A Wren Says

I remember seeing the container of Cup Noodles. It read, now microwaveable. What do you mean, now?

Previously, the instant soup from Nissin came in a foam cup with a label telling people not microwave it, because of course people were microwaving it. They wanted a quick and cheap meal. That just screams microwave it. Who had time to wait for water to boil on a stove? Or whose brea kroom even had access to a kettle? So despite the messaging and the possible fires, they continued to microwave the product. Was it dangerous? Possibly. But was it fast? Absolutely.

There is a time to use your marketing to educate consumers on how to use your product correctly. Nissin could have continued to make the warning more visible. They could have paid for an ad campaign. They could have made it clear that their products should not be microwaved. And then, as they realized, there is a time to adapt to what it is that they are already doing. It was time to adjust to what their most beloved fans were already doing. It’s not admitting defeat; it’s listening to your customers.

So if your customers are using your product wrong, maybe it’s time to make them right.