Pepsi is at it again

Pepsi taste challenge, Cambie and Broadway, Vancouver, BC

In the 1980s Pepsi and Coke were battling neck and neck for the consumer's taste buds. Pepsi was seen as such a serious challenger that Coke was reformulated and "New Coke" was born. (Or perhaps I should say stillborn.)

One of the signs of the taste battle was the Pepsi Taste Challenge. Anywhere that people, especially young people, congregated Pepsi would set up its challenge. Consumers got to try both brands, Coke and Pepsi, and express their preference.

Well, Pepsi is at it again. Will this have any significant long-term effect on consumer's brand preferences? Probably not, but it does get the Pepsi name out there. (Not that soft drink consumers in North American could really be unaware of the existence of the Pepsi brand.)

I remain unaffected as I am not an aficionado of "brown pop".

How fast is that fashion?

Sign on the wall of the second floor of H&M, Pacific Centre Mall, Vancouver, BC

H&M, like Zara, is in the business of "fast fashion". If you see something in the store today, and you like it, then you'd better buy it. The fast fashion retailers tend not to repeat any orders and once something sells out it is, as the sign above says, "gone forever".

For a retailer this is a risky, but potentially rewarding strategy. You are not stuck with racks of stuff that you need to mark down when the fashion changes, and you have the flexibility to take advantage of short-term opportunities. (According to one article I read, Zara can go from drawing board to retail store in two weeks. While Zara can do this due to its vertical integration in Europe, H&M takes a bit longer due to its reliance on Asian manufacturers.)

The challenge is when you are on a hot trend. How do you capitalize on the success you achieve with a popular product? Most of these retailer produce revised or updated versions to maximize their potential revenue, while avoiding filling the stores with the "same old stuff".

But the important lesson for the consumer is; here today, gone tomorrow.

A different Tour de France

Sign outside Firefly Liquor store, Cambie Street, Vancouver, BC

The Tour de France is coming. And while some people might contemplate the possibility of one day riding all or part of the route, this is a much more approachable way to make a quick tour of France. A quick trip around Bordeaux, a journey through Province, topped off with a bit of Champagne.

And you wouldn't even need to shave your legs, or pee into a cup. I just wonder is someone is going to get their knickers in a twist over trademarks.

A great piece of product packaging (Well, not really packaging, but almost)

Pier 1 Imports - chardonnay glass

Cardboard insert - Pier 1 Imports - chardonnay glass

For Father's day I received a couple of wine glasses from my daughter. (Is she telling me something?)

Anyway, the glasses had this cardboard insert in each glass. I think it is quite a clever way to show the product in use. It avoids the cost of individual boxes, while still giving the customer information about the product.

Napoleon, isn't he the guy who lost 97% of his army in the winter?

Border Plumbing, Heating & Air advertisement, Capital News, June 6, 2013

There is a great graphic, drawn in 1869 by Minard, that shows the size of Napoleon's army over the duration of his campaign to attack Moscow. (The beige line is going to Moscow, the black line is the retreat.)

Minard's chart, Source: http://strangemaps.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/minardmap.jpg

Napoleon starts out with a force of 422,000, and ends up with just 10,000. Given this fiasco, in the face of cold weather, how is Napoleon a good name for a furnace? (Or do I just know too much useless junk for my own good?)

Convergent Evolution

A Mr. Men-style Elmo

I a bit perplexed about how this product came to market. It appears to be a Mr. Men-style Elmo. I have no idea if this is intended to be a tribute to Mr. Men, but it sure looks that way to me.

The oddest thing for me is that I don't think there is a lot of overlap between the worlds of Sesame Street and Mr. Men.

A new way of thinking about pain relief

Sample of Voltaren

First, my apologies of the rotten photo. New phone and I'm still working with getting the fine points of the auto focus sorted out.

So, a tube of a topical cream instead of pills. That certainly is a new way of thinking about pain relief. I saw the pill bottle on the outside of the mailer and that was what I was thinking about. I was suspecting a new non-prescription pain relief tablet.

I have actually used this product and it works pretty well. But it is a topical cream and the consumer has been educated that swallowing a bunch of ills is what they need to deal with their pain.

The lack of pill noise when I shook the package should have been more of a giveaway about the contents.

Back at it

Direct mail in the "pain relief" category

The first summer semester is drawing to a close. It has been a bit hectic and I've been working hard to keep up with my student's work. (Hence I've not been quite as faithful as I might hope about keeping current on my blog.)

Anyway, this is a piece of direct mail that one of my students brought in to class. What is going to change how you think about pain relief? You'll just have to wait until Monday. I didn't see this coming, but the packaging should have been a bit of a clue.