ten.
