3/15/2005

Ski Helmets That Rock

All of a sudden seasonal demand makes a little more sense to me. I'm predicting that's what we’ll see with Giro’s new TuneUps ski helmet. According to the article in Businessweek titled, "A Soundtrack for Downhill Racers", the helmet allows you to listen to music while you ski. It comes with a cord that plugs in to a digital-music player to let skiers and snowboarders rock out on the slopes. Sounds like a great idea, especially for those of us who love to rock out on the slopes without music. With helmets becoming more popular on the slopes this will definently increase the demand; however, it will probably be only seasonal demand.

4 comments:

Dr. Tufte said...

Here's an interesting ManEc question: which is a more profitable product, a helmet that a user can choose to use with headphones, or a helmet that doesn't give the user that option? There's a tradeoff here - more options or more convenience. It's the same choice you make when buying a TV with a DVD or VHS player built into it - is that better than buying a TV separately. How would a manager tell which was a better product to sell?

Spencer said...

I like this post it seems to have something more to talk about more than oil prices. I think the idea behind a helmet with headphones built in is a great idea. Where can I get one. If you make the helemt cheaper than buying a helemt and headphones you've got a sale, and they'll go like hotcakes. But only on a seasonal basis.

Jordan said...

Dr. Tufte said:

"Which is a more profitable product, a helmet that a user can choose to use with headphones, or a helmet that doesn't give the user that option?"

I think options will win most of the time as long as you don't have to pay an exorbitant price to have them. I think that this product would do very well. Considering the extreme success of iPods and other music related products, you'd think this product would be successful, too. Especially when you consider that the kinds of people (especially teenagers) that hit the slopes tend to also be music junkies.

Dr. Tufte said...

Options have to be convenient though - remember all the trouble people had programming their VCRs?