Product or Customer Focused?

Here is a stunning example of a business thinking about its product before its customers:

NEW YORK (AP) -- NHL players might be replaced next season. Commissioner Gary Bettman will not.

I dare you to find 10 people in the entire world who read that line and breath a sigh of relief... (Gary Bettmans family and the NHL owners don't count). Actually, I dare you to find 10 ticket-buying, jersey-wearing, talk-about-last-nights-game-at-the-office hockey fans that are excited about this "news".

My apologies for blogging about Hockey again, but this is a great example for businesses on what NOT to focus on. It isn't about products, or features, or "things" at all - it is about people. Yes, I know, people care about a good product - so make sure that the "product" you deliver is the one the one people want... in this case, it isn't replacement players.

Comments

[Troy Worman]

Excellent post.

You would think that with so much money on the line, the NHL would find a way to get this resolved.

An entire season down the drain is really going to damage the league's fanbase. It took the MLB several years and some juiced balls to get over their debacle.

It will be interesting to see what the NHL comes up with...

[Thomas Peeren]

The NHL's product is hockey. Production is down this year and as a result they are looking for replacements to keep their customers (mullet flaunting hockey fans) satisfied. The decision to pull guys up from the lower leagues to offer a season to fans is no different than Wal-Mart dropping a vendor who can't cut costs enough to satisfy their demands. Of course, the threat to bring up replacements may just be an attempt to light a fire under players and get them back on the ice.

[Rich...!]

Never apologise for blogging about hockey Jon. It's a joke, and now with ESPN not renewing their contract, even if the NHL does play next season, the rest of the world wont get to watch...!

:(

[guest]

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