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Juicero Is Shutting Down

fortune.com

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Re: Juicero Is Shutting Down

#11

Post by The_Sponge »

andreasgonewild wrote: post #7
TillE wrote: post #3

The fundamental problem with Juicero (at least as an ambitious startup) is that juice isn't a product with broad appeal, especially after the recent trend against sugary drinks. You could overcome price barriers and other issues if there were some real demand, but I just don't see it.

Did you just call pressed veggies and fruits sugary drinks? As in more or less the same as Pepsi? The problem with Juicero is that it was a scam, pure and simple. Overpriced bullshit and awesome profits, at least that was the plan. Thank god it's over. Now we're just waiting for Uber to fold and then maybe we can start actually making a difference, as opposed to spewing bullshit until no one can tell the difference.

They are though, Juicero being a scam or not (it's not, they shipped at straight forward pricepoints).

Even "traditional" pressed juice companies are starting to see a crunch, as their evangelical customers ("health nuts") are realizing that eating an apple is healthier than pressing 4 of them.

Re: Juicero Is Shutting Down

#12

Post by Powerofmene »

It is a shame that Juicero could not develop a product with a lower price point that could reach a much broader marketplace. With the initial price point they should have clearly seen that their customer pool was going to be smaller than that of a lower cost product.

It seems that they did not have enough time and money to right their ship. It is sad to see a dream die even if you don't agree with the product or business plan.

Re: Juicero Is Shutting Down

#13

Post by allover »

andreasgonewild wrote: post #7
TillE wrote: post #3

The fundamental problem with Juicero (at least as an ambitious startup) is that juice isn't a product with broad appeal, especially after the recent trend against sugary drinks. You could overcome price barriers and other issues if there were some real demand, but I just don't see it.

Did you just call pressed veggies and fruits sugary drinks? As in more or less the same as Pepsi? The problem with Juicero is that it was a scam, pure and simple. Overpriced bullshit and awesome profits, at least that was the plan. Thank god it's over. Now we're just waiting for Uber to fold and then maybe we can start actually making a difference, as opposed to spewing bullshit until no one can tell the difference.

> Did you just call pressed veggies and fruits sugary drinks?

Pressed fruits at least, are sugary drinks. Anyone who's calorie conscious is probably wary (as a calorie counter I know I am).

Re: Juicero Is Shutting Down

#15

Post by [deleted] »

andreasgonewild wrote: post #7
TillE wrote: post #3

The fundamental problem with Juicero (at least as an ambitious startup) is that juice isn't a product with broad appeal, especially after the recent trend against sugary drinks. You could overcome price barriers and other issues if there were some real demand, but I just don't see it.

Did you just call pressed veggies and fruits sugary drinks? As in more or less the same as Pepsi? The problem with Juicero is that it was a scam, pure and simple. Overpriced bullshit and awesome profits, at least that was the plan. Thank god it's over. Now we're just waiting for Uber to fold and then maybe we can start actually making a difference, as opposed to spewing bullshit until no one can tell the difference.

[deleted]

Re: Juicero Is Shutting Down

#17

Post by chiph »

teej wrote: post #5
TillE wrote: post #3

The fundamental problem with Juicero (at least as an ambitious startup) is that juice isn't a product with broad appeal, especially after the recent trend against sugary drinks. You could overcome price barriers and other issues if there were some real demand, but I just don't see it.

I thought the fundamental (and well documented) problem with Juicero is that they over-engineered themselves into a product that was far beyond what a consumer would ever pay for a kitchen appliance. Kinda like exactly what the article says.

AvE tore one down. It really was well-built. Too much so, really.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Cp-BGQfpHQ (possibly NSFW for language - use headphones)

Re: Juicero Is Shutting Down

#18

Post by eropple »

Powerofmene wrote: post #12

It is a shame that Juicero could not develop a product with a lower price point that could reach a much broader marketplace. With the initial price point they should have clearly seen that their customer pool was going to be smaller than that of a lower cost product. It seems that they did not have enough time and money to right their ship. It is sad to see a dream die even if you don't agree with the product or busi…

I think it's more a shame that they didn't actually make a product anyone needed. Just remember that this was a thing actually said about real life humans who can walk and talk and dress themselves:

> One of the investors said they were frustrated with how the company didn’t deliver on the original pitch and that their venture firm wouldn’t have met with Evans if he were hawking bags of juice that didn’t require high-priced hardware. Juicero didn’t broadly disclose to investors or employees that packs can be hand squeezed, said four people with knowledge of the matter.

This was a dumb thing from the jump. Maybe all that money spent on an evenly-pressing juice-o-tron would have been better used almost anywhere else.

Re: Juicero Is Shutting Down

#19

Post by jpao79 »

I think they went about getting to market wrong. They should not have targeted end consumers with their equipment.

They should have went after the convenience store market using the soda dispenser/automated latte/vending machine/icee making business model. Basically convince the store owner to have some refrigerated space dedicated to the pouches and then put the machine nearby for the customer to make their own juice in real time.

I see a Juice company in the SF Ferry Building selling fresh squeezed juice for over $8. If they could have positioned themselves somewhere between that and $2 pasteurized/packaged juice from the grocery store, they could have done very well.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/sow-juice-san-francisco

Re: Juicero Is Shutting Down

#20

Post by dragonwriter »

teej wrote: post #5
TillE wrote: post #3

The fundamental problem with Juicero (at least as an ambitious startup) is that juice isn't a product with broad appeal, especially after the recent trend against sugary drinks. You could overcome price barriers and other issues if there were some real demand, but I just don't see it.

I thought the fundamental (and well documented) problem with Juicero is that they over-engineered themselves into a product that was far beyond what a consumer would ever pay for a kitchen appliance. Kinda like exactly what the article says.

Consumers will (and do, all the time) spebd $700 or more for kitchen appliances, provided the use of the appliance is expected to provide adequate value to warrant that. The fact that it's a juicer, and that you are locked-in to Juicero packs, is what limits the market, not the fact that it is a “kitchen appliance”.
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