MARKETING
Do the Opposite of What I Say
If you want to make money
Does your business need market research? Here’s an easy shortcut: Just ask me what I think, and then ignore everything I say. I’m a one-person focus group in reverse.
Seriously, I’m always wrong about what will sell
Every day, I find another way to be shocked by what people will buy.
The first time I saw Uncrustables in the store, I laughed. Who would be so wasteful and lazy as to purchase frozen, pre-made peanut butter sandwiches? That’s insane! Is there anyone out there who doesn’t know how to make a sandwich? How is it possible that anybody would spend money on those things? I thought it was a great joke.
Well, that joke is on me, because those things are still around and somebody out there is buying them. It’s a million-dollar idea that I thought was ridiculous.
Ditto for bottled water. I am still shocked that people will pay so much for a bottle of water when it’s so easy to bring free water from home.
Don’t get me started on cars
The average new car costs $48,000! I can’t believe any non-billionaire would — or could — pay that much. But then, my car is 20 years old and I still…
