An innovation that makes some people mad!

Michael Burger for the Relevant Report

As you know, here at the Relevant Report, we scour the world for innovations that revolutionize a company or an industry. But I’ve actually found an innovation that makes a certain group of people very, very angry.  Got your attention, didn’t I?

This is the Tide laundry pod, and this is an iPod. They have nothing to do with each other I just think that’s clever. This self-contained packet of suds makes sure you have “the ultimate perfect dose” of laundry detergent. Proctor and Gamble makes these for those of us who like convenience…for those of us who don’t have the time to pour out the exact amount of soap. That’s what’s making the folks at Arm & Hammer mad. They say “the pod is killing the laundry detergent category.” Why so snippy over soap?

The clean truth is…the non-pod-making companies WANT you to buy the jumbo jug…because they know you will probably over-pour! Come admit it, you’ve tossed in more thinking your clothes are a little rakish and need a little more soap, right? By the way that will not get them any cleaner. Here’s another dirty little secret. The measuring cap on the jug is bigger than the dose actually needed for even the heaviest loads. The jumbo powder people are playing on your ignorant sense of dirt.

How serious is the Pod war? Tide will do 1/2 Billion dollars in Pods this year. So, I guess innovation can be bad for business – when your the company not innovating!

So I’m gonna Pod-Up and leave the over-poring to my bartender.

Cheers!
Michael Burger for the Relevant Report

Filed in: Relevant Report
Tagged with: Arm & Hammer • Business • Convenience • Customer Experience • customer service • disruptor • integrate • job • laundry • Leadership • Made in the USA • management • manager • Manufacturer • money • personal • pod • Proctor and Gamble • rich • sales • success • Tide • turnaround • wallet • work