Marketing a hangover cure?

[Progress Through Science]

A friend of mine is a personal trainer to various celebrities. He likes the product so much he's going to give some to a certain Sky Sports presenter this weekend

Alex

 

[Zen Alex]

Some interesting stuff here and great ideas. Beware though, people do have a habit of discrediting the very things they crave for. By offering a ''relief'' for something that is considered to be very much a problem especially with UK young adults and Binge Drinking (granted overhyped a bit by Daily Mail) you will be, i feel persisted with bad PR. Kinda like USA justification of invasion of Iraq lol

 

[mobious]

Some interesting stuff here and great ideas. Beware though, people do have a habit of discrediting the very things they crave for. By offering a ''relief'' for something that is considered to be very much a problem especially with UK young adults and Binge Drinking (granted overhyped a bit by Daily Mail) you will be, i feel persisted with bad PR. Kinda like USA justification of invasion of Iraq lol

I think this was done with the hang over sachets - they renamed them to something like revitalize sachets

 

[Progress Through Science]

I think this was done with the hang over sachets - they renamed them to something like revitalize sachets

Ironically there was a product from the USA which was a transdermal patch called 'bytox' which was banned by the MHRA 3 days before I was due to launch our website and commission the printing of the labels.

Needless to say, I had to completely re-think my marketing approach and re-write the website contents.

I thought their patch idea was quite innovative, but it only contained vitamins and minerals, so wouldn't have been anything like as effective as our product.

However the use of a patch was ultimately part of their downfall I suspect as the only other products in transdermal patch form are medical products such as nicotine replacement or hormonal contraceptives.

Alex

 

[S-Marketing]

Such a product, if it is effective and safe, is a bit of a gift from a marketing perspective. There are endless possibilities to get this to market quickly and cheaply.

In your position I would look for a marketing partner who would be happy to work for a results based fee.

 

[garyk]

And now Ashley feels EPICCCCC...I wish that could be said for me, 3-4 pints and I'm ill.

Ha know that feeling mobius!

I just put it down to age

 

[Deleted member 130603]

Taxi companies... that a new one on me, I'm impressed!

I did consider stag and hen companies as well, but have no links/contacts there yet.

Will get your sample out on Monday!

Alex

Anne Summers do party packages for Hen nights ;-)

 

[garyk]

Well Alex kindly sent me 2 samples so had chance to give it a try yesterday.

I had
1 pint guiness
1 pint cider
2 glasses of white wine

Then had something to eat and drank half a litre of water with my dinner

After dinner I had 1 double G&T. This was over a 6 hour period also so pretty slow drinking. I didnt feel drunk and nor would I normally expect to with this volume.

So at 11:30 I poured a sachet into 500ml of water and drank it and then went to bed soon after.

On that sort of drink I wouldnt wake up with a headache but would perhaps just feel slightly jaded/fuzzy.

I have to be brutally honest here and say I don't think it made any difference to me. I normally find having drank something I wake up around the time I would on a weekday (6am) and get hot and bothered as I guess the alcohol plays with body's ability to regulate temperature. So this occurred as normal there was nothing different about how I felt or the normal things that happen when I have had a few drinks.

So thanks for the samples, I am going on a leaving do in a couple of weeks where I will probably be drinking heavily so will take the other sachet then and report back!

Cheers

Gary

 

[cts1975]

I did, in my introductory post, portray this as something that was specifically a 'hangover cure' not a product which should be consumed before consuming alcohol which 'may mitigate the side effects of alcohol'. So I am probably responsible for most of the miscommunication.

I hope the previous posts by Alex have cleared up the confusion. Any (more) marketing advice will be appreciated, I have had some good ideas from the suggestions so far, thanks.

This could be the problem that the rest of the market place may have.
People will have to decide what the product means the themselves before buying it.
I suspect that this product will either appeal to students and be sold online, or appeal to festival goers and be sold at festival in a slightly 'novelty' way.
If you can get Boots to stock it then that would be the benchmark for a a lot of people.
Personally I always keep in mind how much I'm drinking based on how I will feel in the morning. If I am trying to avoid a hangover I would just drink less.
Do most of us not do the same?

 

[AlexanderR]

I haven't read every single post in this thread, so I do apologize if it has been suggested.

But if this does go on sale, sell it with a personal Breathalyzer test. It may mitigate the effects of a hangover, but the blood alcohol levels will still be over the limit if the consumer went out on a large binge. Testing in the morning should be recommended to prevent people driving over the limit.

As for marketing the actual product once approved, start by contacting distributors that deal with alcoholic products.

 

[eventdomain]

tips for fighting a hangover

Its called a Cooked Breakfast - Some bacon and eggs, mmmmmm. As far as I know there is NO medical cure from hangovers, I think we would have heard in the last 50 years or so...

A hangover is from the effects of alcohol eg: way too much, so your bodys says 'sod this, I feel bad'. The body naturally repairs itself, by getting rid of what's bad, and the hangover is just what's left.

What you need is food to give yourself energy to fight the hangover, and to soak-up the residue of alcohol that's in your blood.

 

[Progress Through Science]

Well Alex kindly sent me 2 samples so had chance to give it a try yesterday.

I had
1 pint guiness
1 pint cider
2 glasses of white wine

Then had something to eat and drank half a litre of water with my dinner

After dinner I had 1 double G&T. This was over a 6 hour period also so pretty slow drinking. I didnt feel drunk and nor would I normally expect to with this volume.

So at 11:30 I poured a sachet into 500ml of water and drank it and then went to bed soon after.

On that sort of drink I wouldnt wake up with a headache but would perhaps just feel slightly jaded/fuzzy.

I have to be brutally honest here and say I don't think it made any difference to me. I normally find having drank something I wake up around the time I would on a weekday (6am) and get hot and bothered as I guess the alcohol plays with body's ability to regulate temperature. So this occurred as normal there was nothing different about how I felt or the normal things that happen when I have had a few drinks.

So thanks for the samples, I am going on a leaving do in a couple of weeks where I will probably be drinking heavily so will take the other sachet then and report back!

Cheers

Gary

Hi Gary. Thanks for the honset feedback, but I question why you didn't follow the instructions, which state "consume product before drinking alcohol". INstead, you took the product after drinking alcohol.

So if you would perhaps care to try again, doing it correctly, then I would appreciate it, thanks!

Alex

 

[Progress Through Science]

I haven't read every single post in this thread, so I do apologize if it has been suggested.

But if this does go on sale, sell it with a personal Breathalyzer test. It may mitigate the effects of a hangover, but the blood alcohol levels will still be over the limit if the consumer went out on a large binge. Testing in the morning should be recommended to prevent people driving over the limit.

As for marketing the actual product once approved, start by contacting distributors that deal with alcoholic products.

I appreciate the idea, but there is no way I want to be assosciated with such an 'official' method of BAL reduction.

Yes the product does work in this way, but to make claims that it does and then provide tools to back this up, could be leading down a very litiginous path, I feel.

Alex

 

[Progress Through Science]

Its called a Cooked Breakfast - Some bacon and eggs, mmmmmm. As far as I know there is NO medical cure from hangovers, I think we would have heard in the last 50 years or so...

A hangover is from the effects of alcohol eg: way too much, so your bodys says 'sod this, I feel bad'. The body naturally repairs itself, by getting rid of what's bad, and the hangover is just what's left.

What you need is food to give yourself energy to fight the hangover, and to soak-up the residue of alcohol that's in your blood.

Ah, I love the 'traditionalist' approach. Howver there IS science to lead us forward... if you choose to look for it.

Ah yes, the cooked breakfast... adding insult to injury for your cardiovascular system since time immemorial!

Alex

 

[AlexanderR]

I appreciate the idea, but there is no way I want to be assosciated with such an 'official' method of BAL reduction.

Yes the product does work in this way, but to make claims that it does and then provide tools to back this up, could be leading down a very litiginous path, I feel.

Alex

I'm not saying that it should be used to "test the product has worked and your safe to drive" Thats never going to be true. You say your product reduces the effects of a hangover, thats not going to reduce blood alcohol levels.

Selling with the test would be a method of stopping people driving in the morning while still legally drunk, no matter how they feel. As you are selling a product which could entice people into driving whilst over the limit, I think it would be good practice to at least recommend taking a breathalyser test before driving.

 

[eventdomain]

Ah yes, the cooked breakfast... adding insult to injury for your cardiovascular system since time immemorial!

That's easy to say that - anyone could. If anyone is intoxicated to the level that requires some unproven drug to 'cure' the problem is likely taking something the body doesn't need. BTW, anything taken using the adage - 'over the top' can harm the body - but I doubt the odd cooked breakfast here and there will do any serious harm.

My point ofcourse was the body needs fuel - it's an engine that requires maintenance - so chucking down a load of unproven cures will do more harm than food ever will

The human body has an amazing way of dealing with colds, flu, fevers, virus and a whole host of nasties and infections, from an immune system
developed over centuries - its called evolution. It amazes me the crud people try - you got to be insane to purchase some drug/cure/pills over the net and guzzle it down because some website told you to.

Lets look at what heavy drinking sessions can do to the body:

High alcohol intake - the surprises

• Digestive problems
• Spotty, bloated face
• Cellulite
• Disrupted sleep
• Depression
• Short-term memory failure
• Reduced fertility

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15114325

mmmm nice - I think the above is bad enough - without consuming some unknown hangover cure.

 

[Progress Through Science]

I'm not saying that it should be used to "test the product has worked and your safe to drive" Thats never going to be true. You say your product reduces the effects of a hangover, thats not going to reduce blood alcohol levels.

Selling with the test would be a method of stopping people driving in the morning while still legally drunk, no matter how they feel. As you are selling a product which could entice people into driving whilst over the limit, I think it would be good practice to at least recommend taking a breathalyser test before driving.

We do say on the website that it is the responsibility of the user to ascertain BAL levels and that Prevail should IN NO WAY be used to facilitate driving or operation of heavy machinery or any other dangerous procedure.

Thanks for you continued and considered input to the thread.

Alex

 

[Progress Through Science]

That's easy to say that - anyone could. If anyone is intoxicated to the level that requires some unproven drug to 'cure' the problem is likely taking something the body doesn't need. BTW, anything taken using the adage - 'over the top' can harm the body - but I doubt the odd cooked breakfast here and there will do any serious harm.

My point ofcourse was the body needs fuel - it's an engine that requires maintenance - so chucking down a load of unproven cures will do more harm than food ever will

The human body has an amazing way of dealing with colds, flu, fevers, virus and a whole host of nasties and infections, from an immune system
developed over centuries - its called evolution. It amazes me the crud people try - you got to be insane to purchase some drug/cure/pills over the net and guzzle it down because some website told you to.

Lets look at what heavy drinking sessions can do to the body:

High alcohol intake - the surprises

• Digestive problems
• Spotty, bloated face
• Cellulite
• Disrupted sleep
• Depression
• Short-term memory failure
• Reduced fertility

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15114325

mmmm nice - I think the above is bad enough - without consuming some unknown hangover cure.

Perhaps it would have been etter if you had read the thread before commenting. Prevail is NOT A DRUG. So now you know

You would also know that this product mitigates the toxic effects of alcohol therefore is a much healthier alternative to blindly following old dogma about cooked breakfasts etc.

And nobody is telling anybody to take anything, so please stop putting up strawmen.

In fact since you have nothing useful to add to the original topic, I request that you stop posting in this thread.

Alex

 

[simon field]

Perhaps it would have been etter if you had read the thread before commenting. Prevail is NOT A DRUG. So now you know

You would also know that this product mitigates the toxic effects of alcohol therefore is a much healthier alternative to blindly following old dogma about cooked breakfasts etc.

And nobody is telling anybody to take anything, so please stop putting up strawmen.

In fact since you have nothing useful to add to the original topic, I request that you stop posting in this thread.

Alex

Excuse me, but why would anyone who doesn't care about "the toxic effects of alcohol", care about "a much healthier alternative"?

Just curious - after all, a cooked breakfast is lovely and it works.

 

[Progress Through Science]

Excuse me, but why would anyone who doesn't care about "the toxic effects of alcohol", care about "a much healthier alternative"?

Just curious - after all, a cooked breakfast is lovely and it works.

I'm sorry, but who are you referring to when you say that? Nearly everyone I know who drinks, expresses some degree of concern over the harmful effects. So who is it that doesn't care about the toxic effects of alcohol in your question above?

And a cooked breakfast may make you feel better, similar to how a painkiller does, but it in no way 'works' to counter the toxic effects of alcohol. There is a difference.

Alex

 

[ilikedesifems]

to answer the OP:

- Market research. Determine if there is a true demand for your product.
- Segment, Target, Position - Ascertain who exactly is your target market and position the product in terms of its perceived and actual value. By that, I mean compare it to other similar products and see compare value and cost
- Marketing mix - Use all four Ps to tailor how you will make, supply and promote the product.

As it's a hangover cure, you will need government health approval before you sell it.

 

[garyk]

Hi Gary. Thanks for the honset feedback, but I question why you didn't follow the instructions, which state "consume product before drinking alcohol". INstead, you took the product after drinking alcohol.

So if you would perhaps care to try again, doing it correctly, then I would appreciate it, thanks!

Alex

They do indeed Alex but you did say in an earlier post in this thread;

"You can take it before drinking, though there is a small chance that you will struggle to get drunk (only 1 user reported this).

You can drink it before bed, still with good results, but not quite as good as if you took it before drinking.

For a very heavy session, take 1dose before drinking and 1 before bed."

The first sentence made me think whats the point of drinking? If I wasn't going to get the effect of drinking I might as well drink water!

Will definately take it before next time and feedback as its going to be a 'large one' so be a good test!

Gary

 

[Senington]

I would go for the independent testing to ensure that the claims and 100%. Maybe you could limit your market to people who are particularly susceptible to hangovers rather than binge drinkers? I would stay away from binge drinkers, it is going to give you a really bad reputation.

 

[garyk]

I would say you need a cross section of people to effectively test. I'm not a binge drinker, my next large drink outing is because of a leaving do but drinking large amounts on a regular basis is something I don't do.

If you are an occasional light drinker then you probably wont need it!

 

[Progress Through Science]

I would go for the independent testing to ensure that the claims and 100%. Maybe you could limit your market to people who are particularly susceptible to hangovers rather than binge drinkers? I would stay away from binge drinkers, it is going to give you a really bad reputation.

I truly appreciate you taking the time to offer your input, but if you had read the early posts in the thread, you would have seen that I cannot make any 'claims' whatsoever, so testing would be a waste of time, from a marketing perspective.

Alex

 

[Progress Through Science]

I would say you need a cross section of people to effectively test. I'm not a binge drinker, my next large drink outing is because of a leaving do but drinking large amounts on a regular basis is something I don't do.

If you are an occasional light drinker then you probably wont need it!

Thanks Gary.

Honestly you are one of the exceptional few who seems to get no benefit from the product, though we'll wait until you test it 'the other way' before deciding, eh?

Ironically I want the product to be used by the light drinker who suffers particularly badly from hangovers. Like my web developers' mother. She literally cannot drink more than 2 glasses of red wine withough feeling like death the next day. After a dose of prevail though, she was completely different, showing a much more 'normal' response to alcohol and hangovers.

I see the product being more of a health supplement, than a 'binge facilitator'. So the average person would have a prevail before their regular 1/2 bottle of wine each evening, and would be much more clearheaded and productive at work the next day.

I'm glad you gave your honest feedback even though it has not been positive. Hopefully we can make the product work for you!

Alex

 

[garyk]

Thanks Gary.

Honestly you are one of the exceptional few who seems to get no benefit from the product, though we'll wait until you test it 'the other way' before deciding, eh?

There's always one isn't there!

Ironically I want the product to be used by the light drinker who suffers particularly badly from hangovers. Like my web developers' mother. She literally cannot drink more than 2 glasses of red wine withough feeling like death the next day. After a dose of prevail though, she was completely different, showing a much more 'normal' response to alcohol and hangovers.

I see the product being more of a health supplement, than a 'binge facilitator'. So the average person would have a prevail before their regular 1/2 bottle of wine each evening, and would be much more clearheaded and productive at work the next day.

I'm glad you gave your honest feedback even though it has not been positive. Hopefully we can make the product work for you!

Alex

Yes don't get me wrong Alex I want you to succeed with this. I definitely think you are on to something and looking at number of searches for hangover cures using google's keyword tool does demonstrate a lot of interest in 'hangover cures'

The best I can do is accurately record what and how I'm using the product and feed that back to you.

Cheers


Gary

 

[Progress Through Science]

The best I can do is accurately record what and how I'm using the product and feed that back to you.

Cheers


Gary

How right you are! Nothing leads to a distorted product like distorted feedback.

Alex

 

[garyk]

OK so last night was the acid test of the product for me.

I started drinking around 5;30pm, had 5 pints of beer and four (single) gin and tonics and got back at 1:30am. I took the product *before* drinking as instructed. On that sort of volume I'm normally gonna pay the price the next day, big time.

Unfortunately to be brutally honest it feels as if the product has made absolutely no difference whatsoever. I'm hanging big time just like I would be had I not taken the product.

Sorry but just reporting my experience.

Gary

 

[simon field]

OK so last night was the acid test of the product for me.

I started drinking around 5;30pm, had 5 pints of beer and four (single) gin and tonics and got back at 1:30am. I took the product *before* drinking as instructed. On that sort of volume I'm normally gonna pay the price the next day, big time.

Unfortunately to be brutally honest it feels as if the product has made absolutely no difference whatsoever. I'm hanging big time just like I would be had I not taken the product.

Sorry but just reporting my experience.

Gary

Fried breakfast Gary. Works every time mate

 

[garyk]

Fried breakfast Gary. Works every time mate

Thats exactly what I had Simon, went to smiths of smtihfield do quite a good brekkie in there, it helped but I was hanging.com this morning :redface:

 

[Scott-Copywriter]

Well this thread turned a tad awkward!

 

[simon field]

Well this thread turned a tad awkward!

Indeed!

Another top tip - pint of water before going "on the pish".

Another pint of water before bed.

No hangover whatsoever - oh but hang on - I've wet the bed

 

[Progress Through Science]

OK so last night was the acid test of the product for me.

I started drinking around 5;30pm, had 5 pints of beer and four (single) gin and tonics and got back at 1:30am. I took the product *before* drinking as instructed. On that sort of volume I'm normally gonna pay the price the next day, big time.

Unfortunately to be brutally honest it feels as if the product has made absolutely no difference whatsoever. I'm hanging big time just like I would be had I not taken the product.

Sorry but just reporting my experience.

Gary

HAHAHA, just my luck, that the only one (yet) to feedback doesn't get any benefit from the product!

Ah well, sods law. Hopefully the other two participants from this forum have good results.

Gary, I have to thank you for your participation and your truly honest feedback. Please do feel in any way bad about giving honest feedback. I require nothing more and expect nothing less from anyone who tries any of my products.

Gary, by trying this product, you have shown yourself to be a leader, not a follower and I respect that immensely!

Thanks again.

Alex

 

[Progress Through Science]

I want to say here, publically (since his PMs have been turned off) that I owe a certain member here, an apology. We got into ait a little via PM, because I didn't fully understand what it was he was asking for.

As it turns out there was serious miscommunication. Now that I have looked at my website with fresh eyes, I can see exactly what he was referring to. In fairness I don't think he did a fantastic job of explaining his line of questioning.

However in the spirit of friendship:

Michael, if you are reading this thread any more, please accept my sincere apologies. I got the wrong end of the stick and I really hope you can put our disagreement to one side.

Kind regards,
Alex

 

[Progress Through Science]

Well this thread turned a tad awkward!

Not for me it hasn't. After all I did state at the start that the product is remarkably effective, but doesn't work on everyone.

Alex

 

[Anonymouse72]

i'd like to thanks Alex for sending me a sample . it will be put to the test next Friday at a family wedding. for reasons i won't go into, i expect it to be a rather tense affair so expect i may consume a beverage (or 10) to help me get through the stress of the day/night. a thorough test indeed!

 

[beasty]

Sell this to Carlsberg

They can pay you per unit and include the cure in their 6 packs
Probably the best hangover cure in the world!

Now you are rich.
done

 

[Progress Through Science]

i'd like to thanks Alex for sending me a sample . it will be put to the test next Friday at a family wedding. for reasons i won't go into, i expect it to be a rather tense affair so expect i may consume a beverage (or 10) to help me get through the stress of the day/night. a thorough test indeed!

I think I sent you 2 samples. If I did, would you mind taking one at around the time drinking commences and then one before bed (you might consider mixing one up ready in a glass by the bed) since it sounds like you might really be going for it.

Alex

 

[Progress Through Science]

Sell this to Carlsberg

They can pay you per unit and include the cure in their 6 packs
Probably the best hangover cure in the world!

Now you are rich.
done

Thanks for being one of the few 'contributors' to the thread who actually had something to say that was marketing-related

Alex