A New Spin on Laundry
A recently launched product may change your life: or at least, your laundry. Purex recently introduced Purex Complete 3-in-1 to the laundry detergent market. Based on the concept of “laundry simplified,” Complete 3-in-1 is the ultimate all in one laundry solution. The product offers a unique approach by combining detergent, fabric softener, and antistatic into one single sheet. The laundry sheet is used first in the washing machine as a detergent. It then travels to the dryer, acting as a fabric softener and antistatic agent activated by heat. Purex claims that their new sheet is not only cost effective, eliminating the need for multiple laundry products, but environmentally friendly as well. The product uses less water that is added to liquid detergents and less packaging to keep our landfills free from empty bottles.
The Complete 3-in-1 name, though a bit lengthy, is descriptive in nature most likely to convey the product benefits transparently to a consumer that may not have heard of the product before cruising down Aisle 7. The only down side of the name may come with future product extensions like “unscented” or “hypoallergenic”. The packaging could potentially become a bit crowded with descriptors.
Currently, Procter & Gamble detergent brands (Tide and Cheer) lead the market with a commanding 57.1% of the liquid detergent market and 75% of the powder detergent market (statistics according to IRI). But with such an innovative product, Purex stands to gain a bit of that share by taking a stand as a first mover. There are likely to be several ‘me too’ products popping up from other brands soon.
Contributed by Laine Beyerl
Fruit Naturals … duh
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And now, all the way from Del Monte Foods, a type of fruit that “likes to take it all off..,” ready-to-enjoy, and available in seven tempting varieties, introducing … FRUIT NATURALS!
(crickets.)
Unfortunately for Del Monte, the excitement surrounding their new Fruit Naturals Brand has been squelched by the redundancy that begs consumers to consider if they have ever eaten fruit that is unnatural. While the simplicity and straightforward nature of the brand is appreciated by busy consumers, this brand name seems to have fallen a little bit short in the department of innovation and received a gold star for redundancy. The intent of the name, I believe, is to highlight the convenient, ready-to-eat quality of the product. The fruit cup allows you to bypass the peeling and slicing and simply enjoy the natural fruit right away. It is my hope that all fruit consumed, whether canned, jarred, dried, or fresh is and will remain natural … despite new product extensions boasting au natural fruit.
Contributed by Carrie Friedrich
Netbooks: A cure for Internet Addiction
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I thought I had uncovered the mother of all typos when I was recently perusing the computer section of the Best Buy website and eyed a heading for “Netbooks”. Silly Best Buy web editor, I thought, it’s Notebooks not Netbooks!
Wrong. Netbooks do exist.
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My Phone is Smarter Than Me
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Cue the hallelujah chorus--I finally got a new cell phone. I’ve been happy with the LG Fusic for two years. It doubles as an MP3 player, but I have never once utilized that particular function. Like some sort of Christmas miracle, Sprint® gave me credits to upgrade my phone. I am somewhat of a risk taker. So at the news of my upgrade opportunity, I jumped off of a cliff and onto the smart phone bandwagon.
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Can a tea brand ‘end bitterness?’
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I grew up drinking Luzianne tea on my front porch. We served it at every family picnic and it was a staple within our refrigerator. The Luzianne brand epitomized “sweet tea,” and was considered the standard southern beverage.
The company’s recent new product line is “Luzianne Coffee,” with a clever campaign to “end bitterness.” While I love the call to action of the new initiative, will this simple brand extension dilute the equity they have in their famous tea brand? With Luzianne’s heritage as a cool, refreshing, afternoon front porch beverage, will it be difficult for the company to successfully cross over into the hot, wake-you-up in the morning coffee space?
Rember's Early Success
The drug called Rember (methylthioninium chloride) is receiving substantial press in the news and medical world for its success in slowing the progress of mental deterioration associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The Alzheimer's drugs currently available {Aricept, Exelon, Razadyne (previously Reminyl), Cognex, and Namenda} have been said to only ease the symptoms of the mind-robbing disease.
Developed by Singapore-based TauRx Therapeutics, Rember is an experimental drug that takes a new approach to treating the disease by targeting the build up of a specific protein in the brain called Tau. Tau causes tangles that accumulate inside memory cells, and destroys them during the process. Rember is designed to target these Tau tangles, therefore leading to positive results for reducing mental decline.
If clinical trials continue to be successful and sustainable, this is ground-breaking news for the medical industry and for individuals battling with this debilitating disease. The name itself is memorable (no pun intended), straightforward and distinctive. In today's regulatory environment, getting a name like this approved signifies a major homerun for the company.
Zipzor
Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Receives Approvable Letter From the U.S. FDA for ZIPSOR(TM) Capsules.
Contributed by Laine Beyerl