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There are already companies that make nice-looking, higher-end kitchen appliances though - Breville comes to mind, there are probably others. Speaking from pers
by 43920 3y ago
There are already companies that make nice-looking, higher-end kitchen appliances though - Breville comes to mind, there are probably others. Speaking from personal experience, I have a toaster oven from them that’s lasted close to ten years with zero problems; I’d have a hard time being convinced to pay more for a “made in USA” one unless there was something truly exceptional about it.
- xwolfi 3y agoEspecially when you can sell for more something made in France, Italy, Japan or Germany. I think the "made in" chauvinism is a hard sell if it's the USA, especially to US customer: doesn't feel exotic and isn't cheap, so what's it there for except some cheap cash grab ? Plus, you know, there are some nice Chinese stuff now and they have an economy of scale that the US simply can't match.
- vidarh 3y agoThat's why I think you need a compelling story about it. How the poor inventor struggled against the odds to fix the scourge of bad toast, to bring you an exquisite product that makes you feel good to own for the story more than any tangible reason. It needs to be a personal story to set him apart from the other brands.
- Auracle 3y agoYou could go that one gun coffee brand and make it a camo pattern. Or go the other way and give it a rainbow pattern? Hell, put one on each side so you can flip it depending on which relatives are coming over.
- vidarh 3y agoI think that kind of messaging is largely inherently incompatible with aiming for the high-margin/high-end market whether or not your buyers agree with you. E.g. I'm perfectly fine with a variety of political symbols, but I'd think a toaster emblazoned with them looked like a cheap gimmick, and would expect it to be priced as one.
- tomjakubowski 3y agothrow in some tenuous connection to reviving the industrious spirit of Old Detroit ("It Never Died") and you have yourself a brand!
- CPLX 3y agoI bought a Breville toaster and microwave when I was moving into and furnishing a new NYC apartment from scratch, and I decided to get something a little nicer, more aesthetic, etc. They were on a major after-Xmas sale so I figured why not. What I was not prepared for was how much better quality they were by a mile. It's not even close, they're so much more sturdy and well made and they work so much better than the ones I'd had before. Like the microwave is incredibly consistent in heating, it has a rotary knob for power level so you basically never get the on fire on one side and freezing on the other side thing if you don't want to, stuff like that. The toaster is a joy, it has an elegant little display, the toast is always flawless. So there's definitely a market for better stuff too. Unfortunately the OP without any prior experience might not be able to hit that bar either.
- devilbunny 3y agoNote for other readers: due to old licensing deals for names, the brand sold as Breville in Europe is not the same as the one in US, CA, and AU. The one being talked about here is known as Sage in Europe. And they really are superior-quality devices.
- ornornor 3y agoI have trouble understanding your last sentence. Is Breville EU/Sage appliances the high quality one, or is Breville US/AU/CA the high quality one?
- devilbunny 3y agoAustralian company, so non-Europe Breville is the one I know. I don't believe that the European Breville sells over here.
- devilbunny 3y agoI m making a separate reply because I understand my answer was unclear. Sage EU is Breville US/CA/AU/NZ. Those are high quality. It’s an Aussie company. Breville EU and possibly UK (old agreements that may well predate the EEC, so don’t know any details) not the same; have never used and cannot comment.