The Word We Don't Want to Discuss... #FAIL

The last thing a potential client wants to bring to the table when we are being interviewed as a resource to achieve their branding goals is: prior product failure.

It is never fun to bring up all the items DIDN'T work.

While it is of critical importance to work within budget, we may need to consider product quality and the value of customer adoption for these products when our funds are limited. Buying on price alone may result in final product that could actual cause damage to the brand.

Have you experienced the "bargain" fridge magnet that slides lazily to the floor under the weight of a child's photo. Few things are more frustrating than a pen that writes in fits and spurts, and the newest version of pen failure may be achieved in purchasing the lowest cost, "trendy" stylus tip that actually gets in the way of the ballpoint. #FAIL

This is not your moment.

Has your procurement team ever defaulted to the cheapest water bottle (with a leaky lid), or the coffee mug with a handle that was not meant to be "removable". Maybe you have seen the multi-tool that has the potential to cause physical harm.

These are not your moments!

Can $0.15 - o.50 per pen  be the difference between creating engagement and achieving brand goals? . . . Do you want to roll the dice? You might get lucky! Or is there the real(ized) chance these attempts at savvy spending could result in another ineffective product you literally cannot give away!

Choose wisely! If you wouldn't hire the cheapest accountant to represent your business, then you might want to develop a relationship with a brand partner that will ensure that your valuable budgets are invested in products that are on message, create engagement through extended use and have the bigger picture potential to build brand love.