5 Bizarre Brand Extensions That Befuddled Consumers

5. Smith & Wesson Bikes and Apparel

Smith & Wesson, long known as a purveyor of guns to policemen (and other less lawful people), decided to also sell mountain bikes to cops in 1997. Soon after, the gun maker made the bikes available to the general public. As for how the sales of the bikes went, it’s telling that the company doesn’t list bikes as one of its products on its website anymore. (You can still buy them online through current owners, though.) In case you’re interested, they still sell branded sweatshirts, belts, and caps, perhaps for the hardcore fanatic. Nevertheless, you can’t fault the company for trying to diversify now, as it just changed its name from Smith & Wesson Holding Co. to American Outdoor Brands Corp (NASDAQ:AOBC), amid its continued shift to include more of the outdoor gear market.

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