▲ ▼ No brand products
Brands have made developing cult following as the way to do business. This creates lot of negativity as I constantly see consumers fighting each other for their favorite brand over Internet forums, Private businesses shouldn't be able to command this much hold on their customers.
I think one way to address this would be the consumer choice to let go of the brands completely and buy high quality nondescript items without any brands. When I search for such no-brand products I see couple of websites pop up, many of them for just T-shirts with one difference being https://brandless.com/ which seems to be offering products from different categories.
I feel there's a need for more brandless type eCommerce websites, especially since the manufacturer can pass on the savings from brand development, marketing to the end consumers. Would you assert your consumer choice to buy products without any branding to reduce the hold private business have over you? If you are a manufacturer would you sell your product without branding through such eCommerce website?
I think this is a great idea, but history suggests it won't work like you might think. First, in the US a couple of decades ago, there was a big push for "generic" products, mostly in grocery stores. Food items were labelled with simple black and white labels and offered at a lower cost than brand name products. That idea lasted only a few years and died out. Also in the US, most grocery chains have "store brands" - effectively brands with no or little marketing, offered at lower cost. Has been moderately successful.
But I think you're discounting the value of a brand. Some brands are utterly meaningless, but a good brand has real value. Consider Toyota (reliable cars), or Disney (wholesome entertainment), or Levi's (quality jeans) or Coca-cola (consistent product worldwide). Brands are also a channel of accountability for consumers. I know Toyota stands behind their warranty, so I feel good about buying their cars. If I buy a Coke, I know what I'm buying. I might suggest reading up about brands - before your idea can take off, I think you need to be able to address the gaps you'll have by not having brands.
You might be right Gary, but then gain voice against Mega Corps are now louder than ever and especially the type of influence they have on common man's life. So may it's the time now to rethink this need gap?
Even Brandless itself is a brand. People might look for a certain no-brand aesthetics, there are 2 that I can think of: Muji and Uniqlo. Both Japanese brand. It works for them, but again it's a brand.
A platform selling those type of no-brand products would also be considered a brand itself. A brand that carries "plain" products.
Muji and Uniqlo look great. Looks like they are doing good. Ironically brand of the store selling no-brand products needs to hold some reputation in order for the customers to trust their selection of no-brand products.