2 good products in 2006

Reviewing 2006, there are two consumer goods that I found are very interesting, and reflecting the talent of businessman in exploring the market.

One, when I was in China/Hong Kong in the past, one thing is very amazing is the popularity of massage market. Labor there are cheap. having a 2 hour massage cost as low as US$15, comparing to the US about $1/minute. Of course, labor mobility is highly restrictive between the two countries, but not capital! Visiting the department stores here, all varieties of massage equipments are on sale, from chair massage pad to neck massage pollow, etc. Of course, most of them are made in China, and made by low cost Chinese labor. This is so amazing to me that businessmen almost always find their way to get the product to the market where there is demand. They are just way more cleverer than our politicians. Massage is now tradable! Consumers win again!

Two is the digital picture frame. It sounds to me a very simple idea, and the technology should not be too advance. We have the flash drive for a long time. We have the slideshow in our laptop for a long time. But putting these two together in a simple frame seems not getting popular until this year. I find it very attractive especially for the older generations. Older generation usually find themselves scared with technology. This digital picture frame is handy, easy to use, and more important, will bring many pictures/memories under one frame. Sounds the marginal benefit is way higher than the marginal cost. I am almost sure my mom will love it. The only constriant is that the price of this "new" product is still quite expensive, averageing more than $100. Undoubtedly, the price will drop, and I suspect it will drop fast. By then, I will have one to my mom.

Happy new year!