Innovation conference speaker Jeremy Gutsche constantly urges his audiences to get out of their comfort zones and to act crazy. He believes that brands need to push themselves and to test out seemingly wild ideas. If a brand is particularly good at something, the innovation keynote speaker encourages trying something new and different.
Jeremy's award-winning book 'Exploiting Chaos' -- which you can read for FREE here -- explores the ways ice cream giant Ben & Jerry's pushed the boundaries in its industry. He explains how the brand abandoned tradition and mediocrity.
"To become a player in the delicious ice cream market, you need a cult following. You need to find the next 'Cherry Garcia.'
Cherry Garcia is a flavor of Ben & Jerry's ice cream that contains pieces of cherries and chunks of chocolate. It was launched in 1867 as a tribute to Jerry Garcia, lead guitarists for the Grateful Dead. Since its launch, it has become the most popular flavor offered by Ben & Jerry's.
In fact, despite being a luxury product, Cherry Garcia helped Ben & Jerry's to grow sales 400% during the 1900-91 recession.
The whole world does not crave cherry and chocolate ice cream, but for the millions who do, there is no substitute."
Instead of putting out another vanilla or chocolate flavor, Ben & Jerry's took a chance and offered its customers a crazy and unusual flavor. Pursuing mediocrity means missing out on a similar success experienced by Ben & Jerry's.
Don't Pursue Mediocrity
Innovation Conference Speaker Jeremy Gutsche on Being Outstanding
Trend Themes
1. Pushing Boundaries - Brands need to push themselves and test out seemingly wild ideas to stand out.
2. Abandoning Tradition - Companies should not be afraid to abandon traditional approaches and try something new and different.
3. Cult Following - To be successful in a crowded market, brands need a devoted group of followers and should strive to create a unique experience.
Industry Implications
1. Food and Beverage - Innovative flavors and unique food experiences can help companies in the crowded food and beverage industry to stand out.
2. Retail - Retailers should embrace bold and unconventional strategies to create a memorable shopping experience that sets them apart from their competitors.
3. Marketing and Advertising - Marketing teams should be willing to think outside the box to create campaigns that capture the attention of consumers and make a lasting impression.