I love to read Rich Ottum's MarketingBlub blog here on Know More Media. Something always catches my eye because he finds great pictures for his entries. The post titled Hasbro Thinking Outside The Basket got my attention and set off a warning on my Purchasing radar.
Based his description of the commercial, the modified basket is just a prop for the commercial to make its point visually. I think it is a clever one. Wait until someone there or elsewhere decides they should really market them! Pity the Buyer who gets that call.
I can see it now. The Buyer calls a basket company and asks for one that can accommodate a game being placed in it like that. For all I know, they really exist. I'm not picking on that item particularly, just making a general observation about the types of projects Buyers get sometimes.
I once had to call a mannequin maker and inquire about styles, specifically if very tight pants for a catalog photo shoot would fit on a certain mannequin. On the website, the mannequins were referred to by a person's name. When I mentioned the name and explained, the woman said, "Oh that one? She's in stock; she's the one with that big old booty."
One task I had one was to find a company that made swinging doors, like the kind in a hospital ER. I called every door company and home improvement place I could find. Nobody made them, nor could they tell me who did. Finally, I called a local hospital, asked for Purchasing and explained. They got me to their door manufacturer.
Another time an executive wanted a newspaper printed in china - and he wanted it delivered daily.
Your turn. If you've been asked to Purchase something out of the ordinary, please share.
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