As a long-time California resident, I was used to abuse.
Since moving to Boise, Idaho, the biggest problem is the world doesn’t seem to know how to find Idaho.
That’s not true for businesses wanting to test new products.
This is a Test
For over three decades, businesses have been coming to Boise to test out their latest product or idea.
Apparently, companies love the demographics and the affordable marketing.
Here is just a small sample of the products receiving the Boise stamp of approval.
- Amazon launched its AmazonLocal, an online discount service similar to Groupon
- Pillsbury’s All Ready Pie Crust hit the markets after Boise shoppers found it to their taste
- Best Buy test drove a wide variety of car electronic products, including products from Pioneer, Kenwood and Rosen
- 3M stuck Boise, Idaho with lots and lots of Post-it® Notes
The city ranked in the top 25 for consumer test markets.
I’d Rather Be Blue
As reported in the Idaho Statesman, part of the appeal for Amazon is the blue football turf of Boise State University (BSU). The marketers felt the blue turf represented a sense of fun.
Well, it’s definitely different.
However, we can thank the BSU football team for putting Boise on the map. Of course, people may still not know where on the map, but at least now they’ve heard of Idaho.
One Last Geography Lesson
To ensure your future shopping pleasure, here is a geography lesson to help you locate this popular test market.
- Idaho is located in the West – not the East – not the Midwest
- Idaho is NOT Iowa
- Idaho has 7 bordering neighbors – Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Montana and Canada
If you stumble across a football stadium with blue turf – welcome to Idaho!
And to all those businesses out there – keep us on the map.
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Live…Laugh…Love
Just because it’s chosen as a test market doesn’t mean it’s a good test market. That’s why the big consumer companies stopped using Iowa! It looked great on paper (not a mistake I generally make about Boise), but it did not pan out (couldn’t resist that either).
There are places in Idaho that are nice (Coeur d’Alene comes to mind), there are places in Idaho that are nuts. Just like almost every other place in the world.
But, I seem to remember an old song that fits…
If you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with…
Roy-LOL! very true, but at least you know the difference between Iowa and Idaho. 🙂 Coeur d’Alene is where the University of Idaho is and you are right-it is very nice, as is McCall, Stanley and other places.
I came here to help out Mom (although I think she takes better care of me than I do her) so I didn’t leave San Diego because I didn’t like it. But, you are very right about loving the one you’re with. And my intent is to learn more about the good things about Idaho.
Thanks for stopping by, Roy.
Interesting stuff. I have to admit, I’ve never been to Idaho and had no clue. I will say this though, I always buy Idaho potatoes because my Momma always told me they were the best! LOL
And your Momma was so right! 🙂 Except my Momma says they ship the best ones out of state. 😀
You should check out some of my other Meet Idaho posts. You just might find more surprises. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by, Martha.
Hi Cathy, being from Washington State I know where Idaho is but I have yet to make it to Boise. Let’s just say I have found Northern Idaho to be . . . different. 🙂 I need to head south and check out that part of the state. Wow, I never realized it bordered 6 states and a different country!
Sherrie
You know, I hadn’t known that either, Sherrie, until I started looking up facts about Idaho when I moved here. You know northern ID is awfully close to Washington-LOL!! 😀
Thanks for your perspective, Sherrie.
Lol! Yeah, I know. But for some reason when you cross the border it
feels like a different world.
That could be said of so many places, Sherrie. 🙂 And I think I’ve lived in several. LOL!!
Hi Cathy,
I loved your post. The information was interesting but, what was really fun to read find was your humor and your writing style: clean, fast and beautiful. Congratulations!
Thank you, Gustavo. I appreciate the kudos. It was fun to write, too. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Cathy,
Loved this post and have never been to Boise – or Idaho for that matter. Shared it on Facebook for my friends, some of them travel quite a lot.
Thank you, Jamez. I appreciate it. There are other posts about Idaho on the Meet Idaho to give you a little more about this beautiful state. Thanks for stopping by, Jamez.