Lean consumption

I read an article about re-layout of a famous supermarket. She made an inscrutable decision to put the diaper and beer together in the same area, the configuration was not appeared in other supermarket before. This is not a joke and it happened in US Wal-Mart. People thinks that it is non-sense to put them together, however, the sales of both beer and diaper was growing much with the combination existed in the supermarket.

The fact is wifes are always "order" their husbands to buy diaper after they left office. The husbands are rushing to the supermarket on the way they are going back home. They are tired by all day works in office and they just want to spend their shortest time in the supermarket. The husbands have no time to walk through the whole huge area to seek the goods they needed in detail. When they arrive the area stored for diaper, they always bring some beer they like. Therefore, the husband is willing to shopping in Wal-Mart again, because they can bring some gifts for themselves during shopping.

The article was ended here with the words "it is a amazing combination! Diaper and Beer.", however, I think it can be explained in lean concept! Here is some lean consumption concept from the book "Lean solution - James Womack" for your reference.

Principles of lean consumption; the customer only thinks the items are value-added as below,

1. Can solve my problem entirely;

2. Do not waste my time (cost of consumption included the price of goods added the time I spent and the trouble I got during consumption);

3. Prepared the goods or service what I wanted;

4. Prepared the goods or service where I wanted;

5. Prepared the goods or service when I wanted;

6. Reduce the options for me to choose.

Yes, your wife is only needed diaper and you needed beer, the storage combination is preparing exactly what / where / when your family wants. It solved your problem and absolutly not waste your time. That's why the combination was success in US Wal-Mart, however, you have to remember that it was always shopping by your wife in family of Hong Kong. That may not work in Asia too. However, the most simple element is, create the value in the flow. The flow is the path from the entry to exit in the shortest distance of the supermarket. The stuffs you will pick is the value-added action for both supermarket and you. That's only a simple concept in lean but it can explain the story better than the words "amazing combination.....!"