What do McDonald’s, Apple, Starbucks and MTV Have in Common?
by Steve on 12/15/09 at 9:47 am
What do many of the most successful companies over the past 5o years have in common, other than success? A lot, I would imagine. But, I am focused on one aspect of their business model.
If you wanted to teach people how to create a successful company model in today’s world, a good place to start might be Chick-fil-A’s slogan, which is - We didn’t invent the chicken, just the chicken sandwich. No, I am not talking about lunch. This slogan provides a great hidden insight into many of the successful companies over the past 50 years: The delivery of the good, can be the key.
McDonald’s didn’t invent the hamburger, Apple didn’t invent music with the iPod, and Starbucks didn’t invent coffee. Those items were around long before these companies came on the scene. Yet, these businesses took a strangle hold on their respective fields and show no signs of letting go. How?
They focussed on the delivery system. McDonalds “delivers” hamburgers, the Apple iPod “delivers” music, and Starbucks “delivers” coffee. And all of them “deliver” their product or service without you really having to go hunting for it.
As we have become more mobile, more connected, and more “on” all the time, the delivery of goods and services has become as important as the good or service itself; sometimes more so. Companies that can recognize this and build it into their business model from the beginning, will have a tremendous advantage in the years ahead.
Most respectfully, s.g. martin
