Sam’s Choice Cola from Wal-Mart: their new product designs and $0.25 or $0.40 each?
November 16, 2007 – 9:48 amI’m not anti-Wal-Mart like Seth who made it a 2007 goal to boycott shopping at Wal-Mart.
But, on the other hand, I couldn’t help but share the obnoxiousness of the pricing on the vending machines outside the store in Overland Park.
Notice the nice 25 cent price in huge letters on the side with a clear 40 cent price on the front.
Who’s the genius that changed the price on the front but thought it would be ok to leave 25 cents on the side panel? Who knows how long the 2 machines at that location have had the price mismatch.
While we are on the topic of Sam’s Choice Cola, their product redesign was covered in the Oct 22 issue of Brandweek - Design: Wal-Mart Soft Drinks Add Some Needed Pop.
Dave Dolak posted some links and discussed a few of the new Sam’s Choice cola designs, including Mountain Lightning (aka Wal-Marts attempt at Mountain Dew). He was a bit more harsh than I would have been in regards to the agency that created the new designs and also Brandweek, but I do agree that there isn’t anything innovative about the designs. Since the goal is to make them at least look like their more expensive counterparts from Pepsi, Coke, etc, I think they achieved that goal, but failed at the stated strategy to not ‘knock off’ the traditional brands.
Technorati Tags: vending, Wal-Mart, cola, Sam’s Choice
2 Responses to “Sam’s Choice Cola from Wal-Mart: their new product designs and $0.25 or $0.40 each?”
Who knew Sam’s soda could cause such a stir?
My comments were made because these package designs are obvious knock-offs of national brands. There is no problem in that if it is the strategy to be a generic or store brand alternative. In that case I would applaud.
In the Brandweek case, however, part of the stated goal was to be “distinctive” and “innovative” and I thought the designs failed on those counts.
As for the price? Who knows. With inflation, maybe $0.40 is the new $0.25.
;-)
http://www.dolakblog.com/2007/11/original-knockoffs.html
By Dave on Nov 19, 2007