CG Leaders Study Disruptive & Incremental Innovation
Many of the consumer goods industry’s most innovative thinkers met at CGT's 2013 Consumer Goods Growth & Innovation Forum on September 18-20, 2013, at the W Hotel in Miami Beach, Fla., to deepen their understanding of driving true innovation — both on the disruptive and incremental fronts. This intimate and exclusive event allowed senior executives from industry heavyweights and entrepreneurs from out-of-the-box startups to collaborate and share strategies for delivering meaningful new product platforms to consumers. Here is a recap the event’s many highlights (then check out CGT’s YouTube channel for video interviews with key speakers and attendees):
-- In his opening keynote address, Dean DeBiase, Senior Kellogg Innovation Network Fellow, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, explored innovation approaches that can reinvigorate exiting products and brands as well as disrupt and create new markets. To be successful in the consumer goods industry in 2014 and beyond, DeBiase stressed that brands must pursue both Disruptive and Incremental partner-based innovation strategies by tapping into emerging tools and trends, from open innovation and user experience design, to the Internet of things and the entrepreneurial movement. "Don't ever lose your technology edge; I don't care what product your making,” said DeBiase.
-- Keynoting for the event’s Disruptive Innovation path, Dr. Larry Weiss, Chief Scientific Officer and Founder of The CleanWell Company, detailed how longstanding consumer assumptions about hygiene and health are changing and changing fast. "Being disruptive is dangerous fun...and dangerous fun is what start ups are all about," opened Dr. Weiss. Attendees then heard the exceptional story about how CleanWell's products are truly changing the way consumers perceive and use products in the personal hygiene category. "Our job as innovators is to see around corners... to see emerging convergent trends before others do,” he advised.
-- Next, Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurt Co-Founders Drew Harrington and Amanda Klane shared the story of the development and launch of the first frozen Greek yogurt novelty brand. In just over two years, Yasso was selling in more than 11,000 stores nationwide. "Our retailers were our best friends. We listened to everything they said," explained Klane. Other keys to the company’s success are an unwaivering commitment to the brand's core values as well as evolving the brand while staying nimble and innovative in the face of increased competition.
-- Enjoy Life Foods, an 11-year old company that is a leading brand in the packaged gluten-free and allergen-friendly product category, has utilized an aggressive digital, mobile and social marketing strategy to attain more than 85 perent growth over the last two years. Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Joel Warady shared case studies of specific marketing initiatives that have resulted in double-digit ROI with social as the hub of the overall digital-first strategy, and how these consumer interactions have impacted product development and innovation. “We don't post on Facebook. We only respond. We've trained our customers to share their stories,” he said.
-- James Wolfe of The Clorox Strategy & Growth Office candidly shared specifics around the business models, processes, systems, tools and organizational changes that The Clorox Company has leveraged to create and deliver innovation to the market place. “We think about moving into adjacencies of things we do well, and not jumping into the unknown,” he said. Discussion topics explored portfolio management, strategy and commercialization processes.
-- MPOWERD Inc.’s Co-Founders Jacques-Philippe Piverger and John Salzinger educated and astounded the audience with an in-depth look at its life-changing product, Luci. “Conventioanl innovation is about changing habit,” said Alain Sylvain, CEO of Sylvain Labs and Luci's development partner. “But disruptive innovation is about solving problems, for good.” Launched in October 2012, Luci does just that; it’s a low cost, long-lasting, durable, solar powered lighting solution. It was designed to work independent of the power grid and brings light to some of the darkest corners of the world where it would otherwise be inaccessible or unaffordable.
-- Innovationedge President Cheryl Perkins led the event’s popular panel discussion featuring Rob Everett, Advanced Research Leader, Global Innovation Center / Korea, Kimberly-Clark Corporation; John Kittle, Vice President, Business Planning & Insight, Popcorn Indiana; and Dr. Larry Weiss, Chief Scientific Officer and Founder, The CleanWell Company. Together, they explored different perspectives on the processes, tools and capabilities that large or small-but-nimble brand owners have mastered.
-- During an energetic closing session, R "Ray" Wang, Principal Analyst, Chairman & Founder, Constellation Research Inc., explained how consumer goods companies can improve customer interactions and transform customer experiences by building your strategy with the nine C’s of engagement. “The future is a contextual experience. Get there by thinking about how you engage consumers,” he advised.
-- On Day 2 of the event, CGT was privileged to present its 2013 Innovation Awards to deserving consumer goods companies who lead the industry with successful new products that fit both the incremental and disruptive molds. Meet the winners and finalists here.
Don't miss CGT's next live industry event: The Consumer Goods Business & Technology Leadership Conference. Click here to learn more and register.
Related Articles:
2013 Product Innovation Solutions
CleanWell Challenges Consumer Convention
CGT Reveals 2013 Innovation Award Winners
Dean DeBiase to Keynote 2013 Consumer Goods Growth & Innovation Forum
-- In his opening keynote address, Dean DeBiase, Senior Kellogg Innovation Network Fellow, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, explored innovation approaches that can reinvigorate exiting products and brands as well as disrupt and create new markets. To be successful in the consumer goods industry in 2014 and beyond, DeBiase stressed that brands must pursue both Disruptive and Incremental partner-based innovation strategies by tapping into emerging tools and trends, from open innovation and user experience design, to the Internet of things and the entrepreneurial movement. "Don't ever lose your technology edge; I don't care what product your making,” said DeBiase.
-- Keynoting for the event’s Disruptive Innovation path, Dr. Larry Weiss, Chief Scientific Officer and Founder of The CleanWell Company, detailed how longstanding consumer assumptions about hygiene and health are changing and changing fast. "Being disruptive is dangerous fun...and dangerous fun is what start ups are all about," opened Dr. Weiss. Attendees then heard the exceptional story about how CleanWell's products are truly changing the way consumers perceive and use products in the personal hygiene category. "Our job as innovators is to see around corners... to see emerging convergent trends before others do,” he advised.
-- Next, Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurt Co-Founders Drew Harrington and Amanda Klane shared the story of the development and launch of the first frozen Greek yogurt novelty brand. In just over two years, Yasso was selling in more than 11,000 stores nationwide. "Our retailers were our best friends. We listened to everything they said," explained Klane. Other keys to the company’s success are an unwaivering commitment to the brand's core values as well as evolving the brand while staying nimble and innovative in the face of increased competition.
-- Enjoy Life Foods, an 11-year old company that is a leading brand in the packaged gluten-free and allergen-friendly product category, has utilized an aggressive digital, mobile and social marketing strategy to attain more than 85 perent growth over the last two years. Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Joel Warady shared case studies of specific marketing initiatives that have resulted in double-digit ROI with social as the hub of the overall digital-first strategy, and how these consumer interactions have impacted product development and innovation. “We don't post on Facebook. We only respond. We've trained our customers to share their stories,” he said.
-- James Wolfe of The Clorox Strategy & Growth Office candidly shared specifics around the business models, processes, systems, tools and organizational changes that The Clorox Company has leveraged to create and deliver innovation to the market place. “We think about moving into adjacencies of things we do well, and not jumping into the unknown,” he said. Discussion topics explored portfolio management, strategy and commercialization processes.
-- MPOWERD Inc.’s Co-Founders Jacques-Philippe Piverger and John Salzinger educated and astounded the audience with an in-depth look at its life-changing product, Luci. “Conventioanl innovation is about changing habit,” said Alain Sylvain, CEO of Sylvain Labs and Luci's development partner. “But disruptive innovation is about solving problems, for good.” Launched in October 2012, Luci does just that; it’s a low cost, long-lasting, durable, solar powered lighting solution. It was designed to work independent of the power grid and brings light to some of the darkest corners of the world where it would otherwise be inaccessible or unaffordable.
-- Innovationedge President Cheryl Perkins led the event’s popular panel discussion featuring Rob Everett, Advanced Research Leader, Global Innovation Center / Korea, Kimberly-Clark Corporation; John Kittle, Vice President, Business Planning & Insight, Popcorn Indiana; and Dr. Larry Weiss, Chief Scientific Officer and Founder, The CleanWell Company. Together, they explored different perspectives on the processes, tools and capabilities that large or small-but-nimble brand owners have mastered.
-- During an energetic closing session, R "Ray" Wang, Principal Analyst, Chairman & Founder, Constellation Research Inc., explained how consumer goods companies can improve customer interactions and transform customer experiences by building your strategy with the nine C’s of engagement. “The future is a contextual experience. Get there by thinking about how you engage consumers,” he advised.
-- On Day 2 of the event, CGT was privileged to present its 2013 Innovation Awards to deserving consumer goods companies who lead the industry with successful new products that fit both the incremental and disruptive molds. Meet the winners and finalists here.
Don't miss CGT's next live industry event: The Consumer Goods Business & Technology Leadership Conference. Click here to learn more and register.
Related Articles:
2013 Product Innovation Solutions
CleanWell Challenges Consumer Convention
CGT Reveals 2013 Innovation Award Winners
Dean DeBiase to Keynote 2013 Consumer Goods Growth & Innovation Forum