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AIAI
+3+3
‘AI-designed’ hurts sales
Mar 17, 2026

‘AI-designed’ hurts sales

People are up to 29% less willing to buy products designed by AI (e.g. a chair, a snack flavor), compared to those designed by humans.

Thomas McKinlay
Thomas McKinlay
B2CB2C
+3+3
Launch absurd mini-products to make your brand cool
Sep 02, 2025

Launch absurd mini-products to make your brand cool

Make your brand stand out by rolling out spin-off products in unrelated categories (e.g. KFC nail polish, cybersecurity-themed toys).

Thomas McKinlay
Thomas McKinlay
B2CB2C
+3+3
Low-priced products seem less sustainable
Jul 29, 2025

Low-priced products seem less sustainable

Sustainable products (e.g. a bag made with recycled fabrics) are judged as up to 8.4% less sustainable when they have a relatively low price.

Thomas McKinlay
Thomas McKinlay
B2BB2B
+3+3
Your product’s benefits must seem related
Apr 22, 2025

Your product’s benefits must seem related

Products with multiple related benefits generated 42% more sales than those with a single benefit. Having unrelated benefits is worse than having a single benefit.

Thomas McKinlay
Thomas McKinlay
B2CB2C
+3+3
Dark colors make products seem more effective
Apr 15, 2025

Dark colors make products seem more effective

People were up to 7% more likely to say they would buy a product with a dark (vs light) color packaging. The effect backfires if buyers are worried about the product’s risks (e.g. side effects).

Thomas McKinlay
Thomas McKinlay
B2CB2C
+3+3
When to make your product look complex
Mar 11, 2025

When to make your product look complex

People were willing to pay up to 13.7% more for a product that looked more complex because it looked more expensive to produce

Thomas McKinlay
Thomas McKinlay
B2CB2C
+2+2
Where being creative truly matters
Feb 18, 2025

Where being creative truly matters

Creative products (e.g. games) were rated up to 32% better when their content (e.g. storyline) was considered creative. Creative packaging had little effect or even backfired.

Thomas McKinlay
Thomas McKinlay
B2CB2C
+4+4
Case Study: Do mystery boxes work?
Jul 25, 2024
Premium

Case Study: Do mystery boxes work?

Introducing and pricing a mystery box for a non-profit organization.

Thomas McKinlay
Thomas McKinlay
B2CB2C
+3+3
Show what your product smells like
Jun 11, 2024

Show what your product smells like

Showing a picture of the product’s scent (e.g. what flower it smells like) increased up to 13.6% how much people liked an ad.

Thomas McKinlay
Thomas McKinlay
B2CB2C
+3+3
Use smile-like lines in your designs
May 14, 2024

Use smile-like lines in your designs

Curved lines in your logo and branding can increase purchase intentions by up to 31% because they remind people of a smile.

Thomas McKinlay
Thomas McKinlay
B2CB2C
+2+2
When ‘AI-powered’ makes products better, or not
Mar 26, 2024

When ‘AI-powered’ makes products better, or not

Up to 24% more people prefer a smart product (e.g. fitness tracker) that uses adaptive AI algorithms (vs. a product that doesn’t), but not when the product is simple (e.g. electric toothbrush).

Thomas McKinlay
Thomas McKinlay
B2CB2C
+3+3
University-created products are more appealing
Feb 13, 2024

University-created products are more appealing

People were more trusting of and willing to pay up to 65% more for the same product when it was co-developed with a university.

Thomas McKinlay
Thomas McKinlay
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