There is some reporting that Beyond Meat, the meat-alternative parent of Beyond Burgers and more, is headed for Chapter 11. Apparently, the brand’s last quarter was an even bigger disappointment than previous quarters.
For some time now, almost since its inception, Peloton has avoided communicating why it is relevantly differentiated from other exercise platforms. Even though Peloton has a unique and significant purpose and promise, the brand has neglected to tell anyone. The brand’s promise and essence are seemingly secrets. You tend to learn about “why Peloton” by osmosis, after signing up and/or buying the hardware. By withholding Peloton’s reason for being, Peloton has cycled through a multitude...
Product parity exists in (too) many categories because technology advances have enabled the ability to replicate precise competitor formulations quickly. When product innovations hit a category marketplace, the clock is already ticking on adjacent businesses matching the move, an all-too-frequent behavior that carries unintended consequences.
There’s a familiar kind of panic that happens when a new technology arrives—one that feels like it threatens something uniquely human. We saw it when photography emerged—surely painting was over. When synthesisers arrived—real musicianship was doomed. And now, here we are with AI, having the same debate over creativity.
As we have learned over the past month, Meta lifted its free speech restrictions. Free speech is in and restraints are out. Meta is taking the same road as X. This means that the relevant differentiation of Meta’s brands, Facebook and Instagram, relative to X, is size and profitability.
