Back in 2003, we wrote about M&M's personalization service, which lets customers pick colours and have texts and logos printed on M&M's. As we pointed out, it's a great example of mass customization. And of what our sister-site trendwatching.com dubbed gravanity. M&M's has now taken the concept a step further by allowing customers to have their own likeness printed on the candy: M&M's Faces.
Ordering is done online: customers upload one or two photos, pick their colours and add up to two different texts to be printed on separate M&Ms. Using a simple interface, they can zoom in or out to select which part of a photo they want to use. A 'graphic specialist' then tweaks the photo file, creating a sketch-like rendition that looks good on small pieces of candy (example here). M&M's Faces are available in 7-ounce bags at USD 14.95 per bag (minimum order: 3 bags); a 5- or 10-pound bulk box for USD 162.50 or USD 312.50; or a variety of 1.6- to 1.75-ounce party favours (minimum order: 20 bags), priced at USD 4.99–6.19 per bag.
M&M's hopes its new personalization option will entice even more customers to tell their stories using candy-coated chocolate, and to share their ultra-personal M&M's at weddings, graduations and birthdays. Given that most people love to see themselves or their loved ones in print, that seems like a pretty safe bet. ;-)
Website: www.mymms.com/customprint_faces
Contact: www.mymms.com/service
P.S. We've covered dozens of businesses that cater to consumers' gravanity. Check them out here.
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Jared -- you've expressed your dislike of the buzzwords used on Springwise before, and yet you keep coming back! I guess we must offer *something* you actually like ;-)
As I've pointed out before, we believe that trend names like gravanity provide a framework for readers who are interested in seeing the bigger picture -- they connect individual business concepts with the consumer trends they're part of.
And while gravanity might not be in the reference books yet, British dictionary publishers Chambers have their eye on it: http://tinyurl.com/46lfgu So, who knows -- in a few years time, you'll be able to claim that you knew all about gravanity before anyone could find it in a dictionary.
*looks up the word "gravanity" in dictionary*
*notices it's not in there*
*realizes it's another pathetic buzzword created by springwise*
*exits website promptly*
Jared | June 29, 2008 1:47 PM