kate wagenlander

yep. i am that american.

or am I?

did I go to McDonald’s while in budapest? yes.

was it because I was too afraid to eat tongue, goose skin, horse sausage, black sausage, and liver sausage? heck to the no. (although I consider the box checked for some of those options so I do not need to eat them again.)

it was because their McDonald’s serves FRIED APPLE PIES.

budapest, hungary 5.2014

even if I am alone in this adoration for this delicious treat, I do not care! it was, rather they were (full disclosure), downright heavenly. c’mon, you know right now you are remembering the crispy of the outside and freakishly hot apple goodness contained inside and how together they are perfection…

I actually try to visit McDonald’s on all of my travels in hopes of finding the magical and rare fried apple pie. I am so happy to report that the introduction of the healthier “baked” apple pie has not yet made its way to every corner of the world!

and if you are a lover of the McDonald’s fried pie like me, you can also find them in egypt (2009), hawaii (2010), philippines (2009), but no for china, argentina and france.

do you have any other McDonald’s to add to the “have” and “have not” fried apple pie list?? please share. this may have broad implications on my future travel plans…..

stopped me in my tracks!

(so the last pig post was a little disturbing so i wanted to lighten things up a little with this stunner of a package…)

in chicago we have a relatively new food market called plum. they are like whole foods in their more natural food but they also have a pretty broad selection of international brands and products…and a cheese selection that can bring a cheese lover to their knees!

while shopping for a variety of cheeses for the annual christmas tree party, a package on a shelf near the end cap caught my eye.

it was true love at first sight.

i couldn’t take my eyes off of it.

it exuded a sense of quality through its branding and old school, almost vintage material and design.

i had to have it.

did i know what the product actually was? i kinda read the label but i did not care and it did not matter what it said. probably strawberry related and who does not like strawberries?

then i looked at the price. this led me to re-read the product description because i assumed it is a strawberry related product due to the package but there must be more in there at this price point. are they diamond encrusted strawberry fruits in syrup? a caviar and strawberry fruit and syrup mixture? alas, it was just 21 ounces of fabbri strawberry fruit and syrup. but for true love there was no dissuading me from my purchase.

chicago, 12.2013

beautiful right? i will let you take a moment to fully grasp the beauty of this package. i do hope that the density and quality of the material is coming through in the photo (otherwise i might sound a little more off than usual).

i still have yet to try it. i am not sure what i am saving it for exactly but i am optimistic that it will be the best “strawberries in heavy syrup” that i have ever consumed!

it is not often that a package will stop me in my tracks. but when it does, the wonderment around the power of a successful package just makes me smile!

curious as to the price? i could just tell you but think it might be more fun if you try guessing in the comment box below (and no cheating!)…

hits / packaging: graphics / packaging: structure / product - 04/22/2014

oui s’il vous plaît

picture it.rainy day in paris and you stop into a cute little cafe to have a bit of a nosh with some heart healthy wine.

you settle into your chair and start perusing the menu and see this as an option….

paris 5.2012

i must say it wasn’t quite what i was expecting. oddly, this was the only item on the menu that brought the core ingredient back to its roots.

beyond their choice to include a LIVE pig, i found their actual choice of pig visual a bit disturbing. sort of glad there is no eye contact but he looks as if he is asking for you to please not order the grilled pork through his prison bars.

i obliged. the steak was delicious.

branding / communication / fishing / hits / misses / packaging / perspective / pigeon fun / travel / Uncategorized / unique fun - 04/22/2014

great idea but….

imagine it, walking down the toothpaste aisle and you see a new package structure unlike anything you have seen before for that category. what do you do? have an in-store photo shoot and buy the new structure of course! or wait, that might just be me….

chicago 8.2013

well, it did not take long until the excitement turned to frustration and sadness. like shaving cream packages, a little bit of product would come out of the dispensing hole after you are done dispensing. no problem with shaving cream so why would that be different here? i might be an odd bird but for me there is something not so appetizing about feeling a hardened chunk of toothpaste while brushing.

so this led to the need to scrape the hardened nubbin of toothpaste off the end of the dispenser before dispensing each time. i used the cap as it seemed like the logical choice but then it can no longer serve as a cap as it is now the receptacle of the hardened and wasted toothpaste. so now the lid with scrapings and dispenser sit separately on my bathroom counter – – so attractive.

why does this bother me so? well…

– it adds an extra step to my process (you may argue that i have to take lid off regular toothpaste but that is an already entrenched step that does not matter – – this structure demands a NEW step/behavior which makes it feel different/cumbersome while not delivering any perceived consumer benefit)

– it is wasteful. i am actually throwing away product with every use and there is nothing i can do to stop it….and for $6.99 i seem to have higher expectations. note the waste from 15 uses in the picture below. that could have been 4 brushings!

the package is almost empty and i am excited to get back to my trusty old tube of toothpaste. i am glad that they are looking to innovate but sad that this direction did not add any value or even fun to my teeth brushing experience. but i am still optimistic of what the future might bring!

anyone else try this package? what were your thoughts?

other innovative or notable innovations in the dental care category or another category that you would like to share? please share!

i would like to add that i called the customer service line on the can and shared my issues with the nice gentleman on the other end of the line. he said he would share my thoughts with the brand team and offered me some coupons for my frustrations.

misses / packaging: structure - 03/26/2014

doggone tenacity

my family escapes once a year for a long weekend camping extravaganza at shangri-la.shangri-la is in the middle of nowhere and is located a half a mile from the “parking area” (read field) – then down the hill, over the creek, through the woods, to the camp site we hike…

with no electricity, plumbing or other creature comforts, we spend our time catching up, fighting about politics, and being the most functional dysfunctional family around!

two years ago, i went on a hike with my dad and stepmom’s dog axelle. you hear stories of dogs that think they are bigger than they are when they interact with other dogs. yes, cute. but this dog takes it to another level.

she brought me a stick, that was more like a railroad tie, and wanted me to throw it for fetch. of course i obliged (and almost threw out my shoulder) but was most impressed with how she handled the railroad tie. yes, it was large and cumbersome, but its size and waterlogged weight (about 20+ pounds) did not seem to slow her down….in the creek or on the long walk back to the camp site.

i think we all have times in our life when something comes up for us, or someone we love, or even a challenge at work, and it just feels insurmountable. well, this sweet tenacious dog demonstrated to me how to just keep moving and forget the odds because they just do not matter.

perspective - 03/06/2014

late night surprise

i understand that i should probably work on getting out more or finding some new hobbies because this package made my pretty happy.

picture it, 1:30am and i am entering my hotel room for the night. i enter the bathroom and am thrilled by the new and innovative packaging for the soap – it has a vertical orientation!

philadelphia, 2.2014

it is possible that this soap package isn’t that new but i am more of a Starwood gal and this was a Marriott. honestly, bathroom products at hotels just aren’t like they used to be. remember the days of Molton Brown? shampoo, conditioner, soap, and lotion at Westin’s? ahh….

back to the soap. i immediately opened the package because i just had to experience the soap shape (at 1:30am) and it was pretty awesome. It didn’t have the fun massaging bumps/texture (which just feels fancier) but definitely different.

ultimately, this just shows how a little innovation can go a long way with a packaging junkie like me…

packaging: structure / travel - 02/13/2014

thank you tory burch

so it isn’t too often that i have the pleasure of ordering something online and find myself needing to sit down while opening the snail mail box because it is so well done. in preparation of an Indian wedding i was attending, i ordered the most ornate sandals i could find. Tory Burch helped make the magic happen.

upon opening the box i was greeted with Tory Burch branding on the inside of the main shipping box and an orange paper wrap around the box itself with a greeting from Tory, thanking me for my purchase and her hopes that I love my new purchase.

chicago, 2013

well done Tory. i am yours. (and keep in mind that at this point, i still have not even seen the shoes yet!)

i then carefully unstuck the gold sticker so i could get to the shoes. i was greeted then by a beautiful box and a well thought out/unique envelope (that even included a sample of her perfume [brilliant]) with my receipt. finally, at the base of the shoe box was a high quality shoe bag.

i am so impressed with how she has created such a complete brand experience from a simple online order. many many thanks!

ohh and of note, the shoes were perfection!

communication / packaging: structure - 02/13/2014

lost in translation

one of my favorite things to look for, especially in asia, is the way they use the english language on packaging, shirts, or just anything that can be printed!

example #1: mint package

shanghai, china 9.2013

pure gold! why? well, because it is….

– fashionable

– minty

– healthy

– delicious

kidding aside, it is amazing to see the influence of the english language.

and here is another example that i had to own: a cd case that says on the front “Don’t pay attention to all the static.” seems totally normal-ish right? the plot thickens… on the side where it looks like it has the item number and such (that little bit of orange on the right edge of the case) it continues to say… “HAPPY MUSIC, BER15120, A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” this appears to be a very very deep cd case.

tokyo, japan 2002

and yes, of course i have more. the topic choices and mixing of messages never gets old. enjoy these beauties…

chinatown, singapore 11.2013

in case you cannot read them…

– Good good study day day up

– Sleep whenever he woke up / Count the money a few hand cramps

– REWARD MY MOST MY MOST BEAUTIFUL WIFE

– STUDY HARD EARN MONEY

– (and one not included in this batch..) DO IT AND I RELAX

branding / communication / packaging: graphics / travel - 02/13/2014

little packages

full disclosure, i really really enjoy little packages. (wait till i share my condiment collection. yep, i’m that cool.)

auburn, alabama 2014 *** any westin anytime *** manila, philippines 7.2009

they are brilliant! in the US we are accustomed to using these sorts of things for travel or trial but in lots of other countries, they are sold like this because people are paid daily and therefore can only afford to buy day to day. i have seen this in Brazil, Mexico, India, and the Philippines to name a few. the types of products range from shampoo to candies to spices for cooking. seeing how the traditional trade shop keepers integrate them into their store takes space efficiency to a new level.

udaipur, india 11.2013

one thing we do a bit more in the US with our little packages, is try to maintain the brand experience in its cute miniature package structure. i have a Maker’s Mark package in my office that just makes me smile!

baltimore, maryland 2009

communication / packaging: graphics / packaging: structure - 02/13/2014

wine on-the-go

sold. beautiful. functional. magic. thank you.

this most wonderful package can (hopefully) be located at the airport when you need it. plastic cup of sorts with a foil seal and a nifty Pringles type lid.

miami airport, 2013

and of note, great to re-use on the plane if you are enjoying an additional glass of vino (so much classier than the airplane cup, right?).

i have not yet had the pleasure of enjoying this invention yet but observed it being properly utilized by a friend/client…who was kind to let me keep the package. final tidbit, this cup is not dishwasher safe.

packaging: structure - 02/13/2014