--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They need to rediscover what made them…" description: "\"“They need to rediscover what made them successful in the first place: consumer insight, customer knowledge, innovation and brand-building. The adoptio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ca/greg-thain-1820_first-place_they-need-to-rediscover-what-made-them-s_1231213.jpg" --- # They need to rediscover what made them successful in the… ![“They need to rediscover what made them successful in the first place: consumer insight, customer knowledge, innovation and brand-building. The adoption of open-innovation strategies by majors such as Nestlé and P&G is a reflection of their need to ramp up innovation speed and capabilities.” quote by Greg Thain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ca/greg-thain-1820_first-place_they-need-to-rediscover-what-made-them-s_1231213.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ca/greg-thain-1820_first-place_they-need-to-rediscover-what-made-them-s_1231213.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ca/greg-thain-1820_first-place_they-need-to-rediscover-what-made-them-s_1231213.jpg) > ““They need to rediscover what made them successful in the first place: consumer insight, customer knowledge, innovation and brand-building. The adoption of open-innovation strategies by majors such as Nestlé and P&G is a reflection of their need to ramp up innovation speed and capabilities.”” [Greg Thain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-thain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Successful companies must return to core strengths—understanding consumers, innovating, and building brands—to accelerate innovation. **In simple terms:** Focus on consumer insight and brand building to boost innovation speed. Key Takeaway Re‑emphasize core capabilities. Themes business strategy innovation brand building Mood strategic optimistic Type advisory inspirational When to use this quote - product development - marketing campaigns - corporate strategy - R&D acceleration Key Concepts consumer insight open innovation speed of development Questions to Reflect On - How can firms balance core strengths with emerging trends? - What risks arise from over‑reliance on past success? A Different Perspective May overlook external market disruptions that require new approaches. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Marketing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marketing/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [By exciting citizens about the new digital opportunity, breaking down silos of competing groups to form a truly open innovation ecosystem and shifting day-to-day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-chambers/by-exciting-citizens-about-the-new-digital-opportunity-breaking-down/) [John T. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-chambers/) > [Open innovation is a paradigm that assumes that firms can and should use external ideas as well as internal ideas, and internal and external…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-chesbrough/open-innovation-is-a-paradigm-that-assumes-that-firms-can-and-should/) Henry Chesbrough > [When you're 20 you care what everyone thinks, when you're 40 you stop caring what everyone thinks, when you're 60 you realize no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/when-you-re-20-you-care-what-everyone-thinks-when-you-re-40-you-stop/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“The traumatized soul finds no rest in conditions of peace. It’s forever questing for violence, for action, for the same combination of factors which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-s-williams/the-traumatized-soul-finds-no-rest-in-conditions-of-peace-it-s/) [Matthew S. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-s-williams/) > [Every penny we spend comes from the taxpayer. We thus owe it to the taxpayer to work as hard managing that money wisely as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-mulvaney/every-penny-we-spend-comes-from-the-taxpayer-we-thus-owe-it-to-the/) [Mick Mulvaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-mulvaney/) > [“If you have the ability and the opportunity to help someone, but you don't do anything just because you're scared or it's inconvenient or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bree-despain/if-you-have-the-ability-and-the-opportunity-to-help-someone-but-you/) [Bree Despain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bree-despain/) > [Don't be afraid of failure, be afraid of not trying in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-forleo/don-t-be-afraid-of-failure-be-afraid-of-not-trying-in-the-first-place/) [Marie Forleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-forleo/) > [“We heard about people who go back to their roots. That is good, but don't get stuck in the root. There is the branch,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/we-heard-about-people-who-go-back-to-their-roots-that-is-good-but-don/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [Had a 90's music party with my Glee family tonight. Helped remind me why I got into music in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-salling/had-a-90-s-music-party-with-my-glee-family-tonight-helped-remind-me/) [Mark Salling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-salling/) > [Im never shocked when people let me down nowadays. I just hate the fact that I put myself in a position to be let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-never-shocked-when-people-let-me-down-nowadays-i-just-hate-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [At times you are going to miss people. When that happens, others have to come to the front and show the calibre that brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/at-times-you-are-going-to-miss-people-when-that-happens-others-have/) [Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/) > [The politician attempts to remedy the evil by increasing the very thing that caused the evil in the first place: legal plunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-politician-attempts-to-remedy-the-evil-by-increasing-the-very/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [“But the process should not be confused with science. When tests are used as selections devices, they're not a neutral tool; they become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-whyte/but-the-process-should-not-be-confused-with-science-when-tests-are/) [William H. Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-whyte/) ## More by Greg Thain > [“Marketing aims/image: A retailer that has positioning aims (e.g. trying to improve its image with respect to healthy food or trying to upstage wholesaler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-thain/marketing-aims-image-a-retailer-that-has-positioning-aims-e-g-trying/) [Greg Thain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-thain/) > [“Every dominant brand (such as those listed in Table 5.1) has had to reinvest in mindspace every year to keep its position. However, things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-thain/every-dominant-brand-such-as-those-listed-in-table-5-1-has-had-to/) [Greg Thain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-thain/) > [“consolidation, coupled with a desire among the survivors to restore normal profit levels, helps to usher in an era of orderly competition based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-thain/consolidation-coupled-with-a-desire-among-the-survivors-to-restore/) [Greg Thain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-thain/) > [“If the manufacturer can convince the retailer that delisting will hurt consumer satisfaction and possibly lead to store switching, then that will be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-thain/if-the-manufacturer-can-convince-the-retailer-that-delisting-will/) [Greg Thain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-thain/) > [“As retailers have become competitors of manufacturers in many product categories, they reserve more shelfspace for their private label brands and dominate advertising spending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-thain/as-retailers-have-become-competitors-of-manufacturers-in-many-product/) [Greg Thain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-thain/) > [“High fixed costs mean that high volumes are an ever-essential objective. One”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-thain/high-fixed-costs-mean-that-high-volumes-are-an-ever-essential/) [Greg Thain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-thain/) > [“Importance of price: Price is imperative for FMCG retailers, much more so than for manufacturers. Retailers must constantly keep their real prices competitive and put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-thain/importance-of-price-price-is-imperative-for-fmcg-retailers-much-more/) [Greg Thain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-thain/) > [“Hoping to create a little prestige, some retailers develop and advertise premium clothes sub-brands. In 2006, Myer, one of Australia’s largest retailers, launched a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-thain/hoping-to-create-a-little-prestige-some-retailers-develop-and/) [Greg Thain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-thain/) > [“The shift of power to retailers is not an inevitable phenomenon: technological changes and associated innovative ideas have been instrumental in moving power and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-thain/the-shift-of-power-to-retailers-is-not-an-inevitable-phenomenon/) [Greg Thain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-thain/) > [“Because retail brands are barely differentiated, they are relatively fragile when compared to the largest manufacturer brands, despite having, in general, much higher awareness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-thain/because-retail-brands-are-barely-differentiated-they-are-relatively/) [Greg Thain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-thain/) > [“There are some FMCG categories where retailers are destined to control mindspace. These are the low-technology, low-image, low-novelty areas. Retailers are likely to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-thain/there-are-some-fmcg-categories-where-retailers-are-destined-to/) [Greg Thain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-thain/) > [“In markets where consumers are sensitive to quality differences (e.g. washing powder, instant coffee, sanitary protection) the share for generics and copycats usually plateaus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-thain/in-markets-where-consumers-are-sensitive-to-quality-differences-e-g/) [Greg Thain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-thain/) > [“Direct consumer contact is an advantage for retailers, as 70% of shoppers make purchase decisions in stores and are thus open to last-minute persuasion. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-thain/direct-consumer-contact-is-an-advantage-for-retailers-as-70-of/) [Greg Thain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-thain/) > [“Fresh produce and other ‘destination’ products can create a sustainable differential advantage, as they have the potential for deciding the destination of the shopper.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-thain/fresh-produce-and-other-destination-products-can-create-a-sustainable/) [Greg Thain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-thain/) > [“PRIVATE LABEL IS booming. In Europe and the United States during the period 2000–2010, private label was responsible for the majority of the growth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-thain/private-label-is-booming-in-europe-and-the-united-states-during-the/) [Greg Thain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-thain/) [Explore all 206 Greg Thain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-thain/) ## More First place quotes > [“But the process should not be confused with science. When tests are used as selections devices, they're not a neutral tool; they become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-whyte/but-the-process-should-not-be-confused-with-science-when-tests-are/) [William H. Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-whyte/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [The politician attempts to remedy the evil by increasing the very thing that caused the evil in the first place: legal plunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-politician-attempts-to-remedy-the-evil-by-increasing-the-very/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [At times you are going to miss people. When that happens, others have to come to the front and show the calibre that brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/at-times-you-are-going-to-miss-people-when-that-happens-others-have/) [Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/) > [Im never shocked when people let me down nowadays. I just hate the fact that I put myself in a position to be let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-never-shocked-when-people-let-me-down-nowadays-i-just-hate-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Had a 90's music party with my Glee family tonight. Helped remind me why I got into music in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-salling/had-a-90-s-music-party-with-my-glee-family-tonight-helped-remind-me/) [Mark Salling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-salling/) > [“We heard about people who go back to their roots. That is good, but don't get stuck in the root. There is the branch,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/we-heard-about-people-who-go-back-to-their-roots-that-is-good-but-don/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [Don't be afraid of failure, be afraid of not trying in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-forleo/don-t-be-afraid-of-failure-be-afraid-of-not-trying-in-the-first-place/) [Marie Forleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-forleo/) > [“If you have the ability and the opportunity to help someone, but you don't do anything just because you're scared or it's inconvenient or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bree-despain/if-you-have-the-ability-and-the-opportunity-to-help-someone-but-you/) [Bree Despain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bree-despain/) > [Every penny we spend comes from the taxpayer. We thus owe it to the taxpayer to work as hard managing that money wisely as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-mulvaney/every-penny-we-spend-comes-from-the-taxpayer-we-thus-owe-it-to-the/) [Mick Mulvaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-mulvaney/) > [“The traumatized soul finds no rest in conditions of peace. It’s forever questing for violence, for action, for the same combination of factors which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-s-williams/the-traumatized-soul-finds-no-rest-in-conditions-of-peace-it-s/) [Matthew S. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-s-williams/) > [When you're 20 you care what everyone thinks, when you're 40 you stop caring what everyone thinks, when you're 60 you realize no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/when-you-re-20-you-care-what-everyone-thinks-when-you-re-40-you-stop/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Because I'm not, in fact, depressed, Prozac makes me manic and numb - one of the reasons I slice my arm in the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-hornbacher/because-i-m-not-in-fact-depressed-prozac-makes-me-manic-and-numb-one/) [Marya Hornbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-hornbacher/) > [“The greatest faith is the willingness to ask in the first place, all evidence to the contrary. Faith not just in God, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cronin/the-greatest-faith-is-the-willingness-to-ask-in-the-first-place-all/) [Justin Cronin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cronin/) [Browse all 2,907 First place quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“They need to rediscover what made them successful in the first place: consumer insight, customer knowledge, innovation and brand-building. The adoption of open-innovation strategies by majors such as Nestlé and P&G is a reflection of their need to ramp up innovation speed and capabilities.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Greg Thain" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-thain/they-need-to-rediscover-what-made-them-successful-in-the-first-place/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "First place" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-thain/they-need-to-rediscover-what-made-them-successful-in-the-first-place/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ca/greg-thain-1820_first-place_they-need-to-rediscover-what-made-them-s_1231213.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ca/greg-thain-1820_first-place_they-need-to-rediscover-what-made-them-s_1231213.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ca/greg-thain-1820_first-place_they-need-to-rediscover-what-made-them-s_1231213.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“They need to rediscover what made them successful in the first place: consumer insight, customer knowledge…” — Greg Thain", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Greg Thain", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-thain/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“They need to rediscover what made...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-thain/they-need-to-rediscover-what-made-them-successful-in-the-first-place/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-thain/they-need-to-rediscover-what-made-them-successful-in-the-first-place/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```