I'm so over prepared sodas
Check out this article from FastCompany on SodaStream. They've hit the market at the perfect time - "...It's the perfect storm because we hit all these megatrends without any trade-offs," says SodaStream CEO, Daniel Birnbaum. So, what are the megatrends they hit? According to Birnbaum, they are: Health and Wellness, Environment, Convenience, and Savings. A pretty powerful mix and, in my opinion, exactly right.
My wife bought a SodaStream soda maker last year and we love the fact that we don't have to buy bottled soda water - which, all by itself, has a positive impact on the environment, on our savings, and in convenience. More recently, we started buying different syrups - one of our sons loves the root beer - and, having not done the health research, will take others' words for it that they are healthier than some of the prepared sodas.
Speaking of which, SodaStream introduces a new notion in the world of colas..."prepared sodas". Since we can now have the experience of making our own, that leaves Coke, Pepsi, and all the others out in the not-so-cold. They seem, somehow, tired...and suspect. If I can make my own soda with a cool looking bubble machine, what's the big deal with secret formulas and HFC?
Which brings me back to convenience. Why is it that we feel like our SodaStream is more convenient for us even though we have to make it ourselves? I think there are at least three reasons.
First, we don't have to lug two liter bottles or cases of cans from the grocery store to our house. Second, We don't have to store much of anything since we can make our own soda in a matter of seconds. And, third, we have all the water we need on tap.
Beyond convenience I think there's a much more powerful reason why SodaStream feels better to us. Empowerment - it's like fast food vs. home cooking...home cooking puts us in the driver's seat in terms of what we feed ourselves and our children. SodaStream gives us that same feeling - that we don't have to roll over and drink what the prepared sodas give us.