In class we have been analyzing various companies looking for strengths and weaknesses that either launch a company into success or drag its net worth down. In the article “From healthy fries to segways: Why most products fail” Susan Krashinsky outlines why 72% of product launches fail. Surprisingly, it seems that most sources of fault come from neglect of simple market research and planning. Even large companies with the resources to invest in research and development sometimes fail to put in enough time. The author used Segway’s launch to illustrate how analyzing pricing is essential in determining whether or not the sales of the product would be high enough at the set price. Segway launched at too high a price resulting in low sales. Personally this article raises awareness about the difficulty facing a company marketing a new product. Its one thing to market a product that is an improvement on a past model, which make up almost all successful launches (iPhone 6) but convincing consumers of the need for this new product and introducing it into the highly competitive market is daunting.  In class we have learned about the delicate nature of a young business and this article explains that a company must have the experience and recourses to put in enough research, development, and marketing to better prepare for the highly competitive markets.

Original article:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/marketing/burger-kings-failed-healthy-fries-campaign-not-unexpected/article20680200/