A little uncertainty makes people more likely to buy. A study in the Journal of Consumer Psychology found that when shoppers feel low control (like when choices are overwhelming) mystery increases interest. That’s why “what’s inside?” boxes, hidden features, or unlockable functions work so well in crowded categories. But when buyers need control (think industrial gear, pro tools, or safety products) mystery backfires fast. So, you gotta match mystery to customer mindset. If your audience...
1 day ago • 1 min read
Customers are favoring brands whose parts are easy to upgrade and replace. An EE Times report highlights an intriguing shift in consumer electronics: brands that design for repairability and modular upgrades are seeing stronger loyalty and longer product lifespans. Intriguing because it’s the opposite of the old playbook. Stuff like glued-in batteries, proprietary screws, sealed housings, and software that mysteriously drains performance over time. That approach creates churn, not trust, for...
2 days ago • 1 min read
More retailers are discovering that the best product feedback happens before the sale, not after. Heading into 2026, retail-hardware trends, physical stores have been shifting from “places to buy” to places to co-create. Some U.S. chains now run “try and tweak” zones where shoppers test prototypes, customize hardware in real time, and give direct input to the brand. It’s retail as a live, buyer-centric R&D environment. And it works because customers love feeling like insiders. When someone...
3 days ago • 1 min read
People pay to keep what they feel is theirs more readily than to gain something new. A Journal of Consumer Psychology study found that when users feel even symbolic ownership of an option, they’re far more likely to stick with it, pay more for it, and resist switching. It’s the engine behind the “keep vs. get” effect. If a feature is framed as something you keep, commitment shoots up. If it’s framed as something you get, commitment falls. This matters for physical products, and it’s even more...
4 days ago • 1 min read
If a user succeeds once, they’re far more likely to stick around (and tell others). Behavioral science keeps proving this. I wrote last week about how future-focused or abstract messaging actually slows adoption. A 2024 Journal of Consumer Psychology study showed that when users complete a small task in the first 10 minutes, long-term engagement jumps by roughly 25%. The PLG research from Thadani & Hardikar found the same thing: that first micro-victory is the strongest predictor of...
5 days ago • 1 min read
Buyers don’t automatically trust what a product does. They need to know HOW it does it. A 2025 MIT/Wharton experiment found that when companies reveal how an output is generated (even if the explanation is pretty complex) trust and adoption go up. It’s the same principle behind a Minimum Wow Product: don’t be shipping a bare-bones MVP. Ship one that earns belief. And belief comes from transparency. For physical products, that means: Show the invisible.Reveal the mechanism.Expose the process...
6 days ago • 1 min read
If you manufacture in China but don’t sell there, you may think you’re safe. You’re not. A surprising number of product makers assume their trademark protects them globally. But it doesn’t. One of my clients learned this the hard way years ago. They switched manufacturers after serious recurring quality problems. The old manufacturer, unhappy about being fired, went out the same week and registered my client’s unclaimed trademarks in China. It was a strategic play. When the next production...
7 days ago • 1 min read
Last year’s Black Friday broke records. But for most makers, it’s not make-or-break. Here’s what happened in 2024: U.S. online sales that day hit $10.8 billion, a 10.2% increase over the previous year. Yet in-store sales rose just 0.7%, and foot traffic actually dipped in lots of regions. So sure, today is still big. But the subtext is important: Big numbers don’t automatically translate into breakthrough results for every brand. Here’s the subtle truth for product makers: If your brand is...
8 days ago • 1 min read
Gratitude is the antidote to almost everything negative … and the fuel behind everything constructive. Happy Thanksgiving to all my American readers! It’s a day when brands blast out thank-you messages, coupon codes, and “we appreciate you” banners. Most of it feels obligatory. Polite. Empty. But folks notice when gratitude is real. Not the mass email, but the human gestures that say: you matter beyond the transaction. Replying personally to a long-time buyer. (Or a new one.) Fixing a small...
9 days ago • 1 min read
