Great Product, But The Name Turned People Off

Great Product, But The Name Turned People Off was Originally Posted on June 5, 2013 by

Product naming is an important part of development. In at least one case, a cute name that described the product, was misunderstood by the public. That may have led to it being pulled from the menu.

There is a chain of entertainment centers called “Dave and Busters”. Think of it as a Chucky Cheese for adults. Arcade games, billiard tables, a restaurant and bar. It is a great place for some team building, of fun and after hours they don’t let kids in. You buy tokens and use them for virtual reality games and ski ball and all sorts of neat games.

In the restaurant they used to bake macaroni and cheese in a round dish, then cut portions out (like a pizza wedge) and then when placed on the dish, drizzled melted cheese over the top. Sounds great, right? IT WAS GREAT! It also had a cute name that carefully described the product and that it seems was its downfall. Cut like a slice of cake and made of macaroni and cheese. What else to call it but Macaroni Cheese Cake?

Unfortunately, at least in the Marietta Georgia site, the waitress told me it just didn’t sell. How could something containing pasta, cheese, butter, more cheese and perhaps a bit more butter and cheese?

My guess is that the name conjured up other thoughts than the ingredients. Cheesecake made from pasta?

So sometimes a good name can work against you.