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I cant remember that thats a long time ago and at my age of 80 my memory is not so good on certain thingss
My first meeting with Eric was with Tib
Does that mean good bye 5s
I have been here since 2012 and have meet with Eric in person over 10 times I have been on a other stock board befor coming here
A stupid post on twitter by a real as* ho*e
ryan
@ryan72764041
·
2m
#wnbd back to .00001 only scammer
@AlexDelarge6553
can save this thing
@WinningCEO
come on lets pump this thing
Most likely bought a lot of cheapies before bringing his crew in
Canada's border is closed!
Why sell at all
for cupe branding
long time ago gave imfo to Eric on the union company I worked for after i had retired they got their foot in the door after that I dont know what happened It has a large union too ATU
That union is cupe of which most of the city of Toronto employees belongs to
extension 8
New large blog
DEC
01
DEEP DIVE ANALYSIS for Shareholders of 1000+ Stain Remover Website! Part 1 of 5: The Home Page
By Eric Lehner in 1000+ in the Community, Advertising, Launch Activity, Shareholder Correspondence
This weblog post is extremely detailed. It is Part 1 of a 5 Part series.
The series provides a deep understanding of the company’s thinking about the brand positioning of 1000+ Stain Remover. The series is for those amongst our shareholders who are fundamentalists. You appreciate knowing not only what we are doing with our brand, but why. This series deals with the product website of our lead product.
The format of this deep dive series will be to focus on the product website in its sections, according to the website Navigation Bar. This first installment is about the Home Page. I provide a screen shot of every aspect of the 1000+ website and explain why it’s there, and how it relates to our success. By the time we are finished the series, you will clearly understand the mission.
1000+ Stain Remover can make a clean-up contribution to every household in North America. Rich or poor, rural or urban, young family or retired persons, speaking any language, practicing any religion, having any political belief, etc. Give me a household, and I will find uses for 1000+ Stain Remover. No exceptions. You can’t say that about many products.
Our 1000+ brand mission is to achieve “household name” brand recognition and distribution in North America, with product sales volume to match.
We are already off to a good start because most people who use 1000+ give us positive feedback. You can’t please everyone, but you can go a long way toward our goal with 1000+ Stain Remover. There are over a hundred million households in North America. A few percentage points penetration translates to many millions in annual sales, sustainably, because 1000+ is consumable. If success is managed prudently, our shareholders will benefit.
Website Address: www.1000PlusStainRemover.com and www.1000Plus.ca Same site.
ANALYSIS – HOME PAGE HEADER SECTION
This header picture came from a real incident. It took place in a logistics warehouse. The dispatcher was grumpy that day and was complaining about things in general. That included a negative comment about his facilities. I was there and pointed out that all normal people are affected by the environment that they are in. It’s a morale booster to have a pleasant setting to work in, so I pointed out that we all have a hand in creating that setting.
I had an extra bottle of 1000+ with me and showed how easily his “tired” warehouse office could be refreshed. The linoleum floor had not been cleaned in a long time. Grime accumulated from forklift tire skid marks creating oily rubber dust, office chairs grinding old bits of lunch food on the floor, spilled coffee, machine dust grime, dirt from shoes, etc. You name it, it was there.
The resulting photo is the actual before/after picture of the first tile that was cleaned with 1000+ Stain Remover in that setting. Keeping it real.
SKUNKS – NOT A BIG DEAL UNLESS YOU ARE A DOG. IT HAPPENS MORE THAN YOU THINK.
Winning Brands gets feedback from customers, and stores too.
One place to meet store representatives is at industry tradeshows. It is interesting how many hardware stores share stories with us about 1000+ rescuing a dog from “shunning” by the family.
Advice started spreading on the grapevine that you can add 1000+ to water in the bathtub to clean the dog, or use 1000+ as a shampoo for the dog. Its so easy. This is only the starting point of the “versatility story” about 1000+ Stain Remover.
What sets 1000+ apart is not its “strength” per se – there are definitely stronger removers. Instead, it is the balance that 1000+ strikes between efficacy and safety for easy experimentation without worrying about harming things. It’s versatile – a real multi-tasker. That’s why we characterize 1000+ as the “reach for it first solution” when messes happen. This balance between safety and effectiveness is what leads to the use of 1000+ in all corners of the household, and beyond (i.e. work and by tradespeople).
In the meantime, we make a point of keeping our de-skunking message to stretch the envelope of convention. That’s why we have a fun little video there too, to add a bit of life.
THE THEME OF WINNING SECTION
What’s in a name? A lot. We all know that major companies spend money on experts to find good names. Small companies do this at the kitchen table. Everybody knows that it matters.
The theme of winning begins with our own company name, Winning Brands. It’s a terrific name. It’s easy to say, spell, remember and understand. It’s even a two-word story of sorts. Any normal person grasps that the company has “brands” of some sort, and that these brands have positive qualities – they are “winning brands”. It is easy to imagine that with success in our consumer markets over time, the name Winning Brands will seem just right to describe an astute and valuable company. I think it sounds big without being pretentious. Probably better than “Amalgamated Global Surface Transformation Industries”. That’s just my opinion of course.
It is our intention to eventually display our WNBD stock trading symbol on all our consumer product packaging. Many people invest in products that they like. Displaying our trading symbol is a natural way to foster growth of investomers – “Investor/Customers”. We are not doing this yet because our stock and trading status at OTC Markets is not stable enough. However, in due course, we will be taking that step. As you can see, the “Pick a Winner” concept is a message with many meanings. They will all emerge in the fullness of time.
In the meanwhile, even in its basic purpose, as presented on this website home page in connection to our product, “Pick a Winner” clearly means that the consumer makes a choice with every purchase. We encourage them to pick 1000+ Stain Remover, which is a winner of a product as well!
MONTAGE SECTION
.
It has been said that our modern attention span is declining. I think that we all sense that this is true. The implication for consumer messaging is that pictures are better than words, where possible. Where words are necessary, the fewer the better. (This weblog is not consumer-facing material. That’s my excuse).
We have been introducing more small montage arrangements with phrases that are just one or two sentences short as descriptors for people who just won’t take the time that we wish that they would. At first glance, the soiled dress, grimy floor, greasy hands and household pets don’t seem to have anything in common. However, the multi-cleaning flexibility of 1000+ Stain Remover across this range of applications, and so many more, is our point. That’s what the captions start to deal with.
We have an endless supply of montage components. Our accumulated library of digital assets depicting 1000+ Stain Remover uses is enormous. It has been gathered over several years of contact with consumers and retailers.
Fortunately, a product as versatile as 1000+ Stain Remover is relevant to so many situations in life that we could generate “Situational Moments” around the 1000+ product for the rest of our lives. Life is messy. Millions of stain events happen every day. Our marketplace is never obsolete, or at least until every single surface is coated with nano-particle stain repellant. That will take a very long time, and will not affect existing surfaces. However, I mention nano-particle stain repellant without fear. It is not our competitor; that may be one of our future products!
STATEMENTS OF PRINCIPLE
Our brand’s profitable destiny and wide reach requires a foundation of principles. These are concepts, or truths, that stand alone, as relevant facts. In keeping with the need to be brief in consumer facing communication, we’ve tried hard to boil down our product principles to bite-sized items, for consumption according to appetite. In the first collection of these principles on the Home Page, we state certain truths, and let them make their point plainly.
Versatility at its best – 90%
The first one is that most daily spills do not require fancy specialized cleaning solutions to deal with. There is a consumer phenomenon today called “the stress of choice”. The original version of many popular cleaning products have since been cloned by their creators into slight variations that project those brands into more physical shelf space. That’s good for the consumer goods company at first glance, and good for the retailer by being able to charge more for that shelf space. However, it has an unintended consequence. Firstly, it cannibalizes sales from that brand’s original SKU (Stock Keeping Unit). At the start there was the original, then there is an orange fragrance, then there is an Oxi version, followed by the anti-bacterial, and so on. The consumer will not purchase all versions. The second unintended effect is subliminal resentment by the consumer that the brand is forcing so much decision making on her/him. Remember, this issue is compounded across many products. This is why the cleaning section is so crowded now.
Conventional wisdom would say, “Well Eric, if it is so crowded, why do we want to go there?” A crowded section is also a busy section, supported by substantial category demand by consumers in aggregate. It can be more cost efficient to hitch-hike into a strong demand category rather than asking customers to become interested in something completely new. Also, our premise is one of simplification. We are the stress relief product in this category. Not only because we can do a good job, but because we reduce the clutter. More about that later.
Be bold – Discover More
Discovery, as a principle, is very interesting in our case. 1000+ invites consumers to explore, discover satisfactory uses, and share. That is not typical for technical products that have a defined use.
A notable exception where this is done exquisitely well is with the brand WD-40, the water displacement product that is typically used as a lubricant by householders. That brand has done a brilliant job of engaging its consumers in discovery. That brand also illustrates how financially significant a consumable household product can become with that kind of imagination. WD-40 is a respected brand, a major company and an example of perseverance. It took them 40 tries until they came up with their successful iteration. (That is why they are called WD-40). That company’s sales are now in the hundreds of millions annually. Of course the core business has been added to with acquisitions. However, WD-40 is still at the heart of things. – a household brand in the best sense of the concept. Luckily for us, most people would not like adding WD-40 to the laundry as a booster, or shampooing their dog to de-skunk it, or clean-up carpet messes, and more. WD-40 is not a competitor, it is a mentor. It is an example of excellent brand management of what used to be a single-SKU which for many years was a “stand alone” item, not a range of products.
Love that Clean
The world needs more joy. Clean delivers joy. This is no small point.
What normal person doesn’t love the feeling of walking into a hotel room that is ready and waiting, prepared to today’s best standards of cleanliness. That’s a real treat. Of course we have to admit that most of us don’t maintain that standard in our own homes! Does that make us hypocrites? Not really – it’s a matter of time, mostly. There is never enough of it.
But it’s still true that most of us feel accomplishment when we convert something from a soiled or disorganized state to fresh, well organized and well cared-for. To a segment of the population, any form of cleaning is drudgery. For most people, cleaning in small doses is a morale booster. Our statement of principle is that cleaning is inherently good, human and nurturing of a better existence. We only say “1000 kinds of clean” – In reality, there’s no limit!
HEALTH OF PLANET SECTION
This section is only the beginning of our ramped-up focus on an expanded use of 1000+ Stain Remover. It may be a game changer for us.
Some Background
Winning Brands previously had a tentative joint venture with the inventor of a cleaning tablet system called DAZZ. He’s a terrific person. We both wanted to approach the growing global concern about single use plastics. The news has been full of this over the past couple of years until COVID-19 and politics crowded it out for a while. Still, people everywhere are becoming aware that millions of tons of discarded plastic is accumulating in landfill sites, road side, beaches, forests, the ocean itself and more. In fact, micro-plastic is everywhere, including in most fish species now.
The DAZZ approach of tablets has its advantages, however, from a business point of view, there are negatives to that approach. The bottom line is that during the tentative joint venture it became clear that two spirited cooks should not both try to cook the same lasagna. There were too many (friendly) divergent strategic decisions and options. Also, Winning Brands did not have the available financing to take a leadership role in the performance of its part of such a commercialization. That was part of what Winning Brands was to contribute. We did not yet have the resources. Accordingly, DAZZ is doing its thing on its own now, and Winning Brands is now approaching the plastic waste reduction premise in a manner that dove-tails to Winning Brands’ existing plans more logically.
1000+ Stain Remover is a concentrate. Each bottle makes at least 20 more of a general purpose spray cleaner in a re-usable spray bottle by adding 1000+ to water. Therefore, we achieve 95% of the waste reduction efficiency of the tablet system. And, we have compelling advantages. The first is that the technical process of using the tablet is actually a bit complicated for the consumer. The size of the bottle and quantity of water is important. Also, the spray bottle can leak through the nozzle if not mixed properly, because of back pressure.
By comparison, in the case of 1000+ Stain Remover added to water in a spray bottle, the result is instantaneous. There is no transformation to take place over several minutes. Our mixture is ready for use immediately. It also does not matter what proportion of 1000+ and water is used – it’s all according to preference. This makes it easier and more versatile. Furthermore, as a business proposition, the fact that 1000+ Stain Remover is anchored as a concentrated stain remover in the store gives it a “high value starting point” on the store shelf, and at home. Rescuing an article from staining preserves the article’s value. Sometimes, these rescued objects are expensive, such as carpeting, cherished clothing articles, etc.
Present Status
Effective immediately, Winning Brands is modifying all its marketing materials to refer to the multi-bottle spray cleaner value proposition being equally important to the original stain remover premise of 1000+. The consumer reach is greatly expanded as a result.
Firstly, this gives us a new discussion starter with young consumers. They do care about environmental propositions more than stain removal.
Secondly, every single news article in any media that refers to plastic waste abatement is supportive of our premise.
Thirdly, in this application we deliver incredible value to consumers. Using a theoretical retail price per bottle of $12.49 for a quart (1L in Canada), the cost per “re-load” of the re-usable spray bottle is only $0.62 cents. That is less than the dollar store. That is real value. Remember, there is much more general purpose wipe-up cleaning going on in the household than recurring stain removal. Therefore, with this application we accelerate the consumption of 1000+ Stain Remover by entering the daily use category, rather than the occasional use category.
Fourth, it increases our relevance to apartment and condominium dwellers who account for a growing proportion of households in North America. Single family homes have greater stain incidence and condo/apartments are more sensitive to compact, light solutions of all kinds (not just in cleaning).
Fifth, general purpose cleaning is COVID-era relevant. We do not position 1000+ as a disinfectant as a primary quality for strategic reasons (although we have test marketed as such on a limited basis) By definition, disinfectants are actually designed to “kill” (microbes). This is a highly regulated proposition that is limiting from a marketing strategy perspective. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), who both have regulatory responsibility over disinfectants and hand sanitizers, GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO EXPLAIN TO CONSUMERS that disinfection and hand sanitization are not intended to replace primary clean-ups. From the point of view of those agencies, general purpose cleaning is not the “weak” version of disinfection and hygiene. They see it as the FIRST STAGE AND FOUNDATION of hygiene. That is an important difference that is good for us. More on that in future weblog posts.
Winning Brands’ business decision to enter the spray cleaner market with its existing 1000+ concentrated stain remover, by means of becoming a re-fill method for re-usable spray bottles, is an exciting expansion of our market, with absolutely no loss of traction in the stain remover category. This single decision has major impact on our trajectory. The spray cleaner category is much larger in dollar volume. This adds to our potential growth potential by several orders of magnitude. We are gaining opportunity, without losing anything.
THE ‘AMAZING STATEMENT’ SECTION
Yellow Text
It is risky to use the word “amazing” today. People are not easily amazed. We are living in the era of CGI and tech marvels. Our cell phone has more computing power than Apollo spacecraft that went to the moon. We are all a bit jaded. However, that phrase was given to us by customers in their testimonials from time to time with such regularity that we gave ourselves permission to be a little bit bold in this case. It still makes me nervous because I don’t want to set the expectation of consumers too high and then fail. I’d rather level with them about the terrific job that we do, but focus on the realism of the proposition. That’s why the statement has the qualifier “So many uses” – THAT is indisputable. 1000+ is so versatile that it just keeps on delivering new little moments of joy in the most surprising places.
White Text
1000+ is a community product in so far that our customers tend to be a friendlier crowd for some reason. It’s a pleasure speaking with them, and learning about their experiences – which they too are keen to share. Over the years, immense goodwill has accumulated from customers who wish us well as a brand. How cool is that? A person taking time out of their day to call up and simply say – “I just wanted you to know that I like your product. Thank you for making it. I thought that you would like to know”. That has actually happened. More than once.
These customers are diverse as well; householders and professionals as well as DIYers. We have a testimonial at our Vimeo video bank of a commercial painter by the name of Anders. He was kind enough to let me come to his facility near Niagara Falls to video him just talking about 1000+ Stain Remover in a “stream of consciousness” approach. It’s up there at Vimeo now. I know it is much too long. I really mean MUCH MUCH MUCH too long. It will be edited down. But that is a real tradesperson, not an actor. That’s the point. He could buy anything he wants. He honours us with his patronage.
That is why the white text refers to different lifestyles. You know, there is a delicate point on the subject of lifestyles – we have even received testimonials from a motel that caters to a certain clientele. They have greater issues with cleaning linen than is typical. I won’t go further – but 1000+ does.
TESTIMONIAL SECTION
These summaries speak for themselves, however, as some extra background of interest, Maggie was in Denmark. There was a single bottle of 1000+ Stain Remover there at the time. The daughter of the man who had this bottle read about Maggie in the Danish newspaper and expressed dismay to her father. He then made arrangements to drive quite a distance across Denmark to meet the owner of the dog, who met him half-way. (Denmark is small, the size of this man’s heart is enormous.) He gave her the bottle. Eventually, we received a kind note in which this human spirit was revealed, as well as before/after pictures to share the situation in full.
You get a real glimpse into human nature dealing with such a cross section of society, and a lot of that experience is positive. I like to think that this is at least in part because we are trying to be of assistance, even in our small way, toward positive living.
The wheel clean-up shown in the testimonial block is a symbol of another category opening that could be big for us – the Automotive Sector. There are terrific auto parts store chains with multiple thousand locations. Every DIY car buff, every mechanic and garage, every car detailer, every dealership service department would have uses for 1000+ Stain Remover. We have not even scratched the surface of that enormous sector. It’s easier to talk about than to accomplish. As a business goal however, it had enormous upside for us. So much to do!!
FACEBOOK
We have a nice little Facebook page too. I say “little” because it does not yet have many followers, but it will certainly figure prominently in our ramped-up business development as Winning Brands merges its physical marketing (eg brochures) and digital marketing.
Facebook is one of the most important advertising platforms in the world but it is easy (and common) to waste your money by being amateurish in your system design for the campaign. You need to know whom you are targeting and what format of message is going to get through the information overload facing the Facebook user. Winning Brands has identified terrific consultants who are proven experts in the field. Their cost is too high for us at the moment. However, when we are ready to rock and roll, we are not going to waste money through ineptitude. People who know what they are doing will launch us well in this space.
I have mixed feelings about shareholders being posters on our consumer Facebook page. On the one hand I love it. It’s a easy additional way for shareholders to follow developments. On the other hand, it becomes negative to consumers when posts appear from shareholders that are about money or the stock, such as asking about share structure or OTC Markets, etc.
In my opinion, the ideal balance would be for our shareholders to click to follow our Facebook page on their own Facebook feed but only actually post if they are also a 1000+ consumer, and have a before/after picture to share, or a tip for successful use. It’s a free country – I leave this to the good judgment of the shareholders.
SENIORS
Human society is amazing. There is just so much creativity and individuality to share when it is appropriate, but also an inclination to community, when the conditions permit.
These qualities converge in a special way with our senior customers. Most of their daily pressures have been replaced by a more resolved life. Seniors often have more time to do things and also to pay attention to detail. They even read the instruction label!
So, not surprisingly, seniors are also a source of detailed information for us about consumer experiences. I can even tell by the tempo of the telephone call with many seniors that they are often very “present” in the moment. They are fully into the call, rather than rushing between missed appointments and errands. As a result, seniors often deliver the most valuable information because it is gathered carefully and patiently.
This couple above were fun. They were kidding around in a tradeshow about the cheeky caption on our promotional shopping bag beside the picture of the bottle. The caption reads “USE ME!”
SECOND MONTAGE
These further encapsulations speak for themselves also, with the exception of the backstory to the small bottle.
That is our 4oz SKU (125 mL in Canada). This is another sleeping giant, despite its small size. We refer to it affectionately in the office as the “Handy Size”, or “Little Guy” as shorthand in fast-paced discussions.
The larger point is that the Handy Size is a perfect impulse item for convenience stores across the continent. We had some experiments going on a few years ago to enter that sector. There are more than 100,000 convenience stores in this category.
We did not have the resources at the time to “buy distribution”, because we’d have to hire jobbers that service many of the independent stores in this sector. However, there are chains too, such as 7-11 to name only one.
We have developed a terrific display pack for groups of 12 little bottles in this SKU. It is our plan to eventually find a way into that sector. The best breakthrough would be that a shareholder’s cousin calls that shareholder tomorrow to say that they are looking for a fresh product in the chain, and ask the shareholder for a suggestion. Of course the call could go in the other direction too, i.e. the shareholder calling the cousin proactively. I realize that I could also make that call (and have). I am referring to having an “in”. So many turning points in business and in life generally depend upon whom one knows. That’s just a fact of life!
(Picture below shows the 12-pack display for the Handy Size. It’s not on the website yet, but is going to be put on soon).
HOME PAGE BOTTOM CLOSER
We refer to this bottle depiction internally as our “Hero Image”. We like the fact that the hand holds the bottle with confidence and readiness to tackle the next assignment.
The bold design presence of this bottle has helped us with recognizability, even at a distance. There is no mistaking this as another product. The name is big and upfront, and the bottle upon inspection communicates a lot of information fast. We consider it a bright, positive and energizing package.
The brand has developed its own authentic personality. That’s not easy to achieve. There are a lot of bright people in the world. All kinds of designers. The visual landscape today in the retail setting is far more sophisticated than in the past. The large brands have the benefit of the best talent.
We are very happy with the emergence of this brand identity and consider it our best version so far. For your interest, I am attaching below a photo of the shelf in our design office that holds the design archive; a variety of previous designs and prototypes for this particular brand in our portfolio.
I will see you again soon with Part 2 in this series: “About 1000+ Page”. Yes, there’s more. MUCH MORE!
Stops along the journey. Different approaches for different times for different reasons.
Our current design has been by far the most popular iteration.
looks like some one is getting cheap shares
He is on the wrong board his is WMBD not our WNBD
New BLOG
30
Print Mania. It’s a Thing.
By Eric Lehner in Uncategorized
Printing press or a money machine?
Could it be both?
At any rate, it’s working Sundays.
See it in operation: https://vimeo.com/485317018
30 Seconds of Fun in the Video Link Above.
NOV
28
Sales – Restart
By Eric Lehner in Shareholder Correspondence, Uncategorized
Shareholder Question
“Sorry to bother you again but I have one more question, could I get any insight to your companies current revenue for 2020 so far? The last reports uploaded were 2018?”
Answer
Sales have not increased in the period since our last official filing. Annual turnover has been nominal due to a lack of capitalization, as previously discussed in this weblog, but has stayed above $100,000 annually in real cash terms. This means that we are not a shell, and have never been a shell. Our upside heading into 2021 arises from a new marketing program with participating national retailers in an organized manner for our lead product, 1000+ Stain Remover, as well as new commercial partnerships with institutions consuming hand sanitizer; a new market for Winning Brands.
Current Winning Brands structure in personnel, premises and production can accommodate a sales increase to approximately $2 Million annually without any significant internal adjustments. This is what makes profitability in cash terms possible for the first time. Our operating costs are lower than ever, and our manufacturing and distribution structure can accommodate significant growth of volume on a variable cost basis (as opposed to requiring high fixed costs). We can use this “profitability formula” to retire obligations on an ethical basis and build a stronger balance sheet for shareholders.
Therefore, an assessment of Winning Brands’ appeal to investors boils down to this essential question – will this new cooperative marketing program with our retail chain customers increase sales? If so, then they can be scaled up fast.
We can achieve the first $2 Million annually if 2.5% of Canadian households purchase 1000+ Stain Remover and use it normally. In the USA, with a population that is 10 times larger, the opportunities are real, if approached effectively. Success of the Neighbourhood Mailer program in Canada stimulates success with Do it Best in the USA.
Similarly, success with Lowe’s in Canada may create renewed engagement with Lowe’s USA for 1000+ Stain Remover. Winning Brands conducted a successful test of 1000+ Stain Remover with 3 Lowe’s stores in Ohio, on the basis that the buyer at Lowe’s USA would then permit an expansion into a regional test with 100 stores. When this was ready to occur, a new buyer replaced this position, and this progress was halted. However, new success in Canadian Lowe’s stores could re-open that door with Lowe’s in the USA.
HomeDepot.com online sales growth of 1000+ Stain Remover in the USA needs stimulation through digital marketing to build awareness. Below is picture of the online order page for 1000+ at Home Depot USA. Improved turnover here can lead to new engagement with Home Depot in Canada.
There are many interconnecting elements – all of which can benefit from new momentum. The bet here is whether the new marketing program will contribute to this new momentum. A factor in our favour is the renewed “market positioning” of 1000+ Stain Remover. This will be described in the next post.
Make that two blogs
other blog for tonight
1000+ Stain Remover: Refreshed Sales Strategy
By Eric Lehner in 1000+ in the Community, Advertising, Launch Activity
Previously, 1000+ had been marketed primarily as a stain remover. While this is technically acceptable, it has undervalued the brand’s consumer proposition, and thus the brand’s growth potential in the past.
The unique properties of 1000+ Stain Remover make it equally useful as a stain remover AND a concentrate for general-purpose clean-ups when mixed with water. “General purpose” usually refers to kitchen and bathroom counters, removing fingerprints from appliances and a variety of surfaces, computer notebook screens, faucets, table tops and more. The “general purpose” spray application is significantly larger than the stain removal category in North America. This application is also called “all-purpose” and “multi-purpose”. These are usually deployed in spray format and dry wiped with paper towel or cloth..
Winning Brands is refreshing the brand positioning of 1000+ Stain Remover to be explicit about its multi-tasking capability, and in particular, this convenience and resulting value. The theme of adding 1000+ to water in a re-usable spray bottle is being combined with an environmental message reminding consumers about the enormous positive impact that this behaviour has on the environment. It slashes the flow of empty spray bottles to the landfill site – in our case by 95%. This translates to many millions of bottles less piling up in waste dumps. The sheer physical scale of this positive impact is impressive. It is easily understood by consumers and is of growing interest as governments who are adopting measures to restrict single use plastic packaging and products.
The further benefit to our consumers of this use of 1000+ is that it reduces the average cost per bottle of a 1000+ energized spray cleaner to much less than a dollar per bottle. This pricing is competitive with anything, anywhere.
Shown below is the most recent iteration of the brand’s Neighbourhood Mail literature to incorporate this messaging.
Front panel of 1000+ Stain Remover market re-launch with renewed emphasis on dual use; stain remover and general purpose cleaner in re-usable spray to dramatically reduce plastic bottle waste (pollution).
1000+ Stain Remover is for the first time ever integrating the reduction of plastic bottle waste (pollution) as a key premise of its market positioning. The characterization shown in the brochure extract above summarizes the ease of use and positive impact of this application. Studies have found that younger consumers appreciate such practical methods to be eco-responsible and that they seek out brands which deliver authentic environmental benefits. This strategy is a conscious effort by Winning Brands to lower the average age of its consumers and broaden appeal.
1000+ Stain Remover does not sacrifice stain fighting merely because it is also a concentrate for general purpose cleaning. Brochure interior shown above. The ability of 1000+ Stain Remover to energize a re-usable spray bottle of water into a remarkably affordable spray cleaner has been supported anecdotally (and enthusiastically) by 1000+ Stain Remover consumers over the years. Future positioning of 1000+ Stain Remover in marketing will give this added dimension greater emphasis.
The combination of QR code integration and the refreshed marketing positioning of 1000+ Stain Remover is a feature of Winning Brands’ strategy to enhance the consumer experience and value of 1000+ Stain Remover for their benefit, as well as to support its retail partnerships with innovation and eco-relevance.
new blog http://winningbrandscorporation.com/blog/
Shareholder Questions Answered
By Eric Lehner in Shareholder Correspondence
(Duplicates Omitted)
Question 1
Are you planning to get current and unlocking shareholder value?
Answer 1
Recent SEC rule changes will prevent all OTC quoted companies that do not provide current information that conforms at least to the OTC Alternative Reporting Guidelines from being traded until this standard is attained. This will have an impact on the OTC marketplace toward the middle to end of 2021. Winning Brands must and will achieve this reporting requirement ahead of that deadline.
By shareholder value, if you mean share price and its aggregate dollar value in investors’ hands, the key to unlocking it in our case is to become profitable in real cash terms. We are being conservative by not discussing long term possibilities beyond what has already been described previously in this weblog. We are ambitious but are keeping it real. Things are looking up for 2021. The fact that the company has cruised through enormous COVID era disruptions is, hopefully, encouraging to our shareholders, and sends a message.
Question 2
Any plans for R/S?
Answer 2
The are no plans for a reverse split presently. No arrangements have been made or even discussed with anyone about a reverse split at this point.. That is not saying “never”, however a reverse split is not lurking in the bushes as people (understandably) fear.
Question 3
Have you put any thought into a Form 4 would be a huge shareholder moral boost
Answer 3
For the benefit of other readers, the following is a common definition of “Form 4? (Credit: Wikipedia) ” Form 4 is a United States SEC filing that relates to insider trading. Every director, officer and owner of more than 10% of a class of equity securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 must file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission a statement of ownership regarding such security“.
Management of Winning Brands is not aware of any person who holds more than 10% of the common stock of the company. If they do, through online purchases in their investment accounts, this is not visible to Winning Brands presently because the vast majority of shares acquired through online trading are held in street form, and not separately disclosed on the “NOBO List” (Non-Objecting Beneficial Owners). Technically, such persons have an obligation to contact the company either directly or through a public filing, to disclose this fact. The only other class of stock at Winning Brands is a non-trading preferred share class A, without a CUSIP number. This class has already been disclosed in all previous OTC filings, as well as the fact that I control the preferred stock as an anti-takeover tool. The preferred shares provide voting continuity to prevent a hostile takeover by parties who fail to disclose their common share holdings exceeding 10%. This works because my preferred shares would match and exceed by a nominal amount their in-market accumulation. I have never sold stock in Winning Brands personally or beneficially, and have thus never benefited from any Winning Brands stock promotion. This is true for my friends and family as well.
Question 4
Are all your products sold in the same stores as 1000+? When do you plan to have 1000+ industrial ready for distribution?
Answer 4
1000+ Stain Remover is the lead consumer product. The others are specialty in nature or geared to service industries. We do have industrial clients already for 1000+ Stain Remover. We have not yet launched a formulaic variation of 1000+ (i.e. “industrial”) although it has been considered. So far it has not been necessary and would split available resources. We are also reluctant to do anything that would cause 1000+ for consumers to be perceived as second rate (i.e. compared to a separate industrial version of the same brand).
Question 5
Is your company SEC filing?
Answer 5
Winning Brands filed a Form 15 (12g) many years ago to replace SEC reporting with OTC Markets reporting under the Alternative Reporting Guidelines.
Question 6
Does your company carry convertible debentures or any other toxic funding that could affect shareholder value?
Answer 6
Most of the convertible promissory notes issued by Winning Brands over the years are past their enforcement period under the Statute of Limitations. In those cases, we transfer them to a contingency category in Accounts Payable with the intention of re-visiting them in the future for an alternative form of settlement that is “shareholder friendly” (as opposed to toxic). The accepted wisdom is that a promissory note is not toxic merely by virtue of existence, but rather becomes toxic if its conversion feature has no minimum price limit, or is expressed as a percentage of the trading price without a floor. The only promissory note remaining that could be considered “threatening” in that sense has been mostly repaid already, down to approximately $28,000. The holder of that note in New York has already accepted Winning Brands’ request to make a cash repayment arrangement instead of conversion. We have not heard back from that party with any request to the contrary since the agreement in principle was reached earlier this year.
Question 7
I read on your blog about expanding your distribution line, how is that coming along?
Answer 7
Winning Brands has 3 tiers of customers – distributors, dealers and end-users. Distributors purchase by the skid, dealers purchase by the case and end-users purchase single units. Most of our transaction volume occurs at the distributor level. The margin is lower, but the quantity is higher per transaction. This makes the paperwork and transportation more efficient. Our goal presently is to help our existing accounts move more product through their distribution channels, rather than adding new distributors to compete with them. This is to prevent an accumulation of unsold inventory in distributor warehouses after a temporary sales spike. If sufficient consumer demand is not cultivated to pull the inventory through the distribution pipeline and out the other end, then clear-out liquidations will happen, causing a sales slump and a loss of reputation with the distributors. Winning Brands’ current focus is on increasing consumer demand. This will stimulate more movement of inventory through the existing distribution channels and will restore confidence in our lead product 1000+ Stain Remover as a good performer commercially.
In an upcoming post to this weblog soon, I will describe a new sales strategy for 1000+ Stain Remover directed to consumers to reach a wider audience than before. Recent updates have described a proposed communication mechanism – Neighbourhood Mail Program brochure distribution to homes around participating retailers. The next update, however, will describe the revised positioning of 1000+ Stain Remover, i.e. its “premise”, and why a consumer would be interested in this product over others.
updated verion
NOV
26
Re-launch Begins – “Hello Canada” Phase Now Includes QR Code and Video
By Eric Lehner in 1000+ in the Community, Advertising, Launch Activity, Shareholder Correspondence
Canada’s population and quantity of households is similar to California. Canada is substantial enough to be the launchpad of success for a brand committed to eventual growth beyond this initial market.
The re-launch of 1000+ Stain Remover in Canada is being done with the logic of needing to be most effective in the brand’s own “local market” for operational cashflow. A business mistake made by Winning Brands previously was to spread itself too thin in various international markets simultaneously, without adequate resources, leaving the company’s products without optimal impact in any one place.
The reason for this strategic error was the fact that in our early days there was too much focus by the company on the optics and possibilities of substantial business potential in the USA, where most of our shareholders live, and elsewhere. This was instead of concentrating on our own “backyard” and becoming a serious player regionally first, where we have operational advantages, as we are based near Toronto. Ultimately, our U.S. shareholders are better served by a business plan that generates real cash through operations than plans that are too far removed from realization. Positive cashflow will make all other things possible, even if that cash comes from Canada. When our access to SEC Regulation D, Rule 504 capitalization dried-up, and it took too much time to secure in-store shelf presence at Home Depot and Lowe’s USA, this change of strategy should have been made immediately.
The re-launch being undertaken now applies this lesson by treating the Canadian market as the one with a “home team advantage”. For example,1000+ Stain Remover has achieved a coast-to-coast footprint of retailers in Canada, but not yet in the USA. Most Canadians are within a 30-minute drive of a store that carries the product. Therefore, our current job is to make these consumers more aware of our lead product, 1000+ Stain Remover, now that Canadians have reasonable retail access. The Canadian market is large enough by itself for Winning Brands to be profitable in real cash terms. The current marketing focus on Canada is a tactical adjustment to become financially stronger on an operational basis. It is not a withdrawal from any current USA opportunities.
Future emphasis in America will include our good relationship with Home Depot for online sales, and Do it Best hardware stores, for example. Do it Best is a hardware cooperative with over 3,000 physical locations. They have listed 1000+ Stain Remover in all their regional distribution centers. This means that 1000+ Stain Remover can be carried in the physical store of any participating Do it Best retail outlet in America that makes the choice to put 1000+ on the shelf in that store.
The huge advantage to Winning Brands of the Do it Best listing is that the Do it Best regional distribution centers in the USA are set up (through regular deliveries of other merchandise on a regular basis) to let participating stores add as little as a single bottle of 1000+ to that store’s regularly occurring shipments. This eliminates the shipping cost issue for participating stores, no matter how small they are. Goods are arriving anyway from the Do it Best regional distribution centers that service them. Therefore, Winning Brands’ goal in this arrangement is to increase the number of individual Do it Best stores who bring 1000+ into their locations to put on their shelves for the first time. Since the Do it Best organization is a partner to Canada’s Home Hardware store organization, under their “Alliance International” joint venture, we have a two-step program in mind. By increasing our success now with 1000+ Stain Remover in Alliance International’s Canadian Home Hardware stores, a stronger case will exist for the U.S. counterpart Do it Best store owners to bring in 1000+ Stain Remover as well. The two organizations have 4,000 stores between them. They talk to each other. Success in anything does not stay a secret.
The new Neighbourhood Mail program of 1000+ Stain Remover is being launched in Canada first because Canada Post has excellent online planning and implementation tools for a business customer to plan and process neighbourhood distribution of promotional material, with exquisite precision, right down to the individual street, around participating retailers.
Our Canadian brochures for Neighbourhood Mail distribution have now been upgraded to include QR Codes effective immediately. By means of these QR codes, our householder brochures now provide a handy shortcut for brochure recipients to get a quick overview of key 1000+ features and benefits via the convenience of their smartphone, avoiding the need to go to a computer and key enter a website address. Home Hardware stores will be a major beneficiary of this tactic. (Participating Lowe’s stores in Canada, and independent retailers will also benefit).
Although QR codes themselves are not new as a technology, their acceptance by consumers is accelerating now due to growing awareness of their convenience. More people learning to simply point their regular smart phone at the QR code in “camera mode” to activate a website link and that no special app is required. The weblink automatically appears in the camera viewfinder enabling a single click on the camera screen.
Winning Brands will be making more use of QR code webpages, and creating new videos to support them. QR webpages that will be presented to our American consumers will not refer to Canadian manufacturing. Instead, U.S. QR codes will highlight 1000+ brand features that are relevant to American consumers, such as U.S. customer testimonials.
The QR link shown below can even scanned with your cell phone camera off this computer screen.
ALL ASPECTS OF DESIGN, SUCH AS DEVICE OPTIMIZATION, VIDEO ADJUSTMENTS, LOADING TIME IMPROVEMENTS & CONTENT ENHANCEMENTS ARE BEING WORKED ON CONTINUOUSLY.
This is the website that the first QR code links to, for this specific brochure, complete with dedicated video message relevant to this brochure: www.1000PlusNeighbours.ca
The brochure QR code shown above pertains to a Neighbourhood Mail program test in Canada.
new blog posted http://winningbrandscorporation.com/blog/
Re-launch Begins – Hello Canada Phase
By Eric Lehner in 1000+ in the Community, Advertising, Launch Activity, Shareholder Correspondence
Canada’s population is approximately that same size as California. It’s not large, but substantial enough to be the foundation of success for any brand committed to growth.
The re-launch of 1000+ Stain Remover in Canada is being done with the logic of needing to be most effective in the brand’s local market as a foundational cashflow.
The new Neighbourhood Mail program of 1000+ Stain Remover that is being launched in Canada now, and has been described in recent posts on this weblog, is being upgraded to include QR Code elements in literature, effective immediately. The householder brochures now provide a handy shortcut for brochure recipients to get a quick overview of key product points via the convenience of their smartphone, avoiding the need to go to a computer and key enter a website address.
We are designing compact webpages come up automatically via the specific QR codes on brochures and other marketing material. Although use of QR codes has been growing slowly, the growth is accelerating and more people are discovering that they can simply point the smart phone at the code in camera mode to active. A link appears in the viewfinder to relevant information with a single click on the camera screen. (A link to our first QR webpage is given below, this one being used only in Canada).
We will be making more use of QR code webpages and associated short videos to support the integration of our marketing between virtual and real settings. Of course, the QR webpages that will be presented to American consumers will not refer to Canada. Instead, U.S. QR codes will highlight 1000+ brand features that are relevant to American consumers instead. For example, the place of manufacture will be replaced with respected U.S. testimonial support, as one type of difference.
The following QR link below can be viewed on cell phone, tablet or desktop, or even scanned with your cell phone camera off this computer screen.
ALL ASPECTS OF DESIGN, SUCH AS DEVICE OPTIMIZATION, VIDEO ADJUSTMENTS, LOADING TIME IMPROVEMENTS & CONTENT ENHANCEMENTS ARE BEING WORKED ON CONTINUOUSLY.
www.1000PlusNeighbours.ca
A other new Blog post
NOV
23
Shareholder Perspective
By Eric Lehner in Shareholder Correspondence
I have been receiving more shareholder correspondence recently. Some enquiries are practical questions, others are more open-ended about the company’s prospects.
In the penny stock world, there is a wide range of attitudes toward any particular stock on a given day. A realistic assessment of Winning Brands in the penny stock environment, can draw upon the following seven considerations.
7 Points of Reference
Firstly, Winning Brands has an operating business. Many penny stocks have literally no business at all. Many are merely shells with plans, but nothing going on.
Secondly, Winning Brands’ business involves physical products that can be verified because some shareholders are customers and the products are sold by recognized retailers or used by institutions, such as hospitals or social service agencies.
Thirdly, Winning Brands has survived much longer than even those few penny stock companies who do have an operating business, survive. There must be some sort of dedication within Winning Brands for it to be able persist, rather than it being a pump and dump, here today and gone tomorrow.
Fourth, although the stock price has swung wildly over the years, the fact is that is has gone up as well as down. Some traders have profited over the years, by their own admission.
Fifth, the company never pretended to have more sales or smaller losses, unlike some. At Winning Brands both figures were disclosed honestly through the years, and will be posted again. No hype. Over these years, overhead costs were systematically reduced, year after year, and losses diminished as well, to the point of nearing break-even. If the company can see a return of its momentum, Winning Brands could become profitable for the first time, in real terms. In the penny stock world, even that possibility is rare.
Sixth, Winning Brands has a larger footprint in the world than its small number of employees would indicate. That is because Winning Brands’ contract manufacturing and distribution partners, including retailers, perform functions on a variable cost basis, as required, using their own costly infrastructure as called for. These shared efforts project Winning Brands’ interests into the world broadly, for mutual gain with our partners.
7th, for so long as the company has a legitimate product, a working website and a telephone number, “anything can happen”. All kinds of come-back stories can and do occur in business. It’s not over until it’s over. That means that Winning Brands continues to have an upside. Winning Brands is alive and could be surprising, positively, at any time, despite the odds. Winning Brands has spirit, and that source of energy keeps it moving forward.
Summary
Skepticism about Winning Brands’ potential for success is absolutely justified. So is optimism. There is a case to be made for both points of view. This is why the penny stock market exists – to let courageous risk takers place their bets and hope for the best. People who win, can win big. As rarely as that happens, it is real.
In the meantime, Winning Brands continues to focus on keeping it real by working hard and staying creative so that success emerges by anyone’s standard. As long as our customers are enjoying our products, we have the basis to thrive. This respect is the basis of all of our policies, and continues to be a strong foundation to build on.
NEW Blog
NOV
23
The Face of Initiative
By Eric Lehner in 1000+ in the Community, Advertising, Friends and Family, Launch Activity, Media, Shareholder Correspondence, Store Scenes
We were working on our Neighbourhood Mail marketing roll-out today, and discovered a nice Facebook post at the initiative of a young hardware store employee. Shown Below. This type of goodwill cannot be purchased – only earned. It means a lot to us as an aspiring brand that real people are the bottom line to our potential, and real people continue to affirm what we do. That’s not advertising hype – it’s the effect of personal product experiences.
Now that we have started our Neighbourhood Mail campaign to enhance community awareness of 1000+ Stain Remover, we can swing into action quickly for such opportunities. We’ve immediately reached out to this retailer to tell them about our Neighbourhood Introduction Plan.
Under this plan, whenever we get evidence that a store carries 1000+ Stain Remover on the shelf, we distribute a descriptive brochure to approximately 1,000 homes nearest to that retailer by postal service householder mail. If this generates more interest and sales of 1000+ Stain Remover for that retailer, then we expand it for that location to include more homes to build momentum.
This systematic approach is flexible and fast. The Red Lake Hardware Building Centre has already been contacted. When they confirm that they have adequate inventory on hand, we complete the design and print the material immediately in-house. It then goes to the postal distribution center for delivery anywhere coast to coast, starting in Canada first during the test phase.
As an improvement that has already been made to the brochure since first described in this weblog, a brief video welcome to 1000+ Stain Remover has been developed for the program. The updated brochure has a QR Code on the back panel that can be scanned by any smartphone in the camera mode, generating a direct link to the 2 minute welcome message. This will be shown to you, at this weblog, in approximately 1 week.
Photo Caption: We are grateful for the unselfconscious product friendship that people from many walks of life share with 1000+ Stain Remover.
The unsolicited hardware store testimonial above demonstrates goodwill that can only be earned through authentic accomplishment. We found this Facebook post today while working on our new Neighbourhood Mail program, being tested in Canada first. In the program, a supportive product brochure design is quickly customized to the locality in which it is to be distributed, immediately printed by Winning Brands in-house, and distributed by the postal service to all homes in a designated radius around verified retailers of 1000+ Stain Remover.
Had a nice 20 minute talk with Eric this afternoon and every thing is coming on nicely
The orders for pick up are for Home Hardware in Cambridge and in Alberta
You forgot the Yawnnnnnnn
New Blog
NOV
15
A Systems Approach – Neighbourhood Mail
By Eric Lehner in 1000+ in the Community, Advertising, Launch Activity, Media, Shareholder Correspondence, Store Scenes
Winning Brands has modified its copy equipment to include brochure printing and folding capacity in readiness for a systematic marketing initiative, the “Neighbourhood Mail” program.
Combining the flexibility of in-house printed matter design and production, we can for the first time customize neighbourhood support for retailers who carry our products. The photographs below show the start of the program, with launch of our first internal dedicated Brochure Printing Station. Also shown are sample front, middle and back panels of the launch brochures.
PHASE I: Starting in Canada first, the systems approach will be to identify the postal service letter carrier walks that service a prescribed radius of houses surrounding each participating retailer. The front panel of the brochure will localize the item by mentioning the city name (or neighbourhood), and the back panel of the brochure will be specific to that participating retailer. The postal service will deliver a prescribed number of bundles to the appropriate neighbourhood carrier walks anywhere in the country. The system is based on online planning tools which keep a record of which walks received support and when. This provides a basis to measure effectiveness.
The additional advantage of the internal design and production of support material, is that it can be season specific and tailored to suit the circumstances of the participating retailer in that particular location.
As we learn of the locations of stores who carry our product, whether they are independently owned or members of retail chains, we can create the material on our own initiative without delay in order to support them in the neighbourhood where they do business.
PHASE 2: QR Code and social media integration will be enhanced to take the program to the next level of building a larger online user community, and coordinating retailer promotions with an online element.
The advantage to Winning Brands shareholders of this initiative is that is is modest in cost, but scalable if the premise is successful. The systematic nature of this approach is consistent with the effort by Winning Brands to regain momentum in order to retire all obligations and achieve new success.
Our dedicated internal brochure printing and folding station is being put into operation Nov 2020 The heavy duty unit is ideally suited for frequent small runs, accumulating a large aggregate. Example: 500-1000 brochures per neighbourhood, each one with customized elements, in several thousand neighbourhoods.
The initial design features a front cover greeting to the recipient by the name of city or neighbourhood in which they live, together with a seasonally suitable message. The example shown is the end of year season associated with holiday gatherings (where allowed by COVID restrictions), New Years, etc. At other times of the year, spring cleaning, launch of boats, RV and camper use, hot tub clean-ups and much more will be referred to.
This initial layout depicts a wide range of uses of 1000+ Stain Remover, however messages can be tailored to specific popular applications in greater detail, depending upon the nature of the participating retailer’s customer base.
In the Neighbourhood Mail initiative, the goal is to support retailers amongst their consumer households nearby. By focusing on a specific retailer for each neighbourhood household campaign, greater collaboration with the participating retailer is possible. This can include tying the brochure into a store promotion, seasonal sale, special event, etc. Retailers will be more interested in programs that assist their store in particular, rather than being only one of several competitors.
Prospects Improve for Winning Brands in the Sector Hit Hardest by COVID: Hospitality
By Eric Lehner in 1000+ in the Community, Shareholder Correspondence
We are pleased to resume supply to the hospitality (hotel) sector. Hotels and restaurants have been hit hard by new regulatory restrictions on operations. Many operators in this sector have not survived. The customer base in this sector has shrunk for all suppliers. Winning Brands is resuming supply to the survivors. The shipment shown below, leaving tomorrow, marks the return of 1000+ Stain Remover deliveries to USA hotel supplies distributor InnStyle/County Linen. Website Link: https://www.innstyle.com/collections/room-accessories-cleaning-products-1000-stain-remover
Extra value for commercial accounts comes from the versatility of 1000+ Stain Remover to perform either as a full strength direct-application stain remover or a mix-with-water concentrate for general purpose cleaning.
Two pictures in the blog dated October 28
Was on the news last week some time that a Doller store had a bad product so were told to remove it. must be a product from else were
Thank you Hospital Employees’ Union
By Eric Lehner in Advertising, Launch Activity, SafetyClenz
A new user of SafetyClenz Hand Sanitizer from Winning Brands in our Private Label Program. Thank you Hospital Employees’ Union and CAVAN Advertising. www.SafetyClenz.com
100 share paint job to keep it down cost more to do the trade
Its not silly its stupid
New post in Eric's blog on Lowe's
which they do to keep it down and to destroy the company its stupid traders that control the price