Unfortunate Timing For Cardi's Ad

February 14, 2010  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on February 15, 2010

A television ad meant to tie in with the Vancouver Winter Olympics and bring some humor to the screen backfired on Cardi's Furniture of Providence, R.I.

A Cardi's ad Friday evening featured a comic bobsled accident, but unfortunately ran right after coverage of a luge accident that fatally injured a competitor from Georgia, upsetting many viewers who called NBC-10 and Cardi's to complain.

The The retailer released a statement of apology Friday to NBC's local Channel 10 affiliate.

"Prior to the Opening Ceremony, a tragedy happened at the Olympics as an athlete lost his life in the sport of luge," the statement read. "We were unaware of this incident until seeing the pre-opening coverage. Unfortunately, an animated commercial that we prepared several months ago, aired during that coverage, following the story of the tragedy. Similar versions of this commercial have been used in prior Winter Olympic seasons. Now knowing of this tragic loss of life, we realize this commercial should have never aired and we are sorry that it did.  We have taken it off the air. Our thoughts and prayers are with the athlete's family and teammates. On behalf of Nick, Ron and myself, we truly apologize."