June 2015 Issue

 


  • Product Hits & Misses
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As we ease our way into summer (on this side of the globe), it seems only appropriate to dial up a little more fun. So this month we're asking our readers to share their most favorite and least favorite products or services and why they make the "hit" list or the "missed it" list.
 
Have fun sharing yours and reading others. 
 
 
John Mansour, Managing Partner
 
Just For Fun: Product Hits & Misses


Summer means devoting more time to fun activities. So we're asking our readers to share their favorite or not-so-favorite products - "the obvious hits & misses" Consider any products or services you like to use or have to use in your personal or professional life. 

  • The Hits - Products and/or services you'd consider awesome for any reason. They've either addressed a problem you never knew you had until there was a solution, or they're a no-brainer solution to an age-old problem.
  • The Misses - Products and/or services that evoke the "what were they thinking?" or "how could they miss that?" emotion.

I'll get the ball rolling. 


 

The Hit 

My "nailed it" award goes to Panera Bread's mobile app that includes a calorie counter. Every menu item displays the calories, which is great (and required by law later this year for chain restaurants in the USA). 

 

Here's the cool part: as you customize your salad or sandwich during the ordering process, the calories update as soon as you check or uncheck each ingredient. Awesome! I never knew that the thimble-size serving of fried onions that garnish my otherwise healthy salad amounted to a whopping 200 calories. They're gone! 

 

The Miss 

My "missed it" award goes to the online check-in process from Marriott and Hilton hotels. I get an email on my scheduled day of arrival telling me I can check-in for my upcoming stay. But when I click the button to start the process, it tells me it's too early to check in. So I try again when my plane lands. Now it's too late. C'mon man! 

 

Then one time I hit it right and finally checked in online. But when I arrived at the hotel, there was no difference in the check-in process other than having my room keys pre-programmed. Hardly worth it to save 15 seconds at check-in! This one is surprising because Marriott and Hilton have long track records of understanding the needs of their core customers. 

 

Now it's your turn. Give us your favorite hits and misses and ask your social networks to do the same. And answer this: What do you think separates companies that routinely nail it and those that don't?


 

Post your entries to our blog.