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Beyond Seinfeld’s ‘Unfrosted’ – Lessons from Michigan’s Serial Grain Entrepreneurs

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The recent release of “Unfrosted”, directed by Jerry Seinfeld, had a disappointing debut on Netflix and was even considered “one of the worst movies of the last decade

But with an all-star solid that features Seinfeld, Jim Gaffigan and Amy Schumer plus America’s love for Pop-TartsIn 2022, $3 billion was sold – the film has the potential to turn out to be a cult classic.

And while it might make viewers need to return to those 93 minutes they spent watching the movie, the true story of the toast cake may teach a precious lesson concerning the persistence of serial entrepreneurs and the strategic decisions that may create a competitive advantage.

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In mine teaching, research and dealing with student entrepreneurs over the past 15 years, I’ve learned that entrepreneurial ideas haven’t got to be “new to the world” to achieve success.

‘Unfrosted’ is silly and silly, nevertheless it’s meant to be silly and silly, says Rotten Tomatoes.

A brand new invention: cold cereals

In 1876, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, a renowned physician and creator, took over as superintendent of the Battle Creek Sanitarium. The famous medical resort attracted 1000’s of patients every year to the small town of Battle Creek, Michigan.

John’s younger brother, William Keith Kellogg, handled the day-to-day operations while John tried to supply his patients with fresh air and a vegetarian, whole-grain food regimen, which he called “biological life

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The Battle Creek Sanitarium promoted health principles promoted by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Apic/Bridgeman/Getty Images

The food regimen inspired the brothers to develop a recipe for a healthy breakfast, recognizable today as cold cereals. John Kellogg saw cereal as medicine for his sick patients and created the Sanitas Food Company to provide it for the sanitarium’s guests.

Will Kellogg believes that the product may also be consumed by healthy people. Although he saw broader business potential, he didn’t determine to pursue the thought until he saw the entrepreneurial success of a sanatorium patient who produced an identical product. This patient’s name was Charlie “CW” Post.

The post office couldn’t afford to pay for full room and board on the sanatorium, so he worked within the kitchenaccessing recipes.

After leaving the sanatorium, Post founded his own company, Postum Cereal Company, in 1894 and introduced the primary ready-to-eat cold cereals to the broader market.

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Post success prompted Will Kellogg to depart the sanitarium industry in 1906 and located the Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Company, which became a direct competitor to Post. In 1909, the corporate was renamed the Kellogg Toasted Corn Flake Company and in 1922 the Kellogg Company.

Serendipity results in business success

Although this cold cereal story predates the Pop-Tart story, it shows a number of the ways wherein entrepreneurial ideas come to light.

In the case of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes case played a task.

Although there are barely different versions of the unique story, the gist is that after rolling out wheat dough and forgetting about it overnight, the Kellogg brothers discovered that the stale dough easily broke into thin pieces that could possibly be used to arrange cold cereal. Will later produced flakes with corn that were crunchier.

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Another lesson of entrepreneurship is that success can simply be achieved recognizing a chance.

The approach to preparing cold flakes was discovered by accident and over time perfected through trial and error by the Kellogg brothers. CW Post adopted – some might say stole – the strategy for business use, without having to spend time inventing and perfecting the product.

Although the Kellogg brothers could have invented a healthy alternative to breakfast, Post was the primary to bring this invention to market and thus the primary to reveal its business viability.

Toaster Dough Race

While Post could have won the cold cereal battle within the product’s early days, Kellogg’s won the toaster cake contest featured within the movie “Unfrosted.”

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After Post’s death in 1914, his daughter, Marjorie Merriweather Post, played by Schumer within the film, took over the corporate on the age of just 27, becoming one in all the primary American women to carry executive positions. In 1929, Postum Cereal Company became General Foods Corporation after Marjorie Post made quite a few business acquisitions.

What happened next shows that being first to market doesn’t at all times provide a competitive advantage. In fact, it’s normal for some marketing experts to call this the “second-mover advantage.” One industry research suggests that early movers beat latecomers in just 15 out of fifty product categories.

On a grocery store shelf there is a row of colorful Kellogg's cereal boxes.
Kellogg’s invention of cold cereal exemplifies the worth of being a primary mover in entrepreneurship.
Golovniov/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

This is what we see within the Pop-Tart story.

It was Statement of Marjorie Post in February 1964 about upcoming “Country Squares” – shelf-stable fruit-filled cakes – which gave Kellogg the thought to create its own version.

The bright blue box features a strawberry shortcake and a logo that reads
Kellogg’s Pop-Tart was introduced in 1963.
News/GettyImages

In the six months before Country Squares even hit store shelves, Kellogg’s released “Fruit Scones.” They were fast renamed Pop-Tarts after the favored pop art movement of that era.

Pop-Tarts turned out to be successful. In 1967, Kellogg’s added frosting that didn’t melt within the toaster and extra complementary flavors original 4 – blueberry, strawberry, brown sugar, cinnamon and apple, currant.

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What about Post’s village squares? In 1965 the name was modified to Toast’ Pop Ups, and in 1971 the brand was sold to Schulze&Burch Biscuit Co.currently the world’s largest supplier of store brand toasters.

In a nod to this history, the Pop-Tarts website states, “Others may have tried making toaster dough, but only one has ever perfected it.”

Although the primary mover could have a bonus, the short follower often wins the sport in the long term.

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This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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Business and Finance

Tariffs can grow, but also a black strategy

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With the rise in inflation and tariffs, black entrepreneurs don’t shrink with fear – they seem, strategies and support them forward. I saw it first hand on Tuesday evening in Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (Rice) in Atlanta, where dozens of black founders gathered on a powerful night of dialogue, combination and brightness based on solutions.

The event, a part of the continuing programming of Rice’s “retail readiness”, was greater than just a panel. It was a forum of survival – and a reminder that owners of black firms at all times had creativity and courage to adapt under pressure. At a time when economic winds are essentially the most difficult to hit products based on products, this community is predicated on strategy, not a shortage.

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Tariffs have increased, but wisdom too

One of the essential challenges was the growing load of tariffs for imported goods that increase costs around the globe – from materials and packaging to international shipping. While the specter of economic uncertainty increased, the climate within the room was not panicked.

Asked in the event that they are afraid of growing tariffs, only a few participants raised their hands. But asked in the event that they feel influence, almost everyone did that. Instead of alarm bells, the conversation focused on solutions: improvement of logistics, taking control of the warehouse, limiting unnecessary expenses and re -assessing third party suppliers.

The prevailing message: be agile, not afraid. Panelists called us to regulate surgery before making drastic changes. The goal is just not to shrink in response to pressure – it moves smarter.

Thinking about a larger, no less

Another powerful? You have to redefine what “little business” really means. Many black entrepreneurs limit their scale from habit or perceived restrictions. But, because the panel noted, in response to federal definitions, a small company can employ as much as 500 people. This implies that we’ve got a place to dream – and constructing – constructing.

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Terri-Nichelle Bradley, the founder, entered the home along with her own journey. Known for putting educational toys within the principal retailers, akin to Target, Bradley now opens her own brick store in Atlanta on May 14. It is a brave turning point that restores ownership in her hand-her story was a unique example of what it means to regain narrative and strategy.

“Black business owners do not need every answer right away,” she said within the room. “We just have to want to figure it out.”

Recovering the narrative of Dei

The conversation also concerned a hard truth: the rise in funds and guarantees of the corporate after 2020 is assumed. But the energy within the room was not bitter – it was focused. If external support dries, the reply is just not waiting – it’s best to focus again.

Daughter of Carol sold an independent entrepreneur after a decade under the property of L'Oreal USA

Panelists encouraged us to dual authenticity and a deeper reference to the communities that may already take us. This means consistently appearance, without floating and nurturing relationships with those that deliberately buy black, women and veterans.

It is just not nearly representation-it will devote property, self-determination and economic independence.

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The evening ended with a high note with practical network activities. We were asked to avoid wasting two things: what we wanted and what we can offer. Then we exchanged this information with someone in the entire room. It was greater than a icebreaker – it was a plan.

The message was crystal clear: relationships are resources. And in such rooms, cooperation is a currency.

At a time when the headlines speak about recession and withdrawal, the entrepreneurs with whom I sat do the other. They should not waiting for saving or wonderful financing. They construct their future, one deliberate movement directly.

No panic. Just a goal. And a lot of power within the room.

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(Tagstranslat) entrepreneurship

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Business and Finance

Hope Operation celebrates the day of green socks

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John Hope Bryant


Operation John Hope Bryant Hope celebrated the end of the month of financial knowledge On April 30 with Green Socks Day Challenge as a visual option to emphasize the importance of financial knowledge.

As a nationwide movement, Hope Bryant and the stars of the corporate world, sport and entertainment supported the challenge of Green Socks Day, wearing live socks, stating: “Put your best foot forward.” In cooperation with Operation Hope, the initiative was supported by financial knowledge for everybody (FL4A) with a view to promote financial knowledge as national priority and gain adhesion in various state lines, strengthening people, organizations and communities to take crucial activities by supporting financial education for everybody.

Participants were encouraged to take a selfie or video in green socks and publish it in social media using the hashtag # Greensocksday. The quiz can also be available to people fascinated about assessing their financial skills. According to a press release, Operation Hope will probably be distinguished by green socks on the Times Square Nasdaq in New York.

While socks may be bought at Walmart locations, other firms supporting this initiative include the most important financial institutions, comparable to the American Bank, Trust and Huntington Bank. Other firms on board are iheartmedia, Delta Air Lines, MLB, MLS, NBA, NHL, Nascar, Nasdaq, Shopify, OpenAI and UPS.

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Hope Bryant also received support from the US government at the starting of the annual celebration. Meeting with the Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, two long -time colleagues emphasized the importance of financial education built into the structure of American life, discussing ways of deepening cooperation between private and non-private sectors with a view to extend access to financial tools and knowledge. “Too long, knowledge of finances was treated as a luxury,” said secretary Bessent.

“This is a necessity, just like reading and writing. John and I have been leveled in this for almost a decade and I am proud that I can stand with him in April and later.”

In addition to April, corporations, small firms and social organizations are encouraged to have interaction employees in the initiative by organizing events related to financial skills and pushing financial resources.

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This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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Business and Finance

John Hope Bryant shares the rent into his own strategies

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John Hope Bryant


John Hope Bryant, founder and general director of Hope operations, recently shared his rent strategies, which in his opinion provide tenants with “dignity, possibility and grace.”

Bryant still conducts efforts to fill the gap in the field of racial wealth by promoting financial skills and increasing the ownership of a black house. Financial teacher he outlined compassionate and Surprising plan to assist tenants Not only construct your credit results, but in addition prepare for potential Financial difficulties. The entrepreneur was once “the largest owner of the minority of single -family houses in the country.”

  • The tenants’ rent will likely be reduced by 10%in the event that they raise their creditworthiness from 600 to 700
  • If the tenant maintains his place of residence for 18 months, he receives 1 month “Life Event Credit” for an 18-month term. This corresponds to 3 months of “free rent” in the event of monetary difficulties.
  • Tenants are also in a position to borrow from the security deposit, paying off the money in small increases over time.

Hope operation has grow to be a number one organization non -profit Dedicated to financial reinforcement. Under Bryanta’s leadership, the organization facilitated over $ 2 billion in private capital to support home properties, small corporations and community development in underestimated areas.

Despite these efforts, black home properties remain much lower than in the case of white Americans. Black home owners from 2024 it accounted for 46.4% population. However, the total variety of houses is 65.7%, said Axios.

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Bryant emphasized the importance of getting a house in Building generational wealth.

“The whole experience related to home properties is embedded in aspirative economic growth and creating wealth,” he said in the last post on Instagram.

Bryanta’s work with Hope operation still raises the black community. The organization equips individuals with knowledge and tools mandatory to realize financial stability and residential owner. He also divides financial strategies in its weekly podcast,

Due to the incontrovertible fact that efforts are in a position to bring a racial gap, Bryanta initiatives remain a central force in promoting financial skills and economic possibilities in black communities.

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(Tagstranslate) John Hope Bryant

This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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