My list of the world's hardest products to manage.

1. Therese’s List
Of Tough
Products To
Manage
The First 10 On My List Of 300
© AIPMM 2010

2. #1 The Shower Mic®
While this is clearly a
common practice in
the shower, this
product just hasn’t
reached its true
potential.
Proposed tagline:
U2 can be a
rock/soap star
Product Management
Challenge Level: 8
Bono style sunglasses not
included.

3. Tissue/Toilet
#2 Paper Dispenser
This solves a very
common problem –
those little pocket
tissue packets just
don’t hold enough
paper. Yet, it seems
the design might be
problematic.
Product Management
Challenge Level: 10+
Currently in re-design –
testing a new version
that hides the entire
unit under a hat.

4. Table & Chairs
#3 For Four
Space-saving and
stylish; who wouldn’t
want this surface-to-
air missile clone to
be in their living
room?
Product
Management
Challenge: 5
See next slide for
more information

6. #4 Security Scarf
Solves the annoying
problem of people
looking over your
shoulder when you
are working on
confidential data
Replaces the need
for the supervisor
hot-key to hide
instances of FreeCell.
Can be used with
your portable device.
Product
Management
Challenge Level: 8

7. #5 Bowlingual Voice
Talking to the family
dog is one of the
most commonly
requested product.
This device offers a
richer, fuller
conversation and a
clear advantage over
“sit” – “speak”
Product
Management
Challenge Level:10

8. Unnamed
#6 Product
This product, despite
being a crowd
favorite at the 36th
Annual Exhibition Of
Inventions, just isn’t
gaining momentum.
Product
Management
Challenge: 7
Comb-overs Made
Easy

9. Giant Swiss Army
#7 Knife
Is it possible to go a
little overboard when
trying to please
customers? Talk
about feature creep.
Product
Management
Challenge: 6
When you want to
carry everything

10. Gardening All-In-
#8 One
Think Swiss Army
Knife for your garden.
No longer will you
have to carry 8
different garden
tools. One size fits
all.
Product
Management
Challenge Level: 10

11. Car Bubble
#9
Want to protect your
car from the
elements, but still
want the neighbors
to see it? This is the
answer – a see-
through protective
bubble.
Product
Management
Challenge Level: 10

12. Pat On The Back
#10
I have looked long
and hard to find a
competitor that
offers this set of
features. Plus, this is
patented.
Product
Management
Challenge Level: 7
Patent : US4,608,967 Date 1986
Inventor: ; Ralph R. Piro

13. Got a product you want to add
to the collection?
Send it to me at
therese.padilla@aipmm.com
Need help with your
products?
Find answers to common
product management and
product marketing challenges
by visiting www.aipmm.com
If any of these products are
yours – we have a career
center too!
www.aipmm.com/careers
© AIPMM 2010