Human Side of Business - Episode 1 Stanley

Olive and Kayla, MBA students at Feliciano School of Business, dive into the Stanley cups phenomenon. In this casual conversation, they question the price of popularity and ask if it's time for the company to take a stand against overconsumption. Tune into this episode and be part of the discussion on all things Stanley!

Transcript

Speaker 2 0:03

The weekend. How was it? Well, it's already Tuesday, so now I have to think back a few days.

Speaker 1 0:08

Give me a little bit, give me a little bit Work. Oh, discussion boards, why, I asked?

Speaker 2 0:13

that Some downtime, I guess Outtime. The sun was out, so that was cool, that was cool.

Speaker 1 0:19

So that's uptime. How was your weekend? So, yeah, the discussion boards, yeah, it's that time in the semester. You know what I mean. I'm loving that. But I also achieved a little balance, which has been kind of not customary lately, because I feel like I've been really trying to stay in the school zone. But you know, my friend had his 30th birthday, which was nice. I was like oh, I have friends and they have birthdays and they invite me to that.

Speaker 2 0:50

You got a little reminder Are you a friend A little?

Speaker 1 0:53

reminder, because I feel like business school make you forget that some days. Let me just sit in my water, because now I'm like I can't even think about it. There's so many things ahead. It's only Tuesday. We're getting through it, though, from your fake Stanley.

Speaker 1 1:10

No, you know what. Let's talk about the fake Stanley. Let's talk about the fake Stanley. First of all, where's the logo? And I'm glad that you asked, because I actually got this from the lobby of the Feliciano School of Business. Okay, the Evertax office said we got the real swag and I'm like yeah, because really I would never pay $100 for a cup, so it's giving free 99? It's giving free 99, not even $299, not even Walmart bin. I'm talking like I took the chapstick, you know I took the other swag and then I doubled back like can I have that? And now I'm here. Now I'm here and you know it's doing exactly what a Stanley does.

Speaker 2 1:57

Where's the straw? No straw, you should know.

Speaker 1 2:00

You have it. That like, oh, fake Stanley, that kind of reminds me of like iPhone, android, kind of vibe, you know what I mean Like, or even like fake, expensive designer stuff.

Speaker 2 2:15

It's all the same thing. You know people are just chasing the brand, the logo that comes with it, but you could get the same thing for $5 or free. In your case, it's just the viral component that comes with the Stanley's. That's currently taking place, like this has happened before with other water bottles.

Speaker 1 2:33

I mean, first of all, the first water bottle situation was right after, like that's what I think. But if I think after that and as far back as at least I can remember, like now Jean was big, now Jean was a big, I think, proponent of what now became the virality of the, the Stanley, because you know you have this big thing of water, it's reusable, so you can get your like I'm taking care of the plana like thing going right.

Speaker 2 3:02

It also fits in the cup holder in your car, so that was like a big thing.

Speaker 1 3:08

That's true. And then they, then they made the big ones that used to like, and then that's why they got the strap.

Speaker 2 3:12

That's like kind of like the entire shape of it, so like the bottom is smaller so it could fit in the cup holder and then kind of bite it's out.

Speaker 1 3:19

What even is the size of a water bottle, like a Poland spring? What is that? 16 ounces, I think 16. So that's two, eight ounce glasses of water. The math is mathin. That is a water bottle for ants, first of all. I'm constantly refilling those in this building, like if I have one. That's the thing that I love about this the most, I'll be honest with you, because it saves the trip back and forth. But like I just feel that's not tested.

Speaker 1 3:43

Yeah, this one does but I do like it because the feature, what I haven't seen Stanley do is one of these like a little like you could like cover it right. What is those bills? And yeah, it's statically proof, but neither is it Stanley, right?

Speaker 2 3:59

so Producer question are you gonna throw away your cup if someone gifts you a standlint?

Speaker 1 4:06

You know what?

Speaker 2 4:07

I'll see, but I think this is what comes into question. Yeah, the colors. It becomes like a thing to match with your outfits. It's an accessory type of thing. Have you seen all the little things where you can have the snack, the little arms? So it's becoming like the new iPhone type of thing.

Speaker 1 4:25

It's looking like the dashboard of my car, like it's like it's getting there. It is worth thinking about, like if somebody gave one to me, what would happen to this cup. I mean, first of all, like this is you have to switch it out now. Maybe, one is in a dishwasher, yeah, but then. But then, how many days are we like? When is the? You know? When is the end there's?

Speaker 2 4:47

seven days out of the week, so you need seven.

Speaker 1 4:49

But the collections just grow. You know, it's like I don't know. I know the.

Speaker 2 4:52

Starbucks and Target collection was really crazy. There was a line outside of the store people were waiting through the night for these limited edition kind of standlis.

Speaker 1 5:02

Pause. Are you sleeping outside for a brand new cup? Because I don't mean. I wonder what people are telling their jobs if they have one. Like I'm not coming in tomorrow, why like?

Speaker 2 5:12

but it's also the demographic. If you see, it's a lot of young girls kind of carrying these 10 pound standlis with the charms in the snacks. You don't really see men carrying these standlis, and that's originally what it was made for.

Speaker 1 5:27

Yeah, that's a fact Kind of like.

Speaker 2 5:28

That was their original demographic, for, you know, middle-aged men.

Speaker 1 5:33

So you think there's an excessorial pull. Is that what I'm hearing, like kind of like bag shoes, standlis, because that's that's what I'm getting.

Speaker 2 5:40

Definitely. It's kind of like interesting how the viral virality of it has catered to the younger demographic and how that's really playing a role into kind of switching the brand and what it represents over time.

Speaker 1 5:53

I can't even really pinpoint when it became like the thing. Yeah, like for women, because it was mostly like huntsmen and outdoorsmen that had standlis. I mean, this brand is over 100 years old. I mean I I think of like some guy in a hard hat like up on some scaffolding and he's, you know, has this like little tin lunchbox and the standlis in there, like that's what I think.

Speaker 2 6:19

But I also remember you telling me briefly about how there were like these two influencers at the time that kind of helped bring Stanley into like I guess, into its name, you know, recently, and then kind of it being like, oh, they're about to go out of business, or something like that, and then this new model.

Speaker 1 6:38

That's right, okay, so you know what? It's good that I don't remember the influencers because they don't need to Hala at me. If you want a little, you know, shout out. But it's like, essentially there was kind of like this special, you know, so they were doing this before it kind of picked up into this, you know, got we all got swept up in the craze. I can't not call it a craze because I really feel like it's like that's like a collective delusion.

Speaker 2 7:07

The function is the same as any other water bottle, you know.

Sustainability and Consumerism

Speaker 1 7:09

I like contigo Conti, siempre contigo amor, which is my favorite, but, like, essentially, the girl or the woman Got her special edition Stanley, whatever and then, because of her, the influential nature of her, her personality and her channel, she was saying, you know, you don't want to miss out on these, like and essentially alluded to it being a limited release and it not be basically something that was here today and gone tomorrow. And so began the craze that we understand now to be actually pretty deeply ingrained in culture because, yes, for us it's a water puddle, but like I've heard people be like, it's so much more.

Speaker 1 7:56

Yeah, and and, honestly, this is the that is. That's really the thing. It is a status symbol, first of all, who has you have to have disposable income or you gotta save up for that, which is like even crazier, you know. But it's like, essentially, she kind of painted this picture that Essentially this product was here today and gone tomorrow, and then Everybody went out and bought one for today, tomorrow, the next day and the rest of the year. Like you know, it really just speaks to the level of like hyper consumerism that we're so used to, even in a post COVID world, which is so because, like, honestly, where are the times where we just staying inside and baking bread and like no, no, you know I'm saying I mean, for some people there was hyper consumerism, but a lot of that was because, for what? This?

Speaker 2 8:46

is well. We were hitting up Amazon because we couldn't leave our homes.

Speaker 1 8:49

But I feel like people were like there was a point to that, like you're getting your crafts, you're making your crafts, but right now, I mean, what is the use, beyond Every other thing in your house that can hold liquid?

Speaker 2 9:04

And I also wonder it does Stanley feel like it's in their mission to reduce this over consumption and have, say, like, buy what you need and then that's it like Patagonia has done that and that's why they're a respected brand? Yeah not for just the profits, but really. What do we represent?

Speaker 1 9:23

I'm gonna take a second to Google him. Vco of Patagonia, recently retired and he put all of his every spy heard this every every crumb of equity he left and put back into the company, so that you know he essentially put a hundred percent of everything he made there to help support that mission, to support that mission of like. We are Very steadfast in keeping this company as one that is essentially green, that is essentially eco-friendly, and I don't know if you know too, they also had a jacket that they put out that was like for life and when it was done you could like recycle it through them.

Speaker 1 10:04

We have a really good return policy had a Gonia founder, yvonne Schoonard, and his family Made a ten-figure fortune from his outdoor outfitter empire. They relinquish the ownership of the 49 year old company and trust transferred it to trust and nonprofit organizations, which you know helps their pledge of essentially being forever, how you say, like not a partner, but like a contributor, a facilitator of any efforts that need to be made to combat climate change, and so that's the part that, like, actually I really want to focus on. Do you think that there is a responsibility with Stanley? Like, I mean, they made their mission very clear. Anybody can go to their website and read their sustainability policy and their mission statement.

Speaker 2 10:56

So I think there's somewhat two sides to that point. So you have the shareholders that you try to please and you make decisions that are going to be somewhat profitable for the company, and then you also have the consumer base that you're trying to cater in a different way. More or less so I think from the consumer standpoint they don't really have this need, but there are people that are have a growing concern for the planet and only want to support businesses that stand by that mission. In general, if you have a sustainability pledge, I feel like the actions that the company does should support that. So I think just generally saying this is a viral product, but be mindful of how much you're consuming should also kind of be in there as well. That makes sense.

Speaker 1 11:49

I'm going to hit you with something. So from kind of marketing, communications, media people, how do you think like from one to another, how do you think using our kind of field Like, how do you think that would look like? Because I feel like at this point they need to just come and do like a whole PSA, like listen but are they really going to do that?

Consumer Confusion Over Sustainability Products

Speaker 2 12:12

You know, I just think. Also, sustainability sounds great and people love the idea of supporting brands that back that up, but when it comes down to it, they don't really support their dollars, don't support that. So when Stanley does take a stand if they do, about sustainability, products are going to be more expensive. Are people willing to pay that price for sustainability? I don't know, and they have the platforms to market, you know, whatever they choose, I need these consumers to take a stand, Anyways yeah, I don't know.

Speaker 1 12:55

And that's exactly what I mean by all of that. It's like I don't know how much, I don't even know where I stand, really, because I feel like people that consume these products they know, they know, they know what the thing is, they know it's a reusable cup.

Speaker 2 13:11

Yeah, I don't mean all that, but it's just, I guess, that human desire to like, keep up and it's also interesting that you mentioned that that we recently just did a little TikTok Instagram video asking students if they think their standings are worth the hype, and a lot of them that had them were like no, not really.

Speaker 1 13:31

Yeah.

Speaker 2 13:32

And one was gifted. The Stanley was like yeah, it's whatever, I have it, but what I spent my own money on. It is a little bit of a different story. So I think it was also the Christmas, you know birthday, holiday situation that just further intense the viral component of it that people were gifting them as you know, gift the president, you know type of thing.

Speaker 1 13:54

But I did find it fascinating that, even though it was a gift to her, that she was still indifferent. You know what I mean, because it was like of course she was grateful and I remember her kind of mentioning that like, oh, I'm not saying like I don't love it, but at the end of the day it's just another water bottle Like, and that echoed the sentiments of a lot of I mean, I think pretty much everyone, I mean I think people. What people love is that it's making hydration more convenient, because I feel like over the past 15 years it's been really popular and cool to be hydrated Like and now, if I don't have my water bottle on me, I'm like, I'm dehydrated, yeah, and I feel that water in it, I feel that it was definitely born of drink water in mind.

Speaker 1 14:34

Your business, remember that, remember that. Yeah, that's what that came from, I think. I sincerely find that this particular trend is such a unique mix of, like, hyper-consumerism, the status symbol element it's like. And then the demographics too, because, okay, women, right, but who are those women? They're young women in school. It's a lot of nurses which.

Speaker 2 14:59

I love Like actually I just can't imagine carrying that all day. I feel like that's a many word go.

Speaker 1 15:05

I don't know if I was a nurse I would do it either, and this is not a critique, but like it's actually part of why I gave my straw away.

Speaker 2 15:12

That wouldn't have the handle.

Speaker 1 15:14

What the oh?

Speaker 2 15:15

yes, it does.

Speaker 1 15:17

But the thing is, I need like you know what I was gonna say an idea for a design for a Stanley. Exactly. I'm gonna have to just-.

Speaker 2 15:26

Your time will come. There's a rotation my time will come.

Speaker 1 15:29

My time will come, because the next new water bottle is always coming. I mean, we even have a I mean at this point I'm about to just fill up a camel back when I come to school and just have the little you know, like at this point, because you know seriously. But the handle is actually something I do want to get into, because I think that this is actually one of the reasons that people love it the design.

Speaker 1 15:57

The now jean didn't have a handle. It had just that loop when it got like really popular, because then you could put it like on your backpack strap or whatever, but then you can't put it it's inconvenience to put it in your purse.

Speaker 2 16:09

You can't put it in the side of your book bag, so then it's like you're literally having to carry it in your hands and then you only have one free hand.

Speaker 1 16:17

But maybe that works because I've even said this out loud If I don't see my water, sometimes I forget to drink it. So it's like, if it's just right there, like hey girl, drink me, like, or you're holding it all day, then it's like yeah. And just while I end it up, Excuse me, I just need to take a little water break. But why do we take it back? Does it taste better? Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 2 16:47

How did I know? Because you can feel it, you know and but I wonder if it tastes better because it's free or it would taste better because it's $40. Oh, both and you're trying to get money for it.

Speaker 1 16:56

Both, both, both, I mean both.

Speaker 2 16:59

I mean, there's no way.

Speaker 1 17:00

I mean, first of all, if it's for free, it's for me and also I just feel like, for the same reasons, that most people, especially students, you know that could probably spend their money on other things.

Speaker 2 17:16

That's a cool lunches.

Speaker 1 17:19

Okay, or one big one, if you're stressed out. But, it's like that's fine. I just feel like I don't know. I'm not going to lie to you. This kind of did something for me.

Speaker 2 17:30

Like it did, like I wouldn't have bought it how many weeks has it been that your life has been?

Speaker 1 17:33

It's been a few weeks. You know we're doing good and it's funny because I actually, you know, we recently had the career fair and this particular tax firm was there and I got to I walked by and the woman recognized me. She's like oh no, no, no, I'm like I was just going to come over and like say hey, whatever, just so, you know, I've been enjoying my cup very much. Of course she laughed because I'm like, but really Like this is have you checked if this one's lead free?

Speaker 1 18:03

No lead core. I'll tell you that much. Well, the bottom is flat, so-.

Speaker 2 18:09

Is that the deciding factor?

Speaker 1 18:10

I think so because I think there might be like a reservoir here, because it's like a thing that can come out. We're gonna have to do it all.

Speaker 2 18:18

But is it exactly contaminating the water?

Speaker 1 18:22

No, even the whole lead craze with Stanley. The lead is not actually touching anything that you ingest. And that's honestly another funny part that speaks to the virality of it. Because I feel like, can anyone think for themselves Like, literally the lead part is not touching it, but now people are throwing their Stanley's away. So now you're throwing away your 45 Stanley's.

Speaker 2 18:44

A moment of silence because you know, and they're just getting sued. A Stanley is getting sued. Yeah, because of the lead.

Speaker 1 18:54

Okay, let's get into that.

Speaker 2 18:55

Breaking news.

Speaker 1 18:56

Breaking news.

Speaker 2 18:57

But I don't know anything for the rest of the day.

Speaker 1 19:02

I swear this. Phil told me on the way over here oh my gosh, no, we need. Ah, yeah, no, but see, here's the thing. What is the basis of the case? The lead, but what? Because it's just there.

Speaker 2 19:17

Probably Money's money.

Speaker 1 19:23

All right. So all right, like, just tell me this like for real, because I know that you evaluate trends often, and I mean, first of all, it's a pleasure working with you putting together all these campaigns.

Speaker 1 19:36

So, as the people we are, you know we're master students. I mean, I have concentrations and I have one of my concentrations in digital marketing. You know your background and everything you've done extensively in marketing and being in the marketing department evaluating these trends, making this work with you know, together with the department and for the whole school, I'm curious what do you think the next trend is gonna be Like in terms of water? I mean, because the fact that water, because let's talk about the real star, the real star is water, right, like we're centering the whole story, even though some people don't be having water in their standings, but we're not gonna talk about that that's another story. What? It's? Five o'clock somewhere. Just, do you have any insights on that? Like where we might be going with it?

Speaker 2 20:26

Like I think eventually people are just going to be walking around with IV Just literally Attached to their veins. That's it.

Speaker 1 20:33

Literally I've transcended water. I'm just gonna be like basically like osmosis, like I'm just gonna like get it from the source. Yeah just you know like, just walking around with, like the.

Speaker 2 20:45

It's kind of like the same thing. The IV tree Can't tell the difference, I can't.

Speaker 1 20:49

I cannot, I cannot. Well, I was gonna talk about the economic state of the nation, but you wanted to talk about fake Stanley's stuff.

Speaker 2 20:57

I think this is a little bit more interesting.

Speaker 1 20:59

I don't know. We're doing it for the people.

Speaker 2 21:00

yes, yes, yes, you can follow the human side of business and check out any other content that we mentioned today At Moncler underscore Feliciano.