Deliberate Shortage - The PS2, XBox, and now the XBox 360 all followed the same release pattern: Christmas release, massive shortages, unmet demand. Then Q1 comes along, and voila. No more shortage. Why? By creating a deliberate shortage at the time of initial release, companies can create hype, generate excitement, and make it every kid's (and parent's) mission to find this toy. You lose out on the initial burst of sales, but this only accounts for a percentage of the total planned sales. Brilliant.
"These spectacular sellouts have become as much of a holiday staple as turkey and stuffing. And, of course, they have inspired conspiracy theories. Isn't it a little odd that the same story comes round year after year?" - Slate.com
Deliberate Shortage
The Xbox Shortage Hoax of 2005
Trend Themes
1. Deliberate Shortage - Creating deliberate shortages during product releases to generate hype and excitement.
Industry Implications
1. Gaming - The gaming industry can explore deliberate shortages to create anticipation for new console releases.
2. Tech - Tech companies can utilize deliberate shortages to build excitement and demand for their products.
3. Retail - Retailers can benefit from deliberate shortages by driving customers to their stores in search of limited supply items.