A quality control disaster turns into a new product opportunity

What happens when a product that is supposed to delight customers for 20 minutes lasts for just 50 seconds? That’s what happened to the good people of Oban in Scotland, when their bonfire fireworks celebration turned out to be a little shorter than expected…

Here is footage of the infamous Oban fireworks display in November 2011.

The firework display was organised by specialist firm Pyro 1 who were the suppliers to Oban on the 4th November 2011 to provide their annual show. After a technical fault the 20 minute display fired in just 50 seconds.

Pyro1’s initial feelings of shock and concern at the disappointment they had caused the people of Oban turned to amazement and delight at the marketing coverage it has generated, (almost 1 million views of the YouTube video) and the number of positive comments they received. Pyro1 were back in Oban on Sunday 27 November to provide the town with a free spectacular 5 minute display as a finale to their winter festival.

According to the FT, Pyrol1 claims that the interest has led to a run of new bookings for its services with over half of its available slots for work in November 2012 already booked. And the impressive, albeit very short display has also led to some new product development.

Pyro1 has launched a new “Oh Bang” display, repeating the Oban experience on purpose, which it claims is aimed at those who want a “high impact, dramatic” show lasting just two minutes.