Tuesday, December 15, 2009

New Packaging Means New Business

Old product plus new packaging equals new business.


Business innovation isn't always about coming up with an entirely new product. Sometimes, all it takes is a new packaging strategy to drum up renewed consumer interest, tap new markets and change the market's buying habits. Case in point: the foil or plastic stand up pouch. It is neither a recent innovation nor a niche product. But this packaging format is now lending itself to new marketing twists, among them the current Mega Sardines campaign. Its currently running TV ads promote the easy-to-open, ready-to-eat, bring-anywhere sardines in pouch.



Del Monte, likewise, has introduced a budget pack of pineapple tidbits in pouch, with an SRP of P10. It is meant to encourage even those who are on a budget to "add more multivitamins" to their everyday meals. The pouch packaging entices non-users of the brands to try the products for their affordability and convenience. It also allows the existing costumers to buy the items more frequently.



Either way, it impacts sales figures positively. There are many other packaging strategies to try: you can make your products more premium; you can make items more handy with smaller packs; you can entice with a bulk packaging but with a convenient way to re-seal it.

New packaging gives a breath of fresh air to an otherwise old product. Be creative, creative, creative. Re-visit your packaging strategies.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Impatient Marketing in Simple Terms

Stratford Marketing Group, an L.A.-based marketing Stratford Marketing Group, an L.A.-based marketing firm, has written, “Marketing is everything you do to make sure your customers find out about, and buy, your products and services.

Folks, in between finding out your product or service and buying, there exists a PERIOD within which a buyer processes a decision – ignore it completely, plan to buy in the future, or buy now/at the present moment.

It is during that period where your marketing prowess is tested. You may have a strong marketing salvo at the start but what happens in the middle and towards the end? Sometimes, entrepreneurs and even big businesses fail or simple ignore to recognize this crucial phase. They like to short-cut everything, as if short-term TV ad, a radio jingle, some print ads or one-month PR campaign will suffice. They like to see the seeds growing fast - I mean really "fast". They like to see them grow when they wake up and open their eyes the next morning… That is what we call “IMPATIENT Marketing”.