Are New Products Really Worth the Hype?

[chefshawna]

I'm so excited about the new line!! There is so much stuff this time that I can see myself and others using! I think the bamboo will be a huge hit and the collapsible bowls are awesome, plus I love the new metal sheet pan and the baking dish! I know that some don't like the chip and dip tray, but it is very thick and sturdy, you wouldn't be able to find that at the dollar store. So, let's go out there and sell, sell, sell...enthusiasm is contagious, but so is negativity!!

 

[pamperedlinda]

I finally got around to unpacking my products this morning. Love them! I'm very excited to have great items at really affordable prices to offer my customers this season. Plus, they aren't very heavy so taking them shows won't kill my shoulders

 

[heat123]

Deb's right. You can't possibly like everything but someone will die for your least favorite thing. Get the things you like and demo or show those. If I don't like something I don't talk about it. I let the catalog and customers talk about those things. Remember that our company is trying to appeal to everyone so we have to have variety.

For example, I do not like the sheet pans and new square metal pan but I know that many of my customers will love them. I am thrilled that we have a small sheet pan now because I can bring that for display (so much lighter) and they can see the quality. I have talked about them - saying things like "we know stoneware isn't for everyone so for those of you who prefer your metal pans we now have awesome ones for you! They are heavy duty and will not warp like others do" - but I don't promote them. If someone asks I tell them that I haven't used any metal pans for over 20 years and honestly keep forgetting to use them. I then tell them why they're good and I have promised to put them where I will grab them as quickly as my stones so that I give them a try so I better do just that - I have more parties coming up with these people.

ITA Beth! I wasn't thrilled about the metal sheet pans when they came out but we do have a market for them and they are very STRUDY and Cheap! People are very impressed when I pass mine around to see how heavy they are and talk about how well priced they are!

The Bamboo is fantastic I think, for this "going green-renuable resource" shift in this more conscientious enviornment. I LOVE All of it!

And what I may not be impressed with each season(the white glaze stones) , there is sure to be a marekt out there that will!

Attitude is everthing as Belinda Elllsworth stated!

 

[chefann]

I'm on the "it's your attitude" bandwagon, too! I was the only person from my cluster to attend Leadership, and I did a small presentation about the new items at our cluster meeting Friday night. One consultant who was there kept hounding me with questions and comments about the products that were very negative, and things that HO doesn't announce (she wanted to know about items she's suggested and whether HO said that they're working on them for future seasons). Everything with her was: "Why is it all made in China?" "How come they think we need metal pans?" "Why did they introduce the white instead of just keeping the French Vanilla?" "What did they say we should say to our customers about lead, since everything is made in China and will be contaminated." "Why so much bamboo?" "Again with the ugly green?" (Never mind that the green is so that it still matches the items already in the outdoor entertaining collections.) I think that she'll have a hard time selling any of the new things, since she's so down on it all.Even if you're not excited about everything, pick one or two items that you ARE excited about, and gush about them.

 

[Shawnna]

I wasn't excited about the corn cutter, because I was under the impression it was for getting the kernals off the cob before cooking....so you could freeze. But someone mentioned that their son loved corn on the cob but couldn't eat it because of braces and they were excited because now they could easily get the kernals off. So is it for before or after cooking. would think it would be really sharp for using before you cooked the corn and so would be dangerous for using after the corn i cooked. So, what is use and care saying?

 

[wadesgirl]

I wasn't excited about the corn cutter, because I was under the impression it was for getting the kernals off the cob before cooking....so you could freeze. But someone mentioned that their son loved corn on the cob but couldn't eat it because of braces and they were excited because now they could easily get the kernals off. So is it for before or after cooking. would think it would be really sharp for using before you cooked the corn and so would be dangerous for using after the corn i cooked. So, what is use and care saying?

It can probably be used for both.

 

[DebbieJ]

I wasn't excited about the corn cutter, because I was under the impression it was for getting the kernals off the cob before cooking....so you could freeze. But someone mentioned that their son loved corn on the cob but couldn't eat it because of braces and they were excited because now they could easily get the kernals off. So is it for before or after cooking. would think it would be really sharp for using before you cooked the corn and so would be dangerous for using after the corn i cooked. So, what is use and care saying?

No one has received this one yet--on backorder-- so no one can read the Use & Care and tell you.

 

[BethCooks4U]

They said at leadership (there was a video somewhere that I saw) that it could be used on either cooked or uncooked corn on the cob. I'm also going to try it to scrape out the "wasted" pineapple from using the wedger - fresh crushed pineapple. I can't wait for the kernel cutter to get here so I can try it!

 

[Intrepid_Chef]

I'm never as impressed with the spring line-up as the fall ... that's just me.

I DO love the white stoneware, grinder stand and kernal cutter.

Not sure what I'm going to do with that cracker tray.

I'm intrigued by those dipping spices and want to add them to my rice ...

 

[chefsteph07]

I've appreciated the beauty of the vanilla and cranberry stoneware, but I'm overjoyed that we now have white. My good dishes are white and cobalt. Now I can set a pretty table (on my new dining table in my first real dining room since I left home in 1974!!!!) with our stones!!!

I've never personally liked plastic (don't like the feel, I guess) but I can see that the outdoor entertainers would enjoy the new products.

We had our Spring Kick-Off this morning. Since I had to miss Leadership this year it was my first opportunity to see the products. Mine were at my door when I got home tonight.

I"m concerned about the white stones staining badly...as what happened w/ my vanilla..I do like the white, but wish they cleaned up better so they didn't look dirty. I prob will bring mine to show.
I am using the chip dip bowl tonight for a few friends we are having over for the game, I'll put chips and salsa in it, and I am using the bamboo platters to serve pizza and wings.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Okay - I'm in the minority here, but I love the new Chip n Dip!

I think it's great for using outdoors, and it will match all of my other PC Picnic serving stuff. It will be great for veggies and dip, or fruit and dip, or chips and salsa.....I was thinking I'd like 2 of them!

 

[BethCooks4U]

I"m concerned about the white stones staining badly...as what happened w/ my vanilla..I do like the white, but wish they cleaned up better so they didn't look dirty. I prob will bring mine to show.
I am using the chip dip bowl tonight for a few friends we are having over for the game, I'll put chips and salsa in it, and I am using the bamboo platters to serve pizza and wings.

Use one of those scotch green scrubbies and just a drop of dish soap to clean the outside of the white stones - that's what kept my french vanilla ones like new.

 

[BethCooks4U]

Okay - I'm in the minority here, but I love the new Chip n Dip!

I think it's great for using outdoors, and it will match all of my other PC Picnic serving stuff. It will be great for veggies and dip, or fruit and dip, or chips and salsa.....I was thinking I'd like 2 of them!

DH didn't like the chip/dip bowl at all until I pointed out that it would be perfect for a lot of things (as you mentioned) in the warm weather and along side our other outdoor pieces.

 

[BettieC]

Okay - I'm in the minority here, but I love the new Chip n Dip!

I think it's great for using outdoors, and it will match all of my other PC Picnic serving stuff. It will be great for veggies and dip, or fruit and dip, or chips and salsa.....I was thinking I'd like 2 of them!

I actually like it too. I thought I wouldn't by the pic, but once I saw it in person, I liked it way better than seeing the pic.

 

[itsjustCarla]

Use one of those scotch green scrubbies and just a drop of dish soap to clean the outside of the white stones - that's what kept my french vanilla ones like new.

I lLOVE the "magic erasers" and I bet they would be GREAT for the outside of the stones!

 

[itsjustCarla]

I'm on the "it's your attitude" bandwagon, too! I was the only person from my cluster to attend Leadership, and I did a small presentation about the new items at our cluster meeting Friday night. One consultant who was there kept hounding me with questions and comments about the products that were very negative, and things that HO doesn't announce (she wanted to know about items she's suggested and whether HO said that they're working on them for future seasons). Everything with her was: "Why is it all made in China?" "How come they think we need metal pans?" "Why did they introduce the white instead of just keeping the French Vanilla?" "What did they say we should say to our customers about lead, since everything is made in China and will be contaminated." "Why so much bamboo?" "Again with the ugly green?" (Never mind that the green is so that it still matches the items already in the outdoor entertaining collections.) I think that she'll have a hard time selling any of the new things, since she's so down on it all.

Even if you're not excited about everything, pick one or two items that you ARE excited about, and gush about them.

Don't get me wrong......it's not like I HATE the new products, because I don't. I guess it's like Christmas....everyone gets hyped up and excited and then......the let-down when it's all over. I definately don't have the attitude that you described, but I just didn't find the new products all that exciting - at least not all of them anyway.

 

[Beckycooks]

I tried the pineapple wedger today and had a really hard time cutting through the pineapple. Has anyone tried this yet? I don't know if I did not have the right sized pineapple???:chef:

 

[MissChef]

Deb's right. You can't possibly like everything but someone will die for your least favorite thing. Get the things you like and demo or show those. If I don't like something I don't talk about it. I let the catalog and customers talk about those things. Remember that our company is trying to appeal to everyone so we have to have variety.

For example, I do not like the sheet pans and new square metal pan but I know that many of my customers will love them. I am thrilled that we have a small sheet pan now because I can bring that for display (so much lighter) and they can see the quality. I have talked about them - saying things like "we know stoneware isn't for everyone so for those of you who prefer your metal pans we now have awesome ones for you! They are heavy duty and will not warp like others do" - but I don't promote them. If someone asks I tell them that I haven't used any metal pans for over 20 years and honestly keep forgetting to use them. I then tell them why they're good and I have promised to put them where I will grab them as quickly as my stones so that I give them a try so I better do just that - I have more parties coming up with these people.

good post beth especially the part that I bolded! I like the sheet pans but I love stoneware best and I like the idea of being able to bring a small one so that my kit isn't so heavy and my back won't have to pay the price!:thumbup::balloon:

 

[c00p]

I have to admit that when I saw the new saute tongs at Leadership that I wasn't thrilled at all about them and was secretly wishing that they would've made the Chef's tongs better by putting silicone on the handles (at the top) so they would stop pinching me!! HOWEVER, I actually used the saute tongs last night when I was cooking orange chicken because the chef's tongs were way too big to turn the individual pieces of chicken while they were cooking. It was actually nice to have the smaller tongs and they worked perfectly. Ok, I admit - I like them!!

 

[HockeyLover]

I couldn't understand the big fuss over the pineapple wedger... until I had some fresh pineapple yesterday. Someone brought a fruit tray to my SIL's yesterday and it had fresh pineapple on it. OMG! I forgot how great it was! The women all stood around the tray talking about how great it was, but what a pain it was to cut. Enter me with my mini-catty ( never miss an opportunity!) and we were all excited! Now I can't wait to get it!

 

[DessertDivaFL]

I used the Chip 'n Dip Tray yesterday at my Super Bowl Party. No one commented on it. I mentioned it was a new product and that it was dishwasher safe. They were more impressed with the Trifle Bowl.

 

[c00p]

Remember on the pineapple wedger that you need to rock it to use it - don't try to push it straight down, that's too hard!! And also, you can turn it 90 degrees after your first cut and then you'll get chunked pineapple.

 

[pamperedlinda]

Remember on the pineapple wedger that you need to rock it to use it - don't try to push it straight down, that's too hard!! And also, you can turn it 90 degrees after your first cut and then you'll get chunked pineapple.

And, if you are vertically challenged (i.e.: short) like me, it is kind of tough to use. I had a hard time getting leverage on it last night. I think it was Deb who mentioned that the Test Kitchen Guy said this might be tougher if you are on the short side, and to cut the pineapple in half. I'll do that next time, I wanted to see how difficult it was to do it whole...it was difficult :thumbdown:. But, the end result was great :thumbup:

 

[ChefBeckyD]

And, if you are vertically challenged (i.e.: short) like me, it is kind of tough to use. I had a hard time getting leverage on it last night. I think it was Deb who mentioned that the Test Kitchen Guy said this might be tougher if you are on the short side, and to cut the pineapple in half. I'll do that next time, I wanted to see how difficult it was to do it whole...it was difficult :thumbdown:. But, the end result was great :thumbup:

I'm not vertically challenged - but I've used my pineapple wedger twice now, both times with a taller pineapple, and still find that it works much better if I cut the pineapple in half. But man, I love that thing! We love fresh pineapple, and I am thrilled that I can peel and wedge one so easily now!

(pineapples are $2.79 at Costco all the time!:thumbup

 

[ChefPaulaB]

I love everything so far. But I have to say that every time I show someone the Garlic Peeler, we all go into a fit of giggles! :balloon: It's kind of silly, and seems so basic, I haven't tried it yet, and I'm sure that it works, just not sure that anyone will actually buy it... maybe as a set with the slicer (I don't have that yet)...

 

[babywings76]

I love everything so far. But I have to say that every time I show someone the Garlic Peeler, we all go into a fit of giggles! :balloon: It's kind of silly, and seems so basic, I haven't tried it yet, and I'm sure that it works, just not sure that anyone will actually buy it... maybe as a set with the slicer (I don't have that yet)...

My mom bought me a garlic peeler just like ours many years ago. It was just a different color. It works great. The one she gave me had a little plastic tube container with snap on lid to store it in--something about the material really likes to attract crumbs and dust. It would be nice if ours came with one too.

 

[jrstephens]

I think I'm the only one not all that impressed with the new products. I like the new bamboo stuff, but nothing is really catching my eye.

I agree with you. I don't dislike any of it but I am not EXCITED about anything other than the DCB being in white b/c I have a customer that has been dying for it to come out in white but if not for her it would not matter to me. I am curious about a few things but not all jumping stumps over them like I have done with some things in the past.

 

[darlinclem]

I'm on the "it's your attitude" bandwagon, too! I was the only person from my cluster to attend Leadership, and I did a small presentation about the new items at our cluster meeting Friday night. One consultant who was there kept hounding me with questions and comments about the products that were very negative, and things that HO doesn't announce (she wanted to know about items she's suggested and whether HO said that they're working on them for future seasons). Everything with her was: "Why is it all made in China?" "How come they think we need metal pans?" "Why did they introduce the white instead of just keeping the French Vanilla?" "What did they say we should say to our customers about lead, since everything is made in China and will be contaminated." "Why so much bamboo?" "Again with the ugly green?" (Never mind that the green is so that it still matches the items already in the outdoor entertaining collections.) I think that she'll have a hard time selling any of the new things, since she's so down on it all.

Even if you're not excited about everything, pick one or two items that you ARE excited about, and gush about them.

Tell her on the white instead of the french vanilla, it coordinates with the Simple Additions.

 

[dkgriff]

I LOVE the garlic peeler!! When I took it out of the plastic, I was thinking, what the heck? Who is going to buy a tube of rubber?? Then I used it - LOVE it!! I hate peeling garlic and this is sooo easy - 3 rolls and all the skin was gone! I will be using this for a demo at every show!

 

[pampered1224]

I just got caught up here and I have to laugh Chris!
I got my SAT stuff Friday. Opened up the Chip & Dip and set it on the kitchen table. I put the C&D box back in the shipping box. So PAt comes home about an hour later and after getting comfortable, picks up the C&D and asks me when I went to K-Mart. I was in the other room so I did not know he had the C&D in his hand. I told him I didn't, why? Then he says, "Well, where di you get this? The Dollar Store?" So I nearly fell of my chair when you made that comment!! WAY TO FUNNY! I do not think it is worth $19.50 either Keith but I am not buying it so, I will keep my mouth shut. My customers will let me know what they think of it.