Underwhelmed by New Spring Products

[baychef]

$100,000(roughly speaking) of sales with repetitive products to go to Italy? I just don't know about that. Maybe I'll get over it, but right now, count me out. = (

We are all entitled to our opinions but my current full time job does not even come close to giving me an opportunity to go to Italy...I'll gladly go in your place if they would let me.

I was not thrilled with the list of products but as I see them and use them I am getting more excited. You do have valid points with repetitive products but there is still a wide variety. I have sold a mini scraper, a veggie wedger and a scoop and drain just by bringing them into work...so I am getting more and more excited!

 

[chefheidi2003]

what about the last bit of whatever you are grating? Those little blades are sharp!!

When it gets down to the last little bit I just eat it..LOL.

 

[chefheidi2003]

I did have to laugh about the grater comments..because honestly..those were something that I was most excited about. Now I don't have to get my mandoline out every time I want something grated.

 

[KitchenSmellzSmokey]

I guess I'm confused. How long have you been with PC? You obviously care enough about your business or PC in general to have taken the time out and money spent on attending Spring Launch. Now you want to throw it all out the window? What's that saying...Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater?!

I'm not trying to jump all over you, because everyone has a story, a history, a reason for their feelings, and you are entitled to them. But just try to consider things before completely throwing your business away.

First off, you really should give the products a fair chance before writing them off as not new. Our catalog has always had a bunch of things that you could find at Walmart/Target/etc. The difference is that ours have a reputation and guarantee behind them. Ours are higher quality, have been tested and evaluated to have better features and design than that of others on the market.

Not everyone might need or want 4 different graters, but by offering 4 different graters, you are finding something for everyone. Some people might just want a small and cheaper microplane fine grater for their Parmesan, so this new one is great for them. I personally love that I'm going to have a back-up parmesan grater around the house (because we are constantly using ours and inevitably it's in the dishwasher when I need it again...) I have been waiting forever it feels like for a real grater for cheddar/mozzarella block cheeses, so I'm SOOOO happy about the new coarse grater.

You have to remove your feelings on these products and open your mind a little to the possibility that your customers might be super excited about these products. But if you make it sound like they can just get the same thing somewhere else, well then...you've just sold yourself out of a business.

I hope you give things a chance. Get excited about the other products and focus on those. People will see the new ones in the catalog. You don't have to dwell on them if you don't want to.

First of all, I didn't say I was throwing my business away. Perhaps read more carefully. I said I was taking a break. I have been with PC for 5 years. And while I understand you have your own opinion, I would hope my opinion would be understood as just that, it's my opinion. To say my mind is not open, is insulting for one, but also not very understanding that like I said, I may just be burned out.

I love PC and yes I did have my hands on the products. Some of the products are going to be sellers. But there isn't anything I'm excited about. Not like when we had the DCB or the Cookie Sheets. I was probably the only consultant at Leadership that year that did not gasp in horror because of the metal sheets. I had wanted those for so long!

I have met great people through PC and have had the chance to sit down and talk with Doris and other people in upper management. It's a great team of people. I'm som glad I joined PC.

However, to repeat, I'm not crazy about the new products and wish the revolutionary new product had been, well, more revolutionary.

 

[baychef]

wish the revolutionary new product had been, well, more revolutionary.

I do understand this very much! The hype to me was larger than it should have been, IMHO.

Being burned out with the business is not fun. Been there and done that. Being with PC for 11 years, I certainly can relate to your feelings.

I have one sauce I absolutely HATE...and 95% of the customers who taste or smell it hate it too...but I always let people try it who want to. Sold one this Saturday and I just tell people that customers either love or hate the sauce so negativity does not enter into it. My point being is that as you say, you are voicing your opinion and that can be stated without it effecting your sale of that product.

 

[babywings76]

Come ON! I don't think I can hide my disappointment from my customers. Because of this, I'm taking a break from PC. Maybe I'm just burned out, maybe it's time for a new job. $100,000(roughly speaking) of sales with repetitive products to go to Italy? I just don't know about that. Maybe I'll get over it, but right now, count me out. = (

First of all, I didn't say I was throwing my business away. Perhaps read more carefully. I said I was taking a break. I have been with PC for 5 years. And while I understand you have your own opinion, I would hope my opinion would be understood as just that, it's my opinion. To say my mind is not open, is insulting for one, but also not very understanding that like I said, I may just be burned out.

I love PC and yes I did have my hands on the products. Some of the products are going to be sellers. But there isn't anything I'm excited about. Not like when we had the DCB or the Cookie Sheets. I was probably the only consultant at Leadership that year that did not gasp in horror because of the metal sheets. I had wanted those for so long!

I have met great people through PC and have had the chance to sit down and talk with Doris and other people in upper management. It's a great team of people. I'm som glad I joined PC.

However, to repeat, I'm not crazy about the new products and wish the revolutionary new product had been, well, more revolutionary.

Yikes! I said in my response that I wasn't trying to jump all over you. You are entitled to your opinion and it's perfectly fine to vent here. I thought I was trying to help you think of things from a different perspective. It showed under your name that you've only posted 3 times. It doesn't show how many shows/years you've been with PC, so I honestly didn't know where you were coming from. Please don't jump all over me and say that I'm trying to insult you. I understand if you're burnt out. But your language using was very strong and to me sounded like you were tempted to leave PC. You took my comments as though they came from a mean-spirited place, when that was not my intention at all.

 

[raebates]

I found myself chuckling as I read through this thread. So many people mentioned that this or that product was "overpriced." Anyone remember the exercise the Go for No! people had us do?Each of us was to think about how much we thought was absolutely too much to spend on a nice dinner out with our special someone. How about a stereo system? As you can imagine, the answers were all over the board. It all depends on what you value. As a matter of fact, the gentleman said that he often tells a certain friend what he and his wife spent on a steakhouse experience (something he values). His friend immediately calculates how many Whoppers (or Big Macs, or whatever) that translates into. On the other hand, this same friend has an incredibly expensive stereo system. The important thing here is to not assume that what you think is "overpriced" is where your customer draws that line.

 

[marysunshine99]

I too am a bit underwhelmed by the MFP. I tried making a small batch of cole slaw knowing that if it actually worked for that it might be a selling point in my area. I had huge chunks of cabbage along with really fine pieces. Since major chain stores offer a small electric food processor for $10 and I live in an economically depressed area I am concerned about lack of sales.

I see myself using the mini scraper a lot, the tongs with the small spoons for the cool n serve tray and the bar tongs. The grill pan and press scraper is a decent idea but it comes clean so easily I don't see that it is necessary. I do like the scoop n drain, pasta, pierogies, and pulling the freshly cooked shrimp out of the pot.

I love all the rubs and the new one is no exception. The coarse grater for cheese and hash browns and as was already mentioned, the new glasses are adorable!

 

[Jules711]

I too, right now, am pretty happy with the new products. I'm bummed they didn't do fun spring colors instead of going back to cranberry, but I'll get over it. Yes, there are some products that are JUST different from things we have, but I adore the mini mix n scraper and while it's partially b/c my daughter flipped out over it, even my husband thought it looked useful.

Lots of wedgers...lots of graters...it's all it what you'll use. I'd rather have 4 graters (which will all be dirty at some point) than a bunch more Simple Additions, which I just do not sell enough of (plus it's heavy!). I like gadgets. It's what we do. It's what people get excited about. After all, in a grater, quality matters and since it's a tool, design, color, etc doesn't matter as much. Dishware...not as hard to get something you love more somewhere else. Not everyone is into dots.

I'm certainly not as excited about new stuff as I used to be. I don't have as much time for PC as I did either. I'm busy with other things that fill my mind and life (more so than when I started PC), but new and free definitely make me happy . I love that I can step back from it and just let orders, catalog shows, etc sustain me while I live my life and jump back in as I want too. I'm reaping the benefits of being with PC long enough to do that.

I do love the cover of the catalog! Yum! Makes me almost forget it's still winter.

 

[Bren706]

I am excited about many of the new products. Love the MFP (have to order it, as I did not earn it ). Love the veggie wedger, as well as the mango wedger. I have not eaten a mango since I was a little girl because of the peeling, slicing, etc. Now I am anxious to go and buy one and make some of the recipes for it. Can't wait to try the coconut lime sauce. The grill pan scraper is a great addition too. Now if only my grill pan and press weren't being held hostage in my storage unit. (AAAAGGGGGHHHHH!!!!! Oh grill pan and press how I miss you!!!!).

Not crazy about the measuring spoons. I like the concept of the adjustable ones and not having a ton of spoons.

I am totally thrilled that beside the MFP, I earned the majority of my favorite new products in level 1!!!!!

 

[raebates]

Brenda, this is exactly why I'm glad they didn't discontinue the adjustable ones. I love those. But, I do know that some of my customers prefer individual spoons. For them, this is a great set, since it includes 1/8 t and 1/2 T.

 

[The Pickler]

Placed my order for the new spring line today.....soooo excited to try everything out this weekend!