If you’re given 10 free canvases, you still need to buy the paint.
If a friend gives you his old Gameboy, you still need to come up with the games.
When you buy an iPod, you have to get all the songs and shows you want.
Smart product creation is when you pay a large amount for one product that forces you to spend small amounts on what you need to use it: paints, games, songs, etc,.
Keurig is letting Madisonians trade in their used corded coffee makers for a brand new Keurig, looking like the good guy.
But now those that trade up have to buy K cups to go with it. Short term loss for Keurig, but creating a long-term gain. From my estimates, it will take roughly 300 K-cups for the Keurig to be paid off. From then on, it’s all profit.
(The target audience in itself is brilliant. They are appealing strictly to frequent to extreme coffee drinkers. Point for another post, perhaps.)
Keurig makes itself look good, but really it’s genius product design. Not necessarily making them the bad guy, but just a reminder that your habit is their profit, making you the product.
If it weren’t for the ease of pirating music. I’m sure Apple would be letting you upgrade your mp3 player to an iPod. I think we can cope though. It takes a very special product to pull off what Keurig is.
Stay Positive & It’s Coffee Time
Garth E. Beyer
