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Modern Conveniences in a Marathon

Not much has changed in the sport of running except all of the gear.  Over the weekend I ran a half marathon and thought it would be a good idea to blog about the differences between the past and the present.  This year I decided to run with minimal gear but still all new products that would make for a good example.
Think about how these products have changed this sport and how they have changed yours.  I started thinking about what gear I would carry.  I narrowed it down to 4 GU and Clif shots, Clif margarita blocks, runners towel, runners belt, 8 oz water bottle with electrolytes, id card, $10, windproof earmuffs, runners gloves, iPhone, wireless headphones, sunglasses, and a knee strap.  Can any of this stuff make me run faster? Well, yes.  My runners application tells me my current pace and where I need to be to achieve my time.  The energy shots give me the much needed energy boost that my body craves during the race.  The water with the electrolytes do the same thing.  Everything else is cosmetic besides the knee strap.
Think about the difference between the shoes I wear and the shoes from the past.  My shoes are Reebok Real-flex's.  73 individual impact ready cushions that help propel me forward with every step I take. No, not your typical Chuck Taylor's. These shoes are far more advanced and have the greatest scientific minds trying to improve them daily.  Hard and steep competition for anyone looking to design  a new shoe.

Have we advanced as a runners? Well, yes, absolutely.  We are faster than ever, and turning in better times than ever in all types of races.  Gone are the days of the traditional marathons.  Now, individuals aim for larger achievements such as ultras and 50K's.  Running and races are more popular than ever.  A night run in my state sold out at something like 8000 participants that actually ran to an open bar party that was a few miles away.
The popularity of running will not end soon.  The trend is strong and more and more people are joining the ranks of the runner. Some really cool races are Tough Mudder, Spartan, Zombie Run, and Electric Run.  These runs sell out quick and have huge lines of customers trying to get in and race.  They have themed races all over the country.  Just do a quick Google search and see what's in your area.

Smart Products- Packaging Smart

   This week I have been traveling and have seen some really incredible products that I think deserve some blog time.  While in the Wynn Casino I had a tea in their famous coffee shop.  The tea comes in a distinctive triangle box and the bag inside is in the same shape.  The product has a wooden holder that the clerk reaches under the counter and displays for you to select your flavor.  The box is of high quality and gives the consumer a feeling of quality right when they open it up.  When you look into the box you know immediately this is not your ordinary tea.  The bag design that holds the tea is ergonomic in the sense that when you move it around in your cup, the water moves evenly around the bag.  Much more water seems to flow through this design than the traditional bag. This gives the user a great interactive experience with this design.

 The leaf at the top of the bag is really unique.  This allows the consumer to hold it there at that spot and steep the tea until ready. Even the mesh that is used feels of a higher quality and doesn't fold up when you dunk the tea in your cup.  Truly offers a different kind of experience for the user.
 The name of the tea is Tea Forté. I tried several but recommend the citrus mint.  You can tell by the photo on the left that they have several different flavors to choose from. This is certainly not your run of the mill tea.  The mesh around the tea in this shape makes this a superior product alone!  The taste just tops it off.  I would suggest trying it to get the experience that I had.  Nice product and hats off to products that make life easier.

Selling without Packaging

   Okay, so this is how they sell meat in the market in Jinotega Nicaragua.  I have had this meat grilled and it's really good.  Could it use some nice packaging with a weight and price, sure.  Think about how different our purchase of meat is compared to other parts of the world.  Meat is still meat.  People purchase this all around the world in many different forms and packaging daily.  It's all just meat however.  All countries have different packaging requirements and some are much more strict than others. If you are considering taking your product overseas, you should really look at the current products on the market and see what needs to be done to your packaging.

Here people are buying meat in Moscow's Dorogomilovsky Market in the open.  You can see they do not package their meat for sale in the markets either.  Customers want to have the ability to look at the meat unobstructed from a material. Keep in mind that the cost of packaging will hinder many to use the benefits of it where it is not required.  This is not the only option you should think about however, if you package these in the wrong type of vessel, many people will not purchase them.  This will be a big step for cultures to buy meat that is perfectly packaged after laws being non-existent.

       
Эта фотография Дорогомиловский рынок является собственностью сайта TripAdvisor


This is how they sell fish in parts of Russia.  The fish looks delicious and I am sure it is.  The smell in this room must be something that you get used to?  All countries have different packaging and label laws. Some are very strict and some are loose.  The more important aspect is what are the people going to relate to more closely? What type of packaging are you going to use for your overseas ventures?  Can you use the same packaging that you use here in the states? How about label layout and design?  All of these are things that you must consider when looking to take your product overseas.

New Packaging In Nicaragua

This packaging is a much better option for manufacturers. This allows them to fit more per pallet and ship for much cheaper prices without the glass or plastic containers that weigh much more. As I continued through the store, more products in the same packaging are apparent. 

What would be strange for you in the bag? Mustard, Mayo, or salad dressing? Love the idea of getting away from containers in certain markets. This allows all companies to get their products into these emerging markets cheaper. 

That's how they move prisoners in Nicaragua. All seemed nice. If you copy this photo please insert credit and a link back to my blog. I asked the police if I could get this photo before taking it. He was like, "absolutely!"

Drying the Coffee Beans

This gentleman moves this coffee rake through the beans in order to get them to dry evenly.  This process takes around four days and the beans are placed upon slabs of concrete in the sun.  The concrete looks like housing foundations that we would normally see in the states.  This particular one is located in Matagalpa Nicaragua.  Beans need to go through this process before heading inside to be divided by screen size.  When it rains he simply flips the tarp closed and waits for the rain to finish then he unrolls the tarps again exposing the beans.  This is an old school process which is critical to drying the beans correctly.

Coffee Labels and Recognition

While in Central America I was able to see several different coffee bags from many different exporters. Many were colorful and came in a various number of sizes. They all measured 1 pound of coffee but the diversity was amazing.  Many companies go for the organic look, while others have a bright and sometimes political message on the bag.  I got a chance to sit down with the directors and talk about which bags were winners and which were losers.
When you are selecting a label for your own bags, make sure that the font is legible and the consumer can easily recognize it.  Keep in mind that you will want to catch the attention of the older customers as well as the younger.  Pick a middle ground that both demographics and easily recognize.  This will prove to be an important aspect.

Coffee Bag discussion on best marketing aspects 

Color plays a huge role in this selection process as well. The brighter the colors, the more the bag jumps out at you and the less the colors, the more organic and natural it looks.  Bags can be a bit taller and seem to draw more attention to themselves as well.
We certainly picked our favorites out and not surprisingly they were the best sellers as well.   Many bags called out for you to pick them up and inspect them for yourself.  Some just sat there and looked very uninviting.  It was a great tool to see so many next to each other and critique them in that way.
In this photo we are discussing the successful ones and also the ones that have failed from poor design.