Category Archives: Innovation

Would You Buy IKEA’s New Integrated HD Entertainment Furniture System?

Posted on April 24, 2012 | 1 Comment

It’s a battle of “easy all-in-one” versus “select individual components.”

Global retailer IKEA has just announced that it’s entering (or perhaps creating?) a new category of integrated electronics and furniture.

Beginning June 2012 in Stockholm, Milan, Paris, Gdansk and Berlin, IKEA is launching the new UPPLEVA line consisting of:  HD Wi-Fi-ready LED television, 2.1 sound system, Blu-ray/DVD/CD player, wireless sub-woofer, and 5-year guarantee.  Retail pricing starts at about $955; and more markets will be added later in 2012, with world-wide availability expected by mid 2013, per news reports.

According to IKEA, the concept is ”a completely new range that integrates smart TV and sound system with furniture. UPPLEVA brings beauty and functionality to the living room, solving the problem of cable clutter and miss-match between TV and furniture.” Continue reading →

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Posted in Innovation, New Products, Video

3 Innovation Thought-Starters

Posted on November 1, 2011 | Leave a comment

If you really want to challenge thinking and promote new ideas, get in the habit of asking ”Why” and “What If” more often.

iStockphoto.com

We’ve all been there.  Nothing pops the balloon of creativity and enthusiasm faster than hearing some version of these dreaded words:  ”that’s the way we’ve always done it.”  Of course it’s infuriating.  More importantly, most of the time the result is a stifling of idea generation and the development of the “I’ll just keep that to myself” way of doing things.  The next time you’re in that situation, try to respond with Why or What If.

Here are three ideas that can help overcome the “we’ve always done it this way” syndrome, and better yet, foster a forward-looking, innovative culture and mindset. Continue reading →

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Posted in Innovation, Leadership & Coaching

Gillette Pushes Razor Growth by Competing Against Itself

Posted on March 15, 2011 | Leave a comment

Gillette, a Procter & Gamble brand, has an impressive marketing innovation track record with razors.

Photo: P&G.

Besides the technology commitment and investment, the number one strategic highlight for me is that first Gillette and now P&G has not been afraid to compete against itself and to cannibalize, if necessary, existing products for higher priced/higher margin sales.

Since the 1971 launch of the two-bladed Trac II, Gillette/P&G have rolled-out continuous innovation with the Atra, Sensor, Mach3 and Fusion product families.  Each of these brands has also had a follow-up series of sub-branded product upgrades.  Although they work for the same company, P&G’s razor marketers are not afraid of some in-house competition. Continue reading →

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Posted in Advertising, Innovation, New Products, Strategic Marketing, Video

Feel the Noise – SunChips Canada goes Social for Compostable Packaging

Posted on November 9, 2010 | Leave a comment

Photo: SunChips Canada Facebook

Score one for the Frito Lay Canada Sun Chips team.

After their US cousins abandoned most of the compostable packaging because of consumer complaints about noise (consumers really want to go green, huh?), the marketing team up north got creative to stay the course.

The clever marketing campaign leverages social media (YouTube, Facebook) to engage consumers directly in a friendly, easy conversational tone. Continue reading →

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Posted in Advertising, Differentiation, Global Business, Innovation, Promotions/Tactics, Technology & Marketing

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