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Valentine’s Business: Just make it pink!

No fancy new features, no million-dollar ad campaigns, no additional R&D. Just make it in pink.

pink cameras

This is the simple strategy used by numerous companies on the lover’s holiday, and it works. As you can see in this video by CNN, and as you’ve surely noticed yourselves, as soon as Valentine’s Day approaches each new, retailers don’t only change their store displays to red and pink themes, but also the products themselves. Flowers remain a staple gift on Valentine’s Day, as florists see a 450% increase in business, but as technology moves forward and gadgets continue to lessen in price, gift buyers are moving towards items such as cameras and cell phones.

Research and development departments of huge companies work tirelessly to try and develop the next coolest feature or product and to identify the alteration or addition to a product that will inspire people to buy. These companies pay their R&D departments to be innovative and find ways to entice buyers with items that seem to be on the cutting edge of cool, or the next new thing in technological advancement. However, as we can see by the example of consumer trends on Valentine’s Day, the solution isn’t always complex. Sometimes it’s as simple as a colour change.

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Business News

The Importance of the P.R.O.T.O.T.Y.P.E.

Although it is possible for companies to perfect their supply chain model in order to maximize efficiency, no companies will realize profits unless they are moving the right products. The consumer behavior and preference in many markets, such as the ones for dish-washing liquid, remain relatively stable and predictable, allowing suppliers to quickly respond to demand for their products. However, other industries, such as the clothing industry, are susceptible to quick, volatile changes in demand from customers. It is in these markets that the prototype becomes an extremely important player in gaining an edge over competition and helping to ensure a profitable year.

PROTOTYPE = TEST DUMMY0901_RD_dummy

Take a Zara shirt, for example. The prototype for this shirt is the brainchild of the design team. They use data concerning current market trends and possible shifts in trends in order to determine possible new styles. Once these prototypes have been determined, a number of them are produced in small numbers and shipped to select stores in order to determine their viability and popularity on the store floor. It is information from these trial periods that the company uses to determine which designs will be manufactured in large numbers and be incorporated into the season’s clothing line. The key to this process lies in the company’s ability to PREDICT trends, and develop prototypes before the mass demand for such items occurs.

Prototype: determines whether or not the company commits to manufacturing, shipping, and marketing the product

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