Be Fruitful and Multiply

That's a lesson I learned at the National Association of Convenience Stores convention (or as I call it, the other NACS) a couple of weeks ago.  What am I talking about?  Major brands have learned that the name alone will take customers to new products.  Witness my beloved PEEPS that now appear on shelves year-round (not just at Easter), are dipped in chocolate, coated in chocolate, dyed in rainbow hues, morphed into pumpkins, snowmen and hearts, turned into marshmallow PEEP suckers (above) and, coming soon, PEEP snack bars made with crispy rice!

Can you think of how many versions of M&M's have appreared on your local candy shelf?  We all have our favorites - I'm staring at a bag of peanut M&M's that are calling my name - and you can be sure that I'll try the new mint dark chocolate M&M's when the hit the shelves next year.

Jelly Belly goes from the simple bean to soda pop, frozen "slushy" drinks, soft-serve yogurt, even ice cream.  And more flavors than I can imagine!

In the meantime, what about your business do you do really, really well?  How can you multiply that effect in your customers' eyes?  Food for thought.