Is it possible to sell anything if you market the product well?

**CharlieB** · 07-16-2008 10:08 AM

Would it be possible to create demand for any product that would normally have no demand at all if you market the product well enough?

eg in this clip from a Familly Guy episode: YouTube - Hasbro's best thing evER Family GUYs y

There is an advert for some stretchy wierd thing which (in real life) wouldn't usually have any demand but with an advert like this would it be possible to create high demand with a successful marketing advert like that?

**cdeneire** · 07-16-2008 10:23 AM

Give people reasons to use your product (convince).. and prevent the cost road block (price).

Know who you are marketing towards age wise.

**Dale King** · 07-16-2008 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by CharlieB

Would it be possible to create demand for any product that would normally have no demand at all if you market the product well enough?

The answer to your question is NO. You can't create a market for a poorly conceived idea, no matter how well it's marketed. For example, in 1984, Coca Cola introduced "New Coke," a soft drink designed to taste more like Pepsi. In blind taste tests, New Coke fared exceptionally well and most people surveyed said they preferred the taste of New Coke over Pepsi. So, what happened? Despite an agressive marketing campaign and iconic brand name recognition, New Coke failed spectacularly. Why? Because New Coke was a poorly conceived idea. You simply can't be all things to all people. You can't use a sample market research group to test brand affinity. Coca Cola's customers didn't want their beloved Coke to taste like Pepsi. They wanted it to taste like Coke.

Here's another example: The "Edsel" is most famous for being a marketing disaster. In fact, it was such a debacle, it is still considered by many to be the biggest marketing disaster in history, despite the fact Ford sunk $400,000,000 in its development.

Bottom line: You can't create a market for a poorly conceived idea, no matter how well it's marketed.

Dale King

**StealYourDreams** · 07-16-2008 10:44 AM

See term: fad. People are irrational by nature and yes demand can be created.

**Dale King** · 07-16-2008 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by StealYourDreams

See term: fad. People are irrational by nature and yes demand can be created.

You're talking apples and oranges. Most fads are actually great ideas, and great products that didn't have great staying power. They weren't out-of-the-box failures. That being said, so-called fads often get a second wind, and are sometimes even more successful the second time around.

Dale King

**zharlene** · 07-16-2008 12:25 PM

I'd have to say I disagree with you Dale.

There's a difference between a "poorly conceived idea" and a mysterious thing that CharlieB's talking about (which is not necessarily a "poorly conceived idea").

I agree with StealYourDreams, things like that happen all the time. Pollypocket is a good example. Being a girl who's actually played (or tried to play) with Pollypocket when I was a kid, I can tell you guys that they really win where marketing their product is concerned.
- WOW, you get microscopic dolls you can carry around with you
- WOW you can swap stuff with your friends
- WOW!

All of a sudden, you're a loser if you didn't have one. If I had the coolest set of Pollypocket, I'd be the coolest girl and everyone would be talking about me. So which girl in their right mind wouldn't get one?

But in my personal opinion it's not even a practical toy (no offence to Pollypocket makers): It's meant to be portable but everything about it is SOOOOOO small that you're bound to lose a few things in it. One of my friends' mum didn't allow her to take it out of the house because the pieces would go missing, which contradicts the "portable" reason for the toy (Polly Pocket). Also, these tiny toys are meant for little girls...girls who still like to put things in their mouth (choke hazard?).

I personally feel THAT is what you call a "poorly conceived idea" but despite all that, it sold & is still being sold. Why? Because they've marketed their product extremely well. Every girl who watches an advert is convinced to get one.

Point is, people will buy anything, if it's marketed well and as long as someone else wants it too. It's human nature.

**cdeneire** · 07-16-2008 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by Dale King

The answer to your question is NO. You can't create a market for a poorly conceived idea, no matter how well it's marketed. For example, in 1984, Coca Cola introduced "New Coke," a soft drink designed to taste more like Pepsi. In blind taste tests, New Coke fared exceptionally well and most people surveyed said they preferred the taste of New Coke over Pepsi. So, what happened? Despite an agressive marketing campaign and iconic brand name recognition, New Coke failed spectacularly. Why? Because New Coke was a poorly conceived idea. You simply can't be all things to all people. You can't use a sample market research group to test brand affinity. Coca Cola's customers didn't want their beloved Coke to taste like Pepsi. They wanted it to taste like Coke.

Here's another example: The "Edsel" is most famous for being a marketing disaster. In fact, it was such a debacle, it is still considered by many to be the biggest marketing disaster in history, despite the fact Ford sunk $400,000,000 in its development.

Bottom line: You can't create a market for a poorly conceived idea, no matter how well it's marketed.

Dale King

What do you think would happen if they kept the "New Coke" in place? Do you think the customers would go towards Pepsi? Or would they just go with the flow?

I understand where you are coming from... but we're talking about something different.

We are talking about a new product not something that can be reverted to its original state.

People knowing that coke was once a different way than the way it went (New Coke) was able to almost threaten coca cola to return coke to its original state applying the "If you don't change it back I will never buy coke again" comment.

Tweaking an original product which basically created coca cola or anything for that matter with any food product and then promoting it will fail. Most people will "try" it, but in all... they will fall back on their more reliable taste.

Would you change the whopper to be more like a big mac?

**Dale King** · 07-16-2008 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by zharlene

People will buy anything, if it's marketed well and as long as someone else wants it too. It's human nature.

That's statement is not only naive, it's so far removed from marketing reality it's ridiculous!

Dale King

**Doodyps** · 07-16-2008 01:39 PM

I am convinced that you can make people buy anything, even bad advice. For more, please pm me with your bank acct number and routeing number.

**Dale King** · 07-16-2008 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by cdeneire

I understand where you are coming from... but we're talking about something different.

I know exactly what we're talking about, and I answered the question. You just don't agree with my answer - and that's fine. I don't expect people to agree with everything I say. But I still stand by my answer.

Dale King

**cdeneire** · 07-16-2008 02:24 PM

Was my post taken into consideration? Did it help you understand why your comments may not work in the situation?..... Sure I'd agree with the fact that changing coke to new coke was a bad idea and maybe it would apply to big companies with a general product when they are trying something new..... but I'm about 95% sure that the original poster is refering to a new product which could appeal to those who are interested.

You'd be surprised who's becoming rich over "ridiculous" ideas...

**kat** · 07-16-2008 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by cdeneire

You'd be surprised who's becoming rich over "ridiculous" ideas...

Amen to that.

Some of the simplest, weirdest things make the most profit.

**Dale King** · 07-16-2008 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by cdeneire

You'd be surprised who's becoming rich over "ridiculous" ideas...

I'm not arguing that point. The point I'm trying to make is this: If you build it that doesn't necessarily mean "THEY WILL COME!"

For every ill-conceived idea that somehow manages to break though, there are probably a million or more that don't. Does that mean you shouldn't put your idea out there. Absolutely not. If you believe in your idea, go for it. But it's ridiculous to state that people will buy anything you put in front of them, because history has shown us time and time again that's simply not the case.

There's an old saying that goes, "people will buy just about anything!" But if that were true everyone out there selling crap would be rich and we know that's not the case.

Dale King

**StealYourDreams** · 07-16-2008 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by Dale King

I'm not arguing that point. The point I'm trying to make is this: If you build it that doesn't necessarily mean "THEY WILL COME!"

You are correct, however the original posts reads:

Would it be possible to create demand for any product that would normally have no demand at all if you market the product well enough?

See the difference? There are numerous instances of demand being created. Pet Rock? Sea Monkeys? These are not only classics, but extreme examples of a nothing product marketed well.

The key being having the marketing muscle to create demand where none would normally exist.

**cdeneire** · 07-16-2008 03:23 PM

Is this not why we are talking about (marketing products)? Of course if you just laid something down infront of someone they wouldn't purchase it, they would need reason to << AHA! this is where the marketing comes in, the point at which the creator markets reasons for usage and the customer purchases.

I did not say that it does not fail, of course it fails! And why? Poor marketing!

You can sell absolutely anything, but the secret is finding out how.

To become an entrepreneur you cannot believe in the impossible..