News that Tesco have decided to de-list crescent-shaped in favour of the less-messy 'straight' option causes me to think this move could represent another crisis in the making...
Has anybody considered the ceremony associated with the purchase of a warm buttery croissant, the breaking into bite-sized chunks, applying a knob of jam - or even more unruly honey - to each, and all the while dripping flakes and spread onto plate, table and even front of clothing, while taking minimal sips of double-expresso, and conducting a business deal simultaneously...
This display of multi-tasking nearly always impresses business partners, themselves almost resisting the temptation to pinch-up the flakes and mop up the drippings in a final flourish...
On a domestic level, the traditional crescent-shape allows the family to practice the required dexterity - with enthusiastic participation by the toddler recently graduating from a milk-diet - and the added benefit of being able to recover all 'spillings' without a hint of social embarrassment. Somehow, a straight version does not have the same appeal...
Deep down, consumers, whilst conforming on perceived value-for-money, can be diverse in their needs re other aspects of a retail offering...
Personally, I struggle with the idea of tubular hard-boiled eggs..., while patiently waiting for wonky vegetables to outsell the 'straight' variety..
All of which reminds me of my early ventures in giving business advice to a Danish dairy company re the fact that their UK butter offering might prove confusing to UK shoppers because of its 'haphazard' changes in colour from yellow to white and back again during the year.
Despite my farming and Mom 'n Pop store upbringing in less politically-correct times, I persisted in recommending a purist marketing approach to this farmers' cooperative in that a consumer-test was essential in establishing whether white or yellow was the preferred colour. This insight would then determine whether the product should be bleached or coloured yellow to match consumer need...
The client politely pointed out that theirs was a natural product whose colour reflected the cow's seasonal diet, and told me they did not think much of my reservations re the brand name either...
I often wonder what ever became of Lurpak over the years....
Has anybody considered the ceremony associated with the purchase of a warm buttery croissant, the breaking into bite-sized chunks, applying a knob of jam - or even more unruly honey - to each, and all the while dripping flakes and spread onto plate, table and even front of clothing, while taking minimal sips of double-expresso, and conducting a business deal simultaneously...
This display of multi-tasking nearly always impresses business partners, themselves almost resisting the temptation to pinch-up the flakes and mop up the drippings in a final flourish...
On a domestic level, the traditional crescent-shape allows the family to practice the required dexterity - with enthusiastic participation by the toddler recently graduating from a milk-diet - and the added benefit of being able to recover all 'spillings' without a hint of social embarrassment. Somehow, a straight version does not have the same appeal...
Deep down, consumers, whilst conforming on perceived value-for-money, can be diverse in their needs re other aspects of a retail offering...
Personally, I struggle with the idea of tubular hard-boiled eggs..., while patiently waiting for wonky vegetables to outsell the 'straight' variety..
All of which reminds me of my early ventures in giving business advice to a Danish dairy company re the fact that their UK butter offering might prove confusing to UK shoppers because of its 'haphazard' changes in colour from yellow to white and back again during the year.
Despite my farming and Mom 'n Pop store upbringing in less politically-correct times, I persisted in recommending a purist marketing approach to this farmers' cooperative in that a consumer-test was essential in establishing whether white or yellow was the preferred colour. This insight would then determine whether the product should be bleached or coloured yellow to match consumer need...
The client politely pointed out that theirs was a natural product whose colour reflected the cow's seasonal diet, and told me they did not think much of my reservations re the brand name either...
I often wonder what ever became of Lurpak over the years....
