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I started studying marketing in order to start my own company some time ago and from the very beginning I remember one maxim that stuck with me: "If you cant be

by scrrr 16y ago

I started studying marketing in order to start my own company some time ago and from the very beginning I remember one maxim that stuck with me: "If you cant be the best in a category, invent a new category." I think that makes sense and it's exactly what Foursquare and Gowalla do. Besides, if people only had invented what other people said their need was in history, perhaps we wouldn't have many things we take for granted today. Also: Entertainment is a huge deal. Look at the gaming industry.

NickPollard 16y ago
To paraphase Henry Ford, 'If I'd have asked people what they wanted, they would have said a faster horse.'
- jonpaul 16y ago
  But at least he would have learned that their problem was speed.
  - jacquesm 16y ago
    He got that one solved pretty good though, in spite of lack of market research. About 3 years ago a friend named Ed A. who owns a Ford Model-A took me out for a spin and it was surprisingly quick for it's very small engine, it wasn't the fastest of the mark but that didn't stop it from accelerating all the way to 100 km/h. The difference between a steady 100 km/h and a horse is quite large, in fact we haven't gone much beyond what the Model-A could do in day to day driving situations.
- bmcnamara82 16y ago
  One of the most often forgot story of Ford was the failure of the Edsel. They designed the hell out of the product. They researched design, interiors, market segments, price points, ect. At the time, it was known as one of the best designed prodcuts. They 'launched' it and it was a complete failure. It was a unexpected failure - they thought it was going to be huge. But, the information they obtained from the failure was that the market changed. Their assumptions were incorrect. Instead of blaming it on a 'irrational customer', they "pivoted". They went out to research why and found out that customer segmentation had changed. Instead of based on economic customer segmentation ('low', 'middle income', ect.) there was a change towards a 'lifestyle' segmentation. They incorporated this new information into their development, and shortly after they successfully released the Ford Thunderbird - an American classic. Great story.

by scrrr 16y ago

NickPollard 16y ago

To paraphase Henry Ford, 'If I'd have asked people what they wanted, they would have said a faster horse.'

jonpaul 16y ago
But at least he would have learned that their problem was speed.
- jacquesm 16y ago
  He got that one solved pretty good though, in spite of lack of market research. About 3 years ago a friend named Ed A. who owns a Ford Model-A took me out for a spin and it was surprisingly quick for it's very small engine, it wasn't the fastest of the mark but that didn't stop it from accelerating all the way to 100 km/h. The difference between a steady 100 km/h and a horse is quite large, in fact we haven't gone much beyond what the Model-A could do in day to day driving situations.
bmcnamara82 16y ago
One of the most often forgot story of Ford was the failure of the Edsel. They designed the hell out of the product. They researched design, interiors, market segments, price points, ect. At the time, it was known as one of the best designed prodcuts. They 'launched' it and it was a complete failure. It was a unexpected failure - they thought it was going to be huge. But, the information they obtained from the failure was that the market changed. Their assumptions were incorrect. Instead of blaming it on a 'irrational customer', they "pivoted". They went out to research why and found out that customer segmentation had changed. Instead of based on economic customer segmentation ('low', 'middle income', ect.) there was a change towards a 'lifestyle' segmentation. They incorporated this new information into their development, and shortly after they successfully released the Ford Thunderbird - an American classic. Great story.