Something New

As I writer I can relate to the demand for innovation. After all, a cliche will often just cause rolling eyes and a story already told will not be read. Granted, writers have an advantage; we usually work independently and our processes are self-imposed.Yet, we do create something out of nothing - worlds that never even existed; a one-of-akind way of looking at things. In a case study from BACARDI (page 20),Yousef Zaatar, vice president packaging, BACARDI Global Packaging says, "True innovation creates a need for the consumer." So in that sense writers and consumer goods companies are alike - we both give people things they did not even know they wanted or needed.

 

So what is true innovation and how do you get there? Current statistics say that less than 10 percent of innovation is consider "true breakthrough innovation." It's the No. 1 challenge for many consumer goods companies. This month's issue addresses the many facets of innovation, from private label competition and open innovation, to product development and managing processes. The Special Report (page 8) is a Q&A with the authors of the book "Private Label Strategy: How to meet the store brand challenge;" and Insights (page 10) this month covers the "Stage-Gate" process. The Best Practices section (beginning on Page 16) features Unilever and its innovation in the laundry category; P&G discussing its specs processes; BACARDI and its packaging; Tyson and its new Discovery Center; Lowrance and its engineering challenges; and Rich Products on project management.

 

In our cover story, executives from both Reebok and the NHL discuss their collaborative initiative in which innovation led to a complete revamp of the hockey uniform -- new performance technologies in materials were created to maximize the game. There will soon be a consumer version of the jersey on the shelves as well.