You’d have to had been under a rock to not know that Steve Jobs introduced Wednesday what Apple hopes will be the coolest device on the planet: a slender tablet computer called the iPad. Apple is positioning the device, some versions of which will be available in March, as a pioneer in a new genre of computing, somewhere between a laptop and a smartphone. “The bar is pretty high,” Mr. Jobs acknowledged. “It has to be far better at doing some key things.” While admittedly cool looking, I am struggling with what exactly the iPad is (besides horribly named) and what need it could possible fulfill. What might very well be a precursor of success was the conversation I had last night. Two of my daughters already thought the iPad was the coolest thing on the planet. Apparently it was the talk of the lunch table at school as kids everywhere whipped out iPhones to show each other the iPad. Steve Jobs might be on to something after all.  (more…)

It might not just be the economy that’s holding back sales this holiday season — it’s also the lack of breakout products. Industry analysts and even retailers are hard-pressed to identify any must-have items beyond an $8 toy hamster. ”There’s no killer item this year. There is no XBox or item that’s out of stock that everyone has to have, and typically we benefit when that happens,” John Donahoe, eBay’s CEO, said at an investors’ conference this week. “There just simply … isn’t one this year. (more…)

Even in tough times, you can’t keep the American entrepreneur down. Take the example of Sean O’Connor who has already tasted success from pancake batter in a can and is now cooking up a retro TV ad campaign to expand his reach, and profits. I’m going to have to track down these ready to cook all organic pancakes and try them. After all, who isn’t a sucker for alphabet or animal shaped pancakes during the holidays? (more…)  UPDATE: On our second can of Batter Blaster.  Can’t decide how I feel about this product but I will say it was a huge hit Saturday morning after a rowdy tween girl sleepover.

This little story explains alot.  A few years ago, the then-director of research and development for Starbucks, Lawrence Wu Jr., participated in a food-industry conference, where he gave a presentation on the coffee company’s method for determining what new products could be included under the Starbucks brand. It was “important to understand what product is at the core of your consumer’s mind,” he said; for Starbucks, the bull’s-eye on the target was barista-made espresso and fresh, brewed coffee. On the first ring out from the bull’s-eye were all the fancy “personalized beverages,” such as a venti-half-caf-no-foam-skinny-latte. Further from the core were the Frappuccinos and other blender drinks, and further still were the “out of store” products, such as coffee liqueur and ice cream. But finally, Mr. Wu said, you get so far from the core of the business that you’re simply “off the target” altogether, with “products that do not build the value or equity of the brand.” So destructive of the brand were these products that they would only be explored if the revenues from them were “necessary for the survival of the company.” What product did he point to as the canary in the coffee mine? Instant coffee. Mr. Wu called it “a product of last resort.”  (more…)

Apple announced today 2 billion apps have been downloaded since the company launched the app store. Over the past few months, users have downloaded more than 6 million apps a day, according to Brainstormtech. Some very popular iPhone apps that have helped reach that number are Facebook, Google Earth, and Pandora Radio.– All of them are free to download. ree apps are most popular, but Advertising PlatformAdMob estimates that 1 in 4 iPhone apps are paid for.  (more…)

Ever wondered what it would be like to have Lance Armstrong pedal your bike for you? Well now you can find out, sort of. About 15 companies are now offering bicycles with an electric power option — as opposed to a purely engine-powered moped — for around $1,000 to $4,000 — and they are catching on with some green-thinking commuters. The latest electric bikes from Giant, EcoBike, Currie Technologies and Ultra Motor, among others, can deliver around 500 watts of power at the flick of a wrist or a turn of the pedals. That is roughly what Armstrong could generate over shorter races in his prime. The result is that you zip up hills or hustle along the street, silently passing all, but the most competitive two- wheelers.  (more…)

Hero, an international branded consumer-foods group, is hoping to make a splash in the U.S. juice category with the introduction of Fruit2day—juice that contains real pieces of fruit. The company, which already sells the product in Europe, will support the launch with a TV campaign breaking this week. Fruit2day comes in four varieties: Cherry grape, mango peach, pineapple banana and strawberry orange; a two-pack sells for $3.79. Scott Stevens, vp of marketing for Hero-WhiteWave, the joint venture that was formed to market the product in the U.S., said Fruit2day helps meet the recommended daily four servings of fruit, and is ideal for health-conscious consumers with busy schedules. I actually caught an ad for this last night. While I understood the concept, I wasn’t so sure that it sounded appealing. Maybe because it is the summer and incredible fresh fruit is so easily accessible or maybe it’s because I usually don’t like to chew my beverages. I give them points for the packaging though. (more…)

If you work for a CPG company, then you have taken notice of an uninvited guest at the home and at the table. Recent research on a number of fronts all point in one direction: difficult economic times have bolstered the rollout and expansion of many retailers’ private label lines — including c-store. According to The NPD Group’s “Private Label Perceptions, Usage Patterns and Intentions,” 24 percent of all food and beverages served in American homes last year were store brands, up from 18 percent in 1999. Today, 97 percent of all households consume private label foods on a regular basis. ”There is no question that private label foods have become an integral part of American life,” said Harry Balzer, chief industry analyst at NPD. He added: “Furthermore, we do not hide private label foods as an ingredient or as an additive to another dish. Today over half of all store brand food eatings are the end dish.”  (more…)

Continuing on what is clearly the all coffee week, Dunkin’ Donuts is the U.S. leader in a “hole” lot of categories — No. 1 in sales of doughnuts, bagels (my bagels I might add) and cups of coffee. But here’s a switch. The company that cut its teeth on fried sugary pastries is offering a line of food that, OK, maybe isn’t healthful, but is considerably less gut-bustin’ and artery-cloggin’. The new deal is called DD-SMART — several items that pack fewer calories, and less fat and sugar than most of the goodies at Dunkin’. The most interesting DDSMART debut is the Egg White Turkey Sausage Flatbread Breakfast Sandwich, the longest name for any fast-food product. Clearly arming itself for the all out coffee war with McDonald’s, DD has opted to carve out a totally different space for its’ breakfast sandwich — as good a strategy as any. (more…)

Whoever said mass marketing is dead never worked at McDonald’s. The master of the McBlitz is about to outdo itself with its long-awaited national campaign for its new coffee line, touted as the biggest launch in its history — no small feat for a company that regularly drenches consumers in marketing. ”I assure you that we’re going to be surrounding the consumer with very relevant messaging,” said Neil Golden, chief marketing officer, McDonald’s USA. McDonald’s understands that it faces a quality-perception hurdle with first-time buyers, so it’s focused on “making the product the hero” in TV spots with what Ms. Peleo-Lazar calls “chocolate-cake shots.” McCafe’s African-American and Hispanic campaigns reflect preferences based on consumer insights. African-Americans are more interested in sweeter beverages, while Hispanics tend to be coffee and espresso experts, so they need assurance on quality. In recent years, McDonald’s has been on a roll. Let’s see if they can steamroll the competition in a category where brand loyalty and quality are strong.  (more...)