Blog #4

1.     Thinking about all the healthcare categories for which you could buy/use OTC products, which ones do you think are most appropriate for “natural” products—why?  Which healthcare categories do you think are least appropriate for “natural” products—why? 

Well I think vitamins and supplments are the most appropriate.  Next, cold and flu relief.  I think cold and flu issues (cough, sneeze, congestion, etc) lend themselves well to homeopathic and home remedies and natural products can be very effective in treating symptoms and causes.  I think they are least appropriate for pain relievers because I do not feel like they will be effective. 

2.     What barriers/concerns keep you from using more “natural” items?  What do you wish they could fix, change &/or invent in the future & how would this help?

My main concern with natural items is their effectiveness.  I wish they could prove that natural products are as effective or more effective then conventional products. 

3.     I want to understand your impressions of a few different healthcare companies that could offer “natural” products in the future.  For each company, please blog about their strengths, weaknesses & credibility when it comes to “natural” products.

a.     Bayer.  I think bayer is a reliable company and has a solid reputation.  The first thing that comes to mind is headache relief.  I have a vision of them as simple, few ingredients, not flashy....which i think can lend itself well to natural products.

b.    Johnson & Johnson.  I think johnson and johnson is a reputable company with a long history ofquality products.  one thing that comes to mind is their baby products so i think that can give me a positive association with natural products.  

c.     Pfizer.  pfizer has little credibility to me in terms of natural products.  i think of pfizer as a big pharmacutical brand and would not trust their natural products.

4.     Thinking about the “conventional” OTC healthcare brands below, which brand/s do you think are better suited to evolving their product line to include “natural” products?  For each, explain why it makes sense, what this brand “brings to the party”.  Conversely, which brand/s do you think are less suited to evolving their product line to include “natural” products?  Again, for each, please explain why it doesn’t make sense.

a.     Claritin.  less suited because they specialize in allergy relief and i think natural products are ineffective for allegry relief

b.    Aleve.  i think aleve is a brand for pain relief and headaches specifically, which does not lend itself well to natural products.  i think of aleve as a tough headache fighter, not a natural product

c.     One-A-Day-this lends itself well to natural products and brings a nice balanced idea of needing one a day vitamin.  it makes me think of overall health and wellness

d.    Advil. i trust the brand advil and think that if they did a good job of making and marketing a natural product, i would try it because the brand is trusted.

e.     Centrum-again, since centrum is in the vitamin world i think its a natural transition to other natural products.  i would definitely think this brand is well suited

f.      Robitussin.  i think of robutussin as cough relief and think it would be well suited to natural products if done right.  i think robutussin is a brand i trust and brings relief quickly.  it makes me think of children which also lends itself to natural products.

g.    Tylenol. similar to advil, i trust the brand overall and would try a natural product.

5.     On the following page is a description of a new line of products.  First, blog about your overall interest in this idea.  What do you like/dislike about it?  Which products are more/less interesting to you & why?  Then, consider the follow 2 options for naming/branding this new line.

I think the idea is excellent.  I love that its an overall health regiment, supports the mind and body, and treats all parts of my body and mind.  I find all the products interesting, in particular the pain reliever because i have never used a natural pain reliever and would be interested to test its effectiveness.  

a.     If it came from a new-to-the-world brand, how would you think/feel about it—what are the pros/cons of this line coming from a new brand?

If this came from a new brand I think it would have lots of advantages because it would be a completely new product line and a whole regiment from soup to nuts. 

b.    If it came from “the makers of One-A-Day”, how would you think/feel about it—what are the pros/cons?  Does the One-A-Day brand fit with products that go beyond multivitamins—why/why not? 

I do think this would fit well with the one a day brand beause that brand gives me images of overall health, taking care of your body everyday, etc.  I deifnitely think the one a day brand can transition ppast multivitamins with a prouct line like this!