Name: Here’s Why New Balance’s 3D-Printed Sneakers Will Be a Flop
Uploaded: 2016-04-14
Duration: 3 min 40 s
Description: The price point doesn't help.

[ MUSIC ] So you guys know the rules I'm gonna read you three things that came from the news of the business world this week and you're gonna say are they gonna flop or fly. Number one, there's a new ride hailing service that will only service women and children it's called chariot for women, flop of fly? Aaron I'll start with you. I'm gonna say flop because while I think this is a really great idea, the existing car services Uber and Lift have a lot of problems that they need to figure out around safety especially for women in their cars But I actually think that a new separate service is not the solution. I think that Uber and Lyft need to just fix their problem and really, really address it. Because otherwise we're moving into something that reminds me of what I see in the Middle East, where there's everything is separate for women. Right, hm, interesting. Matt, what about you? I'm gonna say flop, and for similar reasons. I think that for a smaller Company to have the leverage to solve this as a technological problem. That seems pretty unlikely, whereas Uber and Lyft already have that tech in play. Yeah. Phil. I agree, flop. If this company's tech isn't good, I don't think women will care. But women Will hold and should hold Uber and Lyft to a higher standard for safety. I agree. And I will just go ahead and agree because I'll be saying flop. I'll say flop. I do think I read about another service that's just for shuttling kids around and I think that's a great shuttle. A great idea but we're not talking about that one today. Okay number two JC Penny has tapped Project Runway star Ashley Nell Tipton to launch a plus size clothing label for the brand. Phil, flop or fly? Fly, stroke of genius, because it's an untapped market, the plus size. Everybody's always going after the skinny women with the model- like figures. And that's not what America is, and JC Penny's figured out that's where the sweet spot. So you get somebody with a lot of fashion credit from Project Runway And it fits in with their push for private brands. It's going to be a home run. Great. Matt, what do you think? Fly it. The timing is good too. There's been a lot of movement and improvement with plus size brands attracting better designers. With clothing lines that have strong design already expanding their plus size offerings. And I think this is tapping those trends. Okay, Erin. I'll be a contrarian and say flop- Good. And that's just because And reading fortune's story about this announcement the designer actually said well I'm modeling all of my designs off of all of the regular clothes and I don't understand why all of the regular clothes can't be available in plus sizes. So I think this is a really great solution but I think long term we should be thinking about why separate it out why not just make all clothing in all sizes? Fair enough. I'm gonna go fly, but there you have it. Lastly, New Balance is gonna start selling $ 400 3D- printed sneakers. Flop or Fly? Matt, we'll start with you in the middle. I'm gonna say fly because I know just Just enough obsessive runners who're also kind of gear heads, present company excluded. But you know, just enough obsessive runners who I think will be attractive by the novelty of this. I do think it will fly higher and and better once the price points lower and that will come with time. Okay, [ UNKNOWN ] what do you think? Fly for sure. I'm one of those obsessive runners and I have two knee injuries. And so if I can customize my shoe in some way that will help me continue to prevent knee injuries, I'm gonna pay extra for it. I'm surprised by that. Okay, Phil, what do you think? I'm a regular runner and a new balance user. I have been using them for 18 years and yet I still think it'll flop because to me it sounds like a novelty thing. At the end of the day, $ 120 for the person [ UNKNOWN ] enough money. 400. It will have its little niche market but it won't move the needle for New Balance. I agree with you. I just feel like it's a little too late. I feel like everyone was talking about 3D printing two or three years ago. It feels like it kind of jumped the shark by now. But hey that's just me. [ SOUND ] [ BLANK_AUDIO ]