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Thursday, December 22, 2011

Harvard Business Review Blog: Business Model Innovation the Red Sox Way

(blogs.hbr.org)

posted on December 22, 2011 at 06:39 AM by Lowry Seasoning Salt to business, history, products, red sox, special topics | 6 comment(s)

Major league owners are famously reluctant to release franchise-specific financial information. However, Forbes estimates that the value of the Red Sox has climbed from about $500 million in 2002 to $900 million in 2011 — an impressive 7% annual growth.

Companies seeking to revitalize seemingly stagnant businesses can take three lessons from the Red Sox success:

1. Question orthodoxy. Of course you can’t put people on top of the Green Monster. Or host a hockey game in Fenway. Or can you?

...

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1. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

posted on September 30, 2010 at 01:16 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Can you make it into a milkshake?

2. RB in NYC (Now Semi-Retired from BBTF) posted on September 30, 2010 at 01:21 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I do like beef jerky, but this seems...odd. I have never desire a beef jerky to remind me of chewing tobacco, which is apparently what they're going for here.

3. lar @ wezen-ball posted on September 30, 2010 at 01:25 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I don't understand. I heard Ripken shilling about this on Mike & Mike the other morning (don't worry, the two Mikes were shilling it just as much as Cal) and it sounded like people had never heard of shredded jerky before. Is that true? I remember it being all the rage at my elementary school when I was in 5th or 6th grade 20 years ago.

4. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

posted on September 30, 2010 at 01:27 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I remember it being all the rage at my elementary school when I was in 5th or 6th grade 20 years ago.

I used to eat this all the time when I was in elementary school. I always put a pinch between my cheek and gum just like the major leaguers.

5. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on September 30, 2010 at 01:27 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I'll admit this is new to me. I'm 40 years old so I don't know if there is an age difference there.

6. Justin T is expanding the aperture of awareness posted on September 30, 2010 at 01:28 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

So, steeping the meat in tradition is what makes jerky such a savory snack. I always wondered.

7. Alex meets the threshold for granular review posted on September 30, 2010 at 01:29 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I do like beef jerky, but this seems...odd. I have never desire a beef jerky to remind me of chewing tobacco, which is apparently what they're going for here.

When I was a kid, I actually figured that chewing tobacco would taste like beef jerky from the look. I found out how much chewing tobacco sucks my freshman year of college. Never again.

8. Yeaarrgghhhh posted on September 30, 2010 at 01:52 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I've never heard of shredded jerky. Is it a regional thing? (although I'm from Maryland, so if it's a mid-Atlantic thing, I must not get out much.)

9. just plain joe posted on September 30, 2010 at 01:59 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

When I was a kid, I actually figured that chewing tobacco would taste like beef jerky from the look. I found out how much chewing tobacco sucks my freshman year of college. Never again.

When I was 14 or so I got a job on a hay baling crew; hay is baled in the summer when it is very hot and very dry. One of the things people do to try and keep their mouths moist under these conditions is chew tobacco. Trying to be "cool" I broke off a plug of Mail Pouch (or whatever it was) and gave it a try. Of course I managed to swallow some of the tobacco juice right away; word to the wise, if you ever need to jump start a vomit, tobacco juice works really well. I threw up lunch, breakfast and things I had eaten years in the past. I stuck to bubble gum after that.

10. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

posted on September 30, 2010 at 02:00 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I'm 38 and grew up in California and it was fairly common there. The shredded jerky even came in round containers to look like chewing tobacco tins and the jerky was shredded in a way to make it look like chewing tobacco. It was a blatant attempt to latch onto the popularity of those chewing tobacco commercials that featured guys like Bobby Murcer and Earl Campbell. Big League Chew was the gum version, of course. We also, of course, had candy cigarettes with powedered sugar at the tip so you could blow on the candy and simulate smoke. Good times!

11. Dan Szymborski

posted on September 30, 2010 at 02:06 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I remember it being all the rage at my elementary school when I was in 5th or 6th grade 20 years ago.

I was about to say "when I was in 5th or 6th grade too!" but then I did the math and realized that it has been 22 years since 5th grade. Ouch.

12. Jolly Old St. Nick Done Jumped The Ship

posted on September 30, 2010 at 02:07 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Stupid question: What is the appeal of beef jerky? Is it supposed to be like beef flavored chewing tobacco, meaning that you get to taste it for as long as you want and it never really breaks down in your mouth because it's so gristly and tough? Does it really taste like beef, or does it taste like beef dipped in brine? And when you're through, do you swallow it or just spit it out?

13. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

posted on September 30, 2010 at 02:12 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

When I still ate meat, I loved jerky. I like savory foods and jerky is as savory as it gets. Pemmican (sp?) teriyaki jerky was my favorite. I preferred it to be just a touch soft and not too salty. Turkey jerky wasn't bad and smoked salmon jerky was also fantastic.

14. Alex Vila posted on September 30, 2010 at 02:39 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Bison jerky is pretty good. For a while I tried making my own (I'd gotten a dehydrating machine as a graduation present), but the results were very hit or miss. The flavor I got to where I liked (mixture of liquid smoke, cayenne pepper, BBQ sauce and bourbon), but I either got it too dry or not dry enough.

15. WillYoung posted on September 30, 2010 at 03:03 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Venison jerky is excellent.

16. Lassus posted on September 30, 2010 at 03:18 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I'm (more or less) the same age as Shooty, and I'm thinking it must definitely be regional, because I remember eating beef jerky as a kid, but I don't remember ever seeing shredded jerky then or since. Hell, I had some regular beef jerky just the other night at work - I'm not as much of a connoisseur to even remember the brand. Shooty's right, for a level of savory saltiness, it's a yummy snack.

Jerky that melts in your mouth sounds disgusting, though. I thought the whole purpose was the tough chewiness.

17. Flynn posted on September 30, 2010 at 03:53 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

smoked salmon jerky was also fantastic.

Ahh, one of the best things about going to Seattle is buying as much squaw candy as possible.

18. Jolly Old St. Nick Done Jumped The Ship

posted on September 30, 2010 at 04:28 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

smoked salmon jerky was also fantastic.

Ahh, one of the best things about going to Seattle is buying as much squaw candy as possible.

That's a straight line that's best left alone.

19. Slivers of Maranville (SdeB) posted on September 30, 2010 at 04:39 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I like savory saltiness, but jerky never really appealed to me. I admit I've never really tried it, but when I was 10 I won a free trip to Adventureland in Des Moines, Iowa. It was a four hour ride from Lincoln, NE and the whole way there was a fat kid in the back chomping on jerky until the whole van stank of it. For four hours.

20. Fred Lynn Nolan Ryan Sweeney Agonistes posted on September 30, 2010 at 04:47 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I can never find salmon jerky anymore -- seems like it'd be great for hikes & camping trips.
I loooove that stuff.
Loved beef jerky as a kid, too -- I think of it as perfect road-trip food.

21. Steve Phillips' Hot Cougar (DrStankus) posted on September 30, 2010 at 04:54 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I thought the whole point of jerky was that it preserved the meat without refrigeration.

Why people would eat it now when we have refrigeration is beyond me.

22. Jarrod HypnerotomachiaPoliphili(Teddy F. Ballgame) posted on September 30, 2010 at 05:13 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Even in this hypermodern age, most people don't carry refrigerators around with them.

On any extended road trip, I make sure to buy some jerky, mostly to torment my wife. She has a very refined palate, probably from having grown up in France, and finds the stuff horrific.

23. Jarrod HypnerotomachiaPoliphili(Teddy F. Ballgame) posted on September 30, 2010 at 05:15 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Stupid question: What is the appeal of beef jerky? Is it supposed to be like beef flavored chewing tobacco, meaning that you get to taste it for as long as you want and it never really breaks down in your mouth because it's so gristly and tough? Does it really taste like beef, or does it taste like beef dipped in brine? And when you're through, do you swallow it or just spit it out?

It's tough and chewy, but it breaks down. Regular jerky tastes like heavily salted beef, although manufacturers often add smoke or teriyaki flavors. And you swallow it, you don't spit it out. Another straight line best left alone.

24. Zipperholes posted on September 30, 2010 at 05:16 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Stupid question: What is the appeal of beef jerky? Is it supposed to be like beef flavored chewing tobacco, meaning that you get to taste it for as long as you want and it never really breaks down in your mouth because it's so gristly and tough? Does it really taste like beef, or does it taste like beef dipped in brine? And when you're through, do you swallow it or just spit it out?

It tastes like very dry, flavored beef (which is what it is). You eat it like regular food, but it's really tough. It's so good that it's difficult not to eat a whole bag at once. The appeal is the combination of flavor and texture. Why someone would want it a kind that sits in their mouth or resembles chewing tobacco, I don't know.

25. Srul Itza posted on September 30, 2010 at 05:59 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I was about to say "when I was in 5th or 6th grade too!" but then I did the math and realized that it has been 22 years since 5th grade. Ouch.

Count your blessings. For some of us, it has been twice as long.

26. Ron Johnson posted on September 30, 2010 at 06:13 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

What is the appeal of beef jerky?

It's handy to have a food item that can be used as a weapon should the need arise.

Though I guess pemmican is a better choice, it wouldn't be fun to be stabbed by some of the jerky I've encountered.

27. Dingbat_Charlie

posted on September 30, 2010 at 06:30 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

It's good for backpacking. It's light, has protein, doesn't need refrigeration, takes up little space and easy to eat on the trail.

28. lar @ wezen-ball posted on September 30, 2010 at 06:58 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

My experience in 5th or 6th grade was in central California, so maybe it's more prevalent out there than back east. That might make some sense, since the Mike & Mike's of the world are rarely from California.

I remember liking it, but not nearly as much as real jerky. The shredded stuff was just interesting because of the different texture.

Doing the math, I'm about to turn 30, so that makes 5th grade 20 years ago now... (weird).

29. ?Donde esta Dagoberto Campaneris? posted on September 30, 2010 at 07:01 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

35 years old, grew up in Southern California. I absolutely remember the jerky chew- it came in the same plastic, faux-chew cans that Bubble Tape came in. Except they were brown instead of pink. Both were very easy to steal at the 7-11 between home and Newton Junior High.

30. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

posted on September 30, 2010 at 07:06 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

My experience in 5th or 6th grade was in central California

Which part? Coast or valley?

31. Athletic Supporter gangnam style posted on September 30, 2010 at 07:15 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I was about to say "when I was in 5th or 6th grade too!" but then I did the math and realized that it has been 22 years since 5th grade. Ouch.

Good lord, me too. I really need to get a lawn to tell kids to get off of, I guess.

32. Misirlou is bad, he's nationwide posted on September 30, 2010 at 07:20 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I make my own jerky too, on an old Ronco dehydrator. It's the food of the gods. I usually make from brisket.

33. jacksone (AKA It's OK...) posted on September 30, 2010 at 08:41 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

The shredded jerky is around in VT too.

Jerky is a fantastic, wonderful food.

34. Magnum RA posted on September 30, 2010 at 10:43 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Jerky is a waste of good beef.

35. Alex Vila posted on September 30, 2010 at 11:52 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Misirlou - I used flank or skirt. When I got it right, it was wonderful, but there were times when it was crunchy, I am embarrassed to say.

36. CFiJ posted on October 01, 2010 at 12:23 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Ye jerky-loving guys should hie you down to the nearest Asian supermarket and get yourselves some shredded dried squid. Once you start, you can't stop.

37. you got a STEAGLES? you're gonna need a STEAGLES. posted on October 01, 2010 at 12:50 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Ye jerky-loving guys should hie you down to the nearest Asian supermarket and get yourselves some shredded dried squid. Once you start, you can't stop.

...at least until the mercury poisoning sets in.

oh, and black pepper jerky, ftw.

38. Pat Rapper's Delight posted on October 01, 2010 at 01:30 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I preferred it to be just a touch soft and not too salty.

So does your mom.

39. Poster Nutbag posted on October 01, 2010 at 01:45 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

#28 & #30 - Same here. I am 29, in the central valley (Fresno area). "Jerky Stuff" has been around for as long as I can recall here. Still see it in the stores today. I remember that stuff being pretty awful until they spiced it up a little. I also remember the candy cigs, Shooty. Like 25-50 cents a box or whatever. Packages that looked like cheap knockoff smokes. The good old days!

40. lar @ wezen-ball posted on October 01, 2010 at 02:12 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

#30, #39: That's where I grew up, central valley in Fresno and just outside the city...

I remember the jerky chew coming in the same containers that everyone's mentioning... brown, plastic, round containers like chewing tobacco or bubbletape...

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Thursday, December 22, 2011

Harvard Business Review Blog: Business Model Innovation the Red Sox Way

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