Understanding Product Development

Product – Small Business Notes -- Products may be described in terms of their features and benefits.

Importance of New Products – CCH Business Owner’s Toolkit -- Today's accelerated rate of change and information growth means small companies will inevitably face increased competition in their market niches.

Generating New Product Ideas – CCH Business Owner’s Toolkit – Categories of new product development.

New Product Concept Screening – CCH Business Owner’s Toolkit -- There are as many methods to screen new product ideas as there are consultants.

New Product Prototypes – CCH Business Owner’s Toolkit -- Successfully creating a real-life product that mirrors your new product concept and meets your company's cost parameters is difficult.

Measuring Success of New Products – CCH Business Owner’s Toolkit -- Once you've introduced a new product or service or developed significant improvements to existing ones, you'll naturally want to do some follow-up to measure the success of the project.

How Can I Measure the Volume Potential for a New Product or Service – Urban Wallace Associates -- Reliably estimating the business potential of a new product or service is a complex, multi-step process.

Product & Brand Failures: A Marketing Perspective – Mplans.com -- Product and brand failures occur on an ongoing basis to varying degrees within most product-based organizations.

When Bad Ideas Won't Die – HBS Working Knowledge -- Why do smart companies put so much energy into doomed products? By profiling two French companies' experiences with failed projects, Royer gets at some surprising answers: Belief and faith triumph over reason.

Packaging

Package Design – CCH Business Owner’s Toolkit -- Packaging can be simple cardstock tags printed or stamped in black ink (e.g., on machinery, tools, clothing, etc.), or unique, one-of-a-kind containers that are more valuable than their product contents.

Testing Packaging, Pricing and Ads – CCH business Owner’s Toolkit -- Many companies, large and small, spend years successfully developing a new product with great market promise but do not adequately test their packaging, pricing, and advertising prior to introduction.

Packaging Strategies -- The Leading Global Information Source on Packaging Technology, Business and Markets.

Food Labeling Made Simple – Oklahoma State University Extension -- Food labeling in the United States is mandated under two federal agencies, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The FDA is responsible for food labeling regulations on all food products except meat and poultry items, which are regulated under FSIS and administrated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Contract Manufacturing & Packaging Association -- This organization provides a list of members at this Web site and information on what to look for when considering an outsource packaging service.

Packaging Digest -- This packaging industry publication provides a list of companies that provide contract packaging services. It is searchable by name or state.

Packexpo.com -- This online packing industry resource provides news and links to packaging products and suppliers.

Labeling

Food Labeling Made Simple – Oklahoma State University Extension -- Food labeling in the United States is mandated under two federal agencies, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

What’s on a Label – University of Georgia Extension -- Food products that are placed into commerce for marketing and sales are required by federal and state law to have a label on the container.

Food Labeling Procedures – USDA Food Safety and Inspection Serivce - Meat, Poultry, and Egg Product establishments are responsible for accurately labeling their product for human consumption. All labels must be approved by the FSIS Labeling and Consumer Protection Staff.

A Food Labeling Guide – U.S. Food and Drug Administration -- A summary of the required statements that must appear on food labels under these laws and their regulations.

Small Business Food Labeling Exemption – U.S. Food and Drug Administration -- Information sheet and sample small business exemption application form.

Food Labeling Questions and Answers: Vol. 1 – U.S. Food and Drug Administration – Nutrition labeling for foods other than dietary supplements.

Food Labeling Questions & Answers: Vol, 2 – U.S. Food and Drug Administration -- A Guide for Restaurants and Other Retail Establishments.

FDA Nutrition Labeling Manual – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services -- A Guide for Developing and Using Data Bases.

Food Labeling and Nutrition – U.S. Food and Drug Administration – Information for the Industry.

Meat Products

New Product Guidelines (pdf) - March 2002, National Pork Board in cooperation with the American Meat Science Association.

Implementing a Recall Program for Small Processors (pdf) - National Pork Board and American Meat Science Association. This research-based fact sheet outlines how to implement a product recall program.

Product Liability

Making a Product Liability Claim – Lawyers.com -- If you’ve been injured by a product — anything from matches to an airplane — you may have a liability case against the product’s manufacturers and distributors.

Warranties

Warranties – Lawyers.com – Warranties are promises that a business owner makes to stand by his product and protect consumers against damages or injuries caused by defective products.

Warranties – Federal Trade Commission -- When you make a major purchase, the manufacturer or seller makes an important promise to stand behind the product.

Writing Readable Warranties – Federal Trade Commission -- A guide on writing a warranty.