Does your Product make your Mama proud?

There are so many products on the market that are me-too products...products that are a replication of someone else’s idea with slight tweaks in the design as to not infringe on the trademark of the original.  I’m not saying that sometimes ideas can’t be improved with new versions, but when the category is full and doesn’t need another hair dryer, shampoo, or cracker think of something that will can actually excite a consumer and provide something innovative.  

So, my question to all of you early stage business owners is Does your product make your mama proud?  Are you as excited and passionate about your creation /your product as you were once of your first drawing, first personalized outfit creation, or first time you created a recipe? Do you want to run to your mama and display the results proudly?   

In my experiences, the kind of products that really take off, that fill or create a niche, and continue to build support over time, are those created by the zany, over zealous, passionate entrepreneurs that love their idea “aka baby” and want to share it with the world.  In a time when store shelves are being clenched by the economy and retailers are minimizing the amount of SKUs in which they carry altogether, it is imperative to not create a good, but a great product.

(Disclaimer: mama is a commonly used phrase in the South.  I promise to not center all posts around Southern subjects, but limit the Southernness to moderate flares :)