Cereal Boxes

[stoutfellow]

The following is addressed to the designers of cereal boxes everywhere, but especially to those associated with Post's Great Grains line.

1. It is unwise to require manual dexterity of your customers at an early hour. Thus, the inner lining should be so designed as to tear easily and evenly, along the top and the top alone. If it tears raggedly or in unexpected directions, the effective pouring cross-section is relatively small. Some of the cereal will become trapped in pockets of liner, to be dislodged only with difficulty. In addition, a significant amount of cereal will be diverted to the side. Some of this will spill. Some of the rest will, when the box is restored to the upright position, slip between the box and the liner, there to grow stale. This is especially bad if the cereal is sticky to any significant degree.


2. The lining should be firmly attached to the bottom of the box. If it is not so attached, the liner will slip bodily from the box rather than disgorging its contents. This encourages the customer to squeeze the box, with unpredictable consequences, or to shake it, with predictable consequences. The results may be entertaining to any small children, pets, or bystanders present, but participating adults are less likely to be amused. Note, again, the first sentence of the previous point.


3. The lining should not be attached to the box at any point other than the bottom. Further, the attachment should be such that a simple tug will detach the lining. This makes it easy to remove the lining, preparatory to collapsing the box for recycling. Other attachment schemes induce frustration. Again, see the first sentence of the first point.

Thank you for your time and attention.

Comments

[carbonelle.livejournal.com]

I read somewhere (Virginia Postrel's site most likely) that most major product innovations came from passionate end-users. So, tally-ho! Those would be some nice changes.

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

The thing is, it's a solved problem. Most cereal boxes do have the listed properties. Why don't they all? (If only I weren't so fond of the GG line of cereals...)

[carbonelle.livejournal.com]

Ah, I see. I'm a bagels & yoghurt sort of breakfast person myself.

[hornedhopper.livejournal.com]

This made me laugh! We are forever mis-opening the cereal boxes. The tops practically never lend themselves to opening easily for good closing and often cause cardboard-sized paper cuts. Thus, the product is left to *air out* and bandaid usage is up. Maybe it would be practical if the cereal and bandaid producers would get together and offer tie-in products (g).

[dan-ad-nauseam.livejournal.com]

I have a similar problem with powdered egg replacer. For some reason, the liner tends to peel off in layers before pulling open.