A UV-protective apparel brand struggled with customer education. The key insight from Ring's founder was to reframe the product's competition from other clothing to sunscreen. This unlocks a new marketing strategy: sell the shirts in the sunscreen aisle to leverage existing consumer awareness.

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Ring's success was accelerated by anchoring its new technology to a universally understood product: the doorbell. This gave the company "a hundred years of knowledge" and saved what the founder estimates to be billions in marketing and customer education, a key lesson for innovators.

Consumers are trained by food packaging to look for simple, bold 'macros' (e.g., '7g Protein,' 'Gluten-Free'). Applying this concept to non-food items by clearly stating key attributes ('Chemical-Free,' 'Plant-Based') on the packaging can rapidly educate consumers at the point of purchase and differentiate the product.

Despite declining wine consumption among young people, Beatbox thrived by changing its product's positioning. It targeted beer's use cases—concerts, gas stations, casual settings—rather than competing with traditional wines. This proves that smart positioning can overcome negative category trends.

A common marketing mistake is being product-centric. Instead of selling a pre-packaged product, first identify the customer's primary business challenge. Then, frame and adapt your offering as the specific solution to that problem, ensuring immediate relevance and value.

If your product category becomes commoditized, redefine your business around your core expertise. A kombucha maker isn't just selling a drink; they are in the 'probiotics' or 'gut health' business. This strategic reframing can unlock higher-margin opportunities like consulting and R&D.

UV-Protective Clothing Competes with Sunscreen, Not Other Apparel Brands | RiffOn