April Fools’ Day gives all of America — whether you’re joking with your friends or a part of a large corporate business — a chance to shine and show their less serious side. As kids, we used to eat vanilla pudding out of Mayo containers or draw spiders on toilet paper, but it’s safe to say that these might not fly in a grown-up setting or at least have the same hilarious effect they once had. As a marketing major and someone who loves everything creative, I never fail to get a kick out of the April Fools’ jokes some of our favorite brands put out. From luxury beauty to fast food chains, most companies try to spin one of their products into a joke that will either stop and make you laugh or flat-out fall for their scheme. After doing my research this past April Fools’ Day, I compiled and ranked five brand-centered pranks sure to make you think, laugh, or just appreciate the creativity that went into it!
5. TIcTAc × Dr. Pepper
As someone who’s obsessed with Dr. Pepper, I honestly wish this was real. In fact, it seems so real that many would say it doesn’t even seem like a prank. The comments were flooded with users thinking the announcement wasn’t April Fools-related, and I actually had to go on a deep dive to figure out if it was legit or not. I can appreciate the graphic and clever caption, but they didn’t put a lot of effort into their idea. I’d be happier if this were to turn into a new flavor TicTac, but the fact that this was all they had to give on the funniest day of the year puts this April Fools post at the bottom of my ranking.
4. OLipop × Hidden Valley
For a new and upcoming brand, Olipop did pretty well, considering its small range of products. Choosing a flavor theme that is hard to believe makes it pretty easy to figure out its illegitimacy, but I still give them credit for the thought they put into the variety of niche ranch flavors and color combos relative to them. I adore the packaging, placement, and overall photoshoot they did for this prank, as you can tell that they put a lot of thought into it. I got a laugh out of the flavor descriptions, and they even made me think, “How bad would these even be if they were real?” followed by the reality that a Hidden Valley ranch-flavored soda would in fact, be putrid. While Olipop’s April Fools Day product sits towards the bottom of the list, I can still appreciate the effort that went into it and know it would definitely be higher if it was within a larger pool of pranks.
3. Ipsy × Raising Cane’s
I can’t lie, the first time I saw this video I was pretty determined it was real. The endorsement by Cardi B, along with her spreading it on her face and eating it made it seem pretty legit, or at least legit enough before I remembered it was April 1st. From the packaging to its nude tint, I think Cane’s idea to turn their popular sauce into a moisturizer was pretty creative. Along with the video, Cane’s also put out a realistic ad, complete with a catchphrase and props. Overall, I think the endorsement was the key part in making this prank successful since it was evident that they put preparation into making people question if it was a joke or not.
2. Arizona × The rizzler
Everyone loves an ice-cold AriZona, and I think their inclusion of the popular personality “The Rizzler” is perfect for this kind of occasion. I personally loved watching The Rizzler and think he’s absolutely hilarious, so I definitely got a kick out of this when it crossed my feed. They made a smart move with the name of their “new” tea, incorporating his name into both the brand’s and flavor’s title. While I love the collab and creativity in the drink’s name, I think they could’ve put more effort into the placement of the beverage, instead of it being in front of a plain white background. While the animation and design of the tea were great, they had more to work with and chose not to. Overall, I think this was a solid April Fools prank and I’m sure it fooled many AriZona enthusiasts into believing the “aRIZZona Rizzberry” was soon to be on shelves.
1. Dyson
Out of all the brand April Fools Day pranks I encountered, I think Dyson’s takes the cake. Their idea of recreating their ever-so-popular Airwrap and morphing it into something for your brows, also a big beauty market, was pretty clever, in my opinion. Another reason why I think they were so successful was their advertisement of the product, making it seem legit. From the camera quality to the variety of women modeling the Airbrow, Dyson made it seem as though they just revolutionized the brow spoolie like they did hot tools for hair. Not to mention, they also included celebrity Victoria Magrath to showcase the Airbrow, which adds to the seemingly legitimate nature of the product.
Takeaway
In a society that is often so serious and competitive, there’s a lot of value in taking a day to have a little fun and try to bring some joy into the lives of those around you. While some brands took the pranks to a bigger level than others, I think they all did a good job of stumping their customers. As a marketing student, I really enjoy the process behind April Fools’ Day content and hope to create some for a future employer in my own career.