What I learned From a Child’s Truck

Recently while shopping with my grandson I noticed  a toy truck caught his eye and he tried rolling it while it was still in the box. I’m not sure if you have ever tried rolling a truck still in its packing, but it doesn’t roll very well. So, if you’re a grandparent, you know what happened next. Yep I bought the truck so we can set it free from its box. But as I reflect on this, I learned a few tips which could help you in your product development.

Target Audience

Have you ever tried to get a kid through the check out line at the store without them trying to get the candy, all the candy? They need this candy as if their little lives depended on it. Store developers know if they want to sell candy, they have to put it where their target audience can see it, grab it and cry for it. When you develop your rub, sauce, grill or whatever your product is, think about who your target audience will be. This will help guide you in how to market your product. Is it for families on the back deck or for the person who likes a little spice?

Packaging

When my grandson saw the bright red truck that he could feel and “play” with, that sold him on the truck. Speaking with a variety of co-packers they all say your packaging must be attractive to consumer. The same was true for my grandson’s toy truck. Something about it must’ve stood out among the rest to him because there were other toys, even trucks, on the shelf. When you start to develop your packaging, remember, you’re not packaging for you or because it looks cool, you’re packaging to attract the eye of the consumer.

Variety is Your Friend

Remember the candy aisle? Think about all the varieties there are, and which one is your favorite (mine is Reese Cups). Candy companies realize their target audience are of varied tastes, therefore there are more choices than just one, even from the same company. Growing up I kept hearing a nugget of wisdom which continues to ring true, even in product development, “You can’t be all things to all people.” PK is the epitome of this with their grills. They have a variety of designs, but it’s the same charcoal grill even in a propane gas world. They offer a couple varieties but don’t even try to be all things to all people.

Sure, we can continue with lessons I learned such as price points, accessibility, and simple desire to have it, but these were the major three take-aways. Developing your own product or products can be quite challenging, yet with these in mind they can be rewarding, seeing your product on store shelves around the country. If you have a product but not sure what to do next, just take a walk through your local store and think about the who and what of the products you encounter, then apply the lessons you’ve learned to your product and watch it grow.