When James Wright posted a YouTube video detailing his reaction to a new food item, he probably didn’t think he was about to cause a supply shortage at a major retailer, but that’s exactly what he did. Wright’s hysterical reaction to the Patti Labelle-brand sweet potato pie has caused a sellout at Walmart, with the nationwide chain rushing to restock its shelves.
In his video, Wright tries out the sweet potato pie and begins singing its praises–as well as a few of Labelle’s songs–once he tastes it. In less than two weeks, Wright’s antics have rolled up more than three million views on YouTube. If you haven’t seen his fine work yet, consider adding to his impressive view count; I don’t think you’ll be disappointed:
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In response to the video, consumers have flocked to Walmart (where the Labelle-brand pies are sold) to uncover the truth about Wright’s review. As a result, the digital listing for the pie is currently listed as out of stock. At the same time, Walmart is “working as hard as possible” to get the pies back on its stores’ shelves. “We need something like 2 million pounds of sweet potatoes, and that’s not something easy to get,” said a company spokesperson.
Wright’s video, which has created an incredible sales lift, is a reminder of the power of digital media sponsorships. At the same time, Wright’s video is almost certainly not branded by Walmart, Patti Labelle, or anyone in between, and that gives it a charming, authentic quality. Good for Wright, and congrats to Walmart, which seems to have moved quite a large number of sweet potato pies.
