At any stage of the product development process, you may find yourself wondering if your product will stand the test of time. Of course you want it to be a high-demand product that consumers will purchase over and over again. Here are some of the most successful holiday products and what you can learn from them so you can try and emulate their success.
The Rubik’s Cube
The Rubik’s Cube is right up there with some of the best-selling toys of all time. It was originally launched in 1980 and is still going strong today. The Rubik’s Cube is so popular because it’s a puzzle that’s not easily solved so it can provide hours of entertainment and can be done almost anywhere. While the puzzle is not easy to solve, its form is simplistic and artistic which appeals to many people.
The iPad
Dubbed one of the best-selling consumer products of all time, the iPad was introduced in 2010 and has since been released in multiple versions like the iPad Air and the iPad Mini. The iPad filled an unmet need in the IT industry. Consumers were wanting a device that was faster than a laptop for checking email, using social media, viewing movies, and reading books but had a larger screen for easier viewing than the iPhone.
Kindle Fire
The Kindle Fire was launched in 2011. The Kindle Fire met another consumer need – affordability. It’s perfect for consumers that want a device for reading books but don’t want to pay the price tag of the iPad. It has a great design, is easy to travel with, and has plenty of storage.
Koosh Ball
Another toy with staying power is the Koosh ball. It was first introduced in 1987. The Koosh ball was a result of engineer Scott Stillinger’s desire to create a safe and practical toy to play catch with his children. OddzOn, the company founded by Stillinger, then created their whole brand around the Koosh, creating many variations in different sizes and colors.
Transformers
The wildly popular Transformer toys were first launched in 1984. Much like the Rubik’s Cube, they are more than just a toy. They offer a challenge to children (and some parents). Transforming the toy requires some skill and practice. Transformers encourage creativity and versatility because children play with the toy in robot mode or vehicle mode.
Lessons learned from these successful holiday products include knowing your target market, solving a problem, providing value, and offering entertainment and fun. If you’re planning to launch a product during the holiday season, be sure and do your research ahead of time. You’ll also want to spend some time and effort on your holiday marketing campaign because you’ll be competing for consumers’ attention during one of the busy shopping times of the year.
At Pivot International we offer business development services like strategic planning, market analysis, advertising and marketing plans, and external sales consulting to ensure your product is successful regardless of when you launch it. Contact us today to learn more about our business development services.
