The Greatest American (USA) Consumer Products

Form-A-Funnel

2011-01-16T01:12:00.006-05:00

Much like the microplane has gone from a wood shop tool to an absolute necessity in the food service industry, I predict that Form-A-Funnel will be the next crossover. The device is a flexible material that can form numerous shapes from a funnel to tray and anything in between. Best to see it in action on their website:

http://www.formafunnel.com/

The Collegiate Inventors Competition: The World Will Beat a Path to Their Door

2009-10-25T09:37:00.002-04:00

Earlier this week I came across a brilliantly designed microwave popcorn popper. Simple yet effective, it was a perfect example of how false the saying is "If you build a better mouse trap the world will beat a path to your door." Though my research is not yet complete, it looks like the product failed because of poor branding, marketing and distribution. But that's a subject for another posting.

However during the research process I was checking out the newly redesigned US Patent and Trademark Office Website and there was a blurb about the Collegiate Inventors Competition. Intrigued I began to read about the current and past winners of the competition.

Absolutely brilliant inventions. Though most are more scientific than readily commercialized products, it's easy to recognize the genius and innovation behind the inventions. No the world won't really beat a path to their door now that these college students have created these marvels of modern technology. Venture capitalists however will, and with proper nurturing and development these inventions will become the next Greatest American Consumer Products.

A Classic: American Whiskey (Bourbon)

2009-08-27T11:31:00.000-04:00

Having worked in the alcohol industry for many years I see constant innovation and new product launches. As with many industries, for every successful brand there are literally dozens of failed products. For a brand to be make it in the liquor industry it has to have taste appeal, quality, packaging, marketing, distribution and a base of loyal consumers. There also has to be a sustained presence in the market; indeed many of the most popular brands have been sold under the same name for 10, 20 and even 50 years.

Currently we're in the midst of an American Whiskey (brown spirit most commonly made from corn) renaissance, with new brands emerging each and almost every month. Of course the best known brand of American Whiskey is Jack Daniel's No. 7*** with it's hallmark square bottle and black label, but what about the other lesser known brands of whiskey that we drink?

The Heaven Hill Distillery, though not familiar to consumers, is actually the 2nd largest producer of American Whiskey and has been producing the brown spirit since 1935. Though they have many brands, I find that their mid-range to top shelf brands are both phenomenal in quality and value. While there are other brands and distilleries, I predict that Heaven Hill is a company best positioned for expansion into global markets.

***Jack Daniel's is actually not considered "Bourbon" because it is charcoal filtered before it is aged into the barrel. For more on the US regulations regarding Bourbon, click here. (PDF of US Laws regarding distilled spirit labeling and production.

Personal Grooming: The Ototek Loop

2009-08-21T11:14:00.000-04:00

Some years ago while wandering my local CVS drug store around 1am, I purchased what was then called the "Ear Loop" purely out of curiosity. The device claimed safe, efficient, fast, and painless earwax removal provided you had the nerve to stick it into your ear canal. In short this little tool could not only replace cotton "Q-tips" but also liquid ear wax removal products.

At first I used it gingerly, afraid that I would rupture my eardrum because I would be breaking the cardinal rule "Never stick anything into your ear except your elbow". I also seem to recall that the original packaging didn't even have a diagram, just directions on how to use the device. But use it I did, and I have been using the the Ototek Loop for perhaps 5 years now.

Thanks to some new packaging, the safety and use of the device are clearly illustrated. I am confident that in time, this handy tool could become as ubiquitous as the nail clipper.

Recession Proof: Hamburger Helper

2009-08-19T11:34:00.002-04:00

When I was growing up my father didn't buy our family any "Hamburger Helper".

His version of this American staple was a time consuming, homemade bolognese sauce, made from twice ground pork, veal, beef, onions, tomatoes and garlic. The pot of bolognese would simmer on the stove for hours until the diced vegetables melted away and combined with the tomatoes into a heavenly flavor. This was what we put on our macaroni, yet secretly I would crave the Hamburger Helper that I couldn't have.

Introduced during a recession in 1970 by the General Mills Corporation one box of Hamburger Helper was designed to help the family on a budget turn one pound of inexpensive ground meat into a meal.

If you're not familiar with how this product works, it's simple: The meat is browned in a frying pan. Then hot water, milk, quick cooking noodles and dry seasoning are added. Bring the mixture to a boil, simmer on low heat for 15 minutes and dinner is done. So what's in the box? Just a bag of dry noodles and a bag of powdered sauce mix. At about $2.50 a box, it's a time saving bargain.

Following the success of Hamburger Helper, Tuna Helper and Chicken Helper soon followed. Now with over 60 different variations of these products, no doubt Hamburger Helper is once again coming to the rescue of many during this recession.

Over-The-Counter Drugs: Plan B One-Step

2009-08-17T10:40:00.001-04:00

In 1996 President Clinton said "Abortion should not only be safe and legal, it should be rare."

The reason he said this is because the United States is a country where emotions run high when it comes to issues of pre-marital relations, birth control, and abortions. Without going into too much detail, the issue of abortion can be summarized by saying those that support anti-abortion believe life begins at the moment of conception. Those that are pro-choice believe that life begins sometime after conception (and the woman has the right to choose if she will have the child or not).

In recent history both national and local elections have been decided in part due to either pro-choice or anti-abortion votes.

In 1988 RU-486, AKA the "abortion pill" was introduced to the market much to the ire of the anti-abortion advocates.

Depending where you are in the world access post-conception birth control can be either limited or totally illegal. For example here are a few countries where abortion is illegal:

Brazil (191 Million People)
Mexico (110 Million People)
Ireland (4 Million People)

Now thanks to Barr Labs / Teva Pharmaceuticals, Inc. we have Plan B One-Step. Unlike RU-486, it is not an abortion pill, rather it prevents pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of having unprotected sex. (how it works can be read about on the product website)

An over the counter drug (OTC) it can be purchased by anyone over 17 without a prescription for about $50. The effective rate with Plan B One-Step is 88% and higher, depending on how soon the drug is taken after having unprotected sex.

Since Plan B One-Step is not an abortion pill, it effectively sidesteps the morality of abortion issue clearing the legal hurdles in countries where abortion is illegal.

For more on new drug approvals by the FDA click here.

American Dried Beef: Wild Bill's Beef Jerky

2009-08-16T23:13:00.000-04:00

Undoubtedly the most primitive food in the world is dried meat. After surviving on dried game for a hundred millennia, I expect that mankind is now hardwired to consume what we in the U.S. call "Beef Jerky".

In South Africa dried beef and game is called "Biltong" and it's seasoned with vinegar, salt, black pepper, sugar and coriander, then sun dried under insect netting. In Switzerland they call it Bindenfleisch. Marinated in white wine, salted and seasoned with herbs and onions Bindenfleisch is then dried at near freezing temperatures. In Asian countries locals air dry the meat after seasoning it with chili, honey, soy sauce, and fish sauce.

Which brings us to the United States where we salt our meat (as our European ancestors did) and then smoke it, as did the Native Americans. The addition of native hickory wood smoke was a particularly delicious addition. Fast forward a couple of hundred years and the beef jerky is a multi-million dollar industry in this country.

So far the best beef jerky I have tried is a brand called Wild Bill's Beef Jerky produced in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Particularly well seasoned and cut from full strips of beef, Wild Bill's Beef Jerky is just plain addictive.

Crystal, The #1 Hot Sauce in Louisiana

2009-08-16T00:56:00.001-04:00

A year ago I returned from a trip to New Orleans with an addiction to Crystal Hot Sauce. "The Number 1 Hot Sauce in Louisiana" according to their website.

While Tabasco is hands down the best known US hot sauce both domestically and in exports, I was surprised that residents of New Orleans preferred Crystal Hot Sauce to Tabasco. In face during one seminar on Bloody Marys at Tales of the Cocktail, when the host (from New York) said "add Tabasco" several locals in the crowd shouted "Crystal!!!"

Indeed brand loyalty to this local gem runs deep.

The flavor of Crystal is truly delicious, the classic combination of hot peppers, salt and vinegar. The difference is that it's not as intense in heat as Tabasco, making it much easier to consume and in much larger quantities. Though I brought back a good amount of it, I quickly ran out. Fortunately a few local supermarkets in New York now carry it and hopefully one day it will be as ubiquitous worldwide as it is in New Orleans.

The Crock-Pot Slow Cooker

2009-08-15T12:45:00.001-04:00

Since it's invention in 1971 the Crock-Pot slower cooker has been one of our best selling kitchen appliances. Simple in design and use, even well used crock-pots found at yard sales will still work as well as when they were new. New the Crock-Pot is still extremely affordable, ranging in price from $17 for a 2.5 quart (2.4 liter) size, to $30 for the 4 quart (3.8 liter).

To use the consumer simply puts the ingredients (meat, vegetables, seasoning, liquid) into the heavy ceramic bowl, closes the lid lets the mixture slow cook for 4-8 hours. The result? A delicious meal with enough food to feed a family of four, ready when everyone returns home from work or school. And the recipes! There must be hundreds of recipes for dishes that can be made with a Crock-Pot, some of which can be found here on the Official Crock-Pot Website and here on the blog by author Stephanie O'Dea.

Other Benefits

Because the slow cooking process tenderizes meats, this makes cooking with a Crock-Pot extremely economical. The ceramic pot is also removable, making it a snap to bring to a gathering of friends (use oven mitts). And finally it is easy to clean, since the ceramic bowl is naturally a non-stick surface.

Slow cooking using an enamel lined heavy pot is nothing new. French Cast Iron producer Le Creuset has been making them since 1925, we just sort of electrified it. Simple, effective, economical and brilliant.

But wait! Here in America we just can't stop innovating! For long haul truck drivers, we even have a small portable crock pot that is powered by the car's own 12 volt power adapter. I must remember to bring one of these with me for my 9 hour drive to Maine when I go camping next month.

Where to Begin? Mac and Cheese?

2009-08-15T12:07:00.000-04:00

There are so many products it's difficult to know where to begin. Of course there is the obvious but this isn't supposed to be about the obvious consumer products.

-Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare: From major drugs to over the counter consumer products found in isle the drug store.

-Entertainment: We've got Hollywood blockbusters but what about all the other TV shows from sitcoms to documentaries? Sure the world knows Friends and you can watch the Simpsons dubbed in just about every language in the world, but yet there is more, tons more.

-Foodstuffs: American Beef, American Wheat, American Genetically Modified Corn, they're everywhere in the world that the local law permits. The world has fallen in love with Ramen, but what about things we take for granted like Mac and Cheese? Organic Mac and Cheese?

-Transportation: We've got Harley Davidson Motorcycles, and I'm pretty sure we invented the SUV. A hot spot for potential innovation; bicycles and bike accessories. In the city that has constant bike theft, what's the best bike lock possible?

-Technology: Google, blogger, twitter, facebook, words used dozens of times a day in our conversations. Finding something unique and not yet mainstream might be a challenge.

-Misc: A quick walk through a major truck stop and behold the plethora of items that plug into a cigarette lighter outlet.

The Philosophy

2009-08-01T10:27:00.001-04:00

Every single country in the world has something unique, something wonderful, something that helps (or potentially harms) mankind. I have prided myself on seeing what other countries have and bringing them to the USA. It's easy to do, I have a natural fascination with consumer products indigenous to an country or region. I follow a path that has been the same since ancient times, travel to a far away place, and bring back something that you don't have at home. Marco Polo used the Silk Road; Sinbad used a Dhow; I use a plane.

It's all about human ingenuity and creativity. Right now in a garage, basement, office or laboratory, someone somewhere in the world is developing a new consumer product that will one day become a worldwide sensation. You see the number of consumer products is NOT finite, it keeps growing as people innovate, building on what they know, combining, adapting, blending ideas, ingredients, and technology and voila! Something new is born.

Some things (like iphones) catch on immediately, others take time (like vodka and tequila). Here in The United States we have the greatest variety and greatest number of unique consumer products in the world. This blog was created to help you the reader recognize a great product that should be for sale in your country, but for some reason it isn't yet.

-Dave Catania
Brooklyn, NY

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