I am a big fan of SMEs and joined in a radical consumer goods group myself. But there has to be a difference between college-looking business projects and the real thing. Here’s an example of a school-looking real business project selling Slimming Water enriched with an active mineral called Hydroxylase.
See their video.
Thus I wrote to the owners and gave my 25 cents:
Dear Owners,
I think your product is innovative and could prove feasible with Filipinos looking for weight losing alternatives in the market. But here’s a few suggestions:
a. Change your packaging. Placing it in a bottle that looks like packaging for some poisonous solvent isn’t going to help your image and it was so last 80s.
b. Why not place testimonials or a BFAD certification to prove your credibility or if your manufacturing area is sanitary and Wow-able and why not show that as well?
c. Go into retail. Deliveries can only generate a small amount sales and if you are looking for a distributor – have a decent website. Having a flickr account and a Youtube account is too measly. Have a website that ties both together and more.
d. What is Hydroxydase? Placing an active ingredient that nobody knows about and sees your print ad is going to have trouble believing your claims.
e. Change your layouts. Get a professional graphic designing team to do your videos, ads, packaging and website. Mediocre design = mediocre sales. Saving money? If you are going to promote your product, invest and provide excellent output OR don’t do anything at all.
f. For God’s sake – change your video NOW! Use voice over for instance.
g. What the heck is Hydoxydase as a brand name – I know and you know – you could do better than that.
Thank you for taking my recommendations and hope it would do your business well.
Yours truly,
Jared
