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by ggm 1424 days ago
If you'd told me stocks in high street shops would be a risk investment because of online shopping when Amazon started I would have laughed in your face. They are not immensely un-risky holdings any more, because people's shopping habits moved. Look at Macy's value. It's way down from peak.

Revlon is a major consumer brand. How many people know about its involvement in haemophilia treatment, and the downside risks? Its in bancruptcy. How can a brand with that kind of recognition, which also owned Elizabeth Arden, tank?

I love listerine strips. I use them all the time. I haven't used TCP mouthwash since a big panic around phenols, and TCE in the 80s. I think the market moved. I certainly don't use Listerine any more, or use "fishermens friends" mouth lozenges which have chloroform in then (or used to)

The risk isn't "cancer" its "ohmygod cancer" headlines.

1 comments

I appreciate the pushback, and love how you're thinking about this.

Negative press can always be a head headwind.

I'd counter, if you look across the world, as oral hygiene has become a greater focus as we learn to appreciate it's importance in overall wellness, there is a huge positive trend: Health organizations and governments are spending huge amounts of money to support the adoption and frequent use of products like antiseptic mouthwash.

Bad headlines can certainly stifle volumes a bit, but long-term I am not sure they'd ever be enough to counter the concentrated efforts of so many major establishments.