Refreshingly Simple

My daughter wanted Little Caesar's Pizza for her birthday party. I don't care much for their pizza, but a birthday is a birthday, so I went to pick some up. When I got there, I was surprised to find that they only had one size - large - and only one price - $5. Want a cheese pizza? $5. Want a pepperoni pizza? $5. Can't beat that! And they had some already-made ones, piping hot, ready-to-go, even though I didn't call to place my order. I think they're saving a LOT of money by simplifying (read: standardizing) their operation and are passing some of it on to customers like me. I still don't like their pizza, but I like their style. In a world of mass customization, they're selling one-size-fits-all pizzas ... and winning. While sales growth for franchise pizzamakers is relatively flat, Little Caesar's posted an 11% gain for 2002.

In a related story - you'll understand why if you keep reading - Fast Company did a piece called 90,000 DVDs. No Shelves about a DVD-rental company called Netflix. They found that it's faster - and more cost-effective - to stack their DVDs in big piles (and scan each and every one of them twice a day) than it was to put then all in neat, order shelving system. Counterintuitive. Messy. And VERY successful.

Then, of course, there's what 7-Up is up to. Remember their jingle? Something about no caffeine - never had it; never will. Except now they do! Introducing "dnL". Caffeine? Yup - and proud of it. They took a perceived weakness (no caffeine) and flipped it upside down ... literally!

So how can you turn YOUR weaknesses into strengths? How can you gain greater success by offering FEWER choices or going AGAINST common thinking? Thinking outside of the (pizza) box takes some getting used to, but it's an idea you definitely don't want to SHELVE before really trying it! Start by turning things "umop 3pIzdn", that is, upside down!