To think James Middleton's marshmallows are doomed?

[NightWanderer]

A friend (cough, cough) was reading in the Daily Mail that James Middleton is still trying to save his marshmallow business. If anyone doesn't know, they print out Instagram pictures onto marshmallows and sell them for 15 pounds for a box of 9.

They're marshmallows, sugar and gelatin. Who in their right mind would pay 15 pounds for 9 of them, even if they do have a photo on them?

I don't know why I'm so interested by the way. There is just something so WTF about the whole thing.

Apparently he already lost 1 million pounds through them. Does no one sit him down and say dude, it just isn't a good idea?

Here the DM link
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4126498/Dragons-Den-pal-turns-Middleton-s-marshmallow-firm-around.html

[LaLaLolly]

Found it! I'd pay good money for these

[LadyTrevelyan]

All this talk of marshmallows has reminded me of reading an interview with Debby Harry in the early 80s.

Apparently Debby, when plucking her leg hairs liked to eat marshmallows at the same time. I was an impressionable early teen so tried it. I don't like leg plucking or marshmallows.

[Manumission]

Exploding marshmallows would be good. I'd buy those

[KenDoddsDadsDog]

I got an exploding card for DD's birthday . Really liked it .
But the marshmallows look shit .

[MrsPeelyWally]

Also does anyone else think he is channelling the Czar like billyho

Im glad others can see the startling resemblance. I thought it was just me.

[UnderbeneathsiesTheMistletoe]

I like your addition santaclausemortificado!

I also have dyslexia.
It's not an excuse for bad business ideas. He seems really unintelligent and clueless. Also does anyone else think he is channelling the Czar like billyho. More royal than these newbie Battenburgs dontcha know 👑

I like Kate Carole and pippa though. They seem focused. 💷
The dad seems to know his place, and seems to be happy there.

Donna Air hasn't been invited to anything with him ever afaik. I wonder if that's a goer?
She must be boiling mad if she wants to have a kid with the bearded wonder (just think, a cousin to King George!) as she's getting on a bit isn't she? Can't be many viable eggs shooting about. I wonder will she bail?

[SantaClausMortificado]

Underbeneath

Suggested addition:

Poor old James,
all beard and no brain.
Cakes and marshmallow,
And a head made of tallow.
And Boomf's going down the drain.

I've ordered Some Boomf marshmallows as a gift. Like a previous poster, at the time I didn't know that they were James Middleton releated as otherwise I wouldn't have ordered them.

They were fine as a one of novelty gift and rather than photos I had text printed on them that was relevant to the recipient. But for me it was a one off. Gift was a success but I wouldn't buy them again. I would be interested to know how much repeat custom they get.

They may get corporates buying as "branded goods" for launches etc I suppose.

I do think if they could bring the price down it would likely be a success. I mean moonpig is basically a similar concept (customising cheap goods you never thought you wanted customised) and look at that.

[saffronwblue]

Agree it is an oddly intriguing topic.

[corythatwas]

If you are going to retail a product at a far higher price than the ingredients would seem to warrant, then common sense would suggest that it would either have to be something where the skilled handling of the ingredients could make a significant difference (wine, cheese) or where the end product could be invested with some kind of mystique (perfume, bath bombs). Marshmallows are far too mundane to cut it in the second category and nobody is really going to believe in unlimited possibilities of improving their flavour either. You can sell deodorant as "this is the special you"- but marshmallows?

[saffronwblue]

The problem with James' business model is that he has one offering which is an overpriced novelty item. People who buy them this year are going to think they are very old hat next year. It has brief fad written all over it, rather than sustainable longevity. I wouldn't invest in it.

[MsJamieFraser]

I'm dyslexic Francis, I'm also degree educated, have a professional career, run my own business and am chair woman for a chartered football club and also a school governor. I struggle daily with dyslexia.

However I would never describe a learning disability as fine and dandy .

[GinIsIn]

Just to clarify, JM's business buys the marshmallows wholesale, they are basically a glorified printers, not a confectioners - they don't make them.

[MsJamieFraser]

I read he's dyslexic and that's all fine and dandy

Is it

Having a learning disability is not all fine and dandy, it's a daily battle!

[thornyhousewife]

This is a product for the instagram generation (teens) who generally speaking have more disposable cash than us, and no real concept of value.

For example LUSH Cosmetics was going down the pan 7 years ago before it utilised social media and reached teenagers. £4 bath bombs, no problem for them.

I can see what Boomf is trying to do and I think their price point is correct, but I think the James Middleton association is fatal.

[catinbooots]

I think I have found all my new best friends on this thread.

Haven't laughed so hard in ages.

[UnderbeneathsiesTheMistletoe]

The thing is that he's an appalling businessman, and doesn't seem to actually know what he's doing.

I read he's dyslexic and that's all fine and dandy, but he genuinely seems to be as thick as mince as well.

Carole seems to have her head screwed on, as do Kate and Pippa.

Poor old James,
all beard and no brains.
Cakes and marshmallow,
And a head made of tallow.

[BumDNC]

Now I am overinvested in James Middletons Marshmallows!

Someone mentioned Jamie Lang earlier - I've only seen his sweets once ever in any shop - topshop I think and they were ver expensive. I don't know how he is making a profit either when hardly any shops sell them? My kids are sweets mad. They would like these bloody marshmallows but I couldn't pay £15 for them. Agree too expensive

[BillSykesDog]

Importing them from Belgium is possibly the problem as post Brexit prices for imports have gone up.

[NightWanderer]

Ok, because Im overinvested in James Middletons marshmallows I Googled Boomf and this article is more positive and says they were on the verge of making a profit at the end of 2015. Im not sure what went wrong if they ended up losing 1 million last year though. Apparently they dont actually make the marshmallows, they are imported from Belgium.

www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-3367291/I-m-Wonka-Chief-marshmallow-factory-s-brother-law-future-King-James-Middleton-title-own.html

[MrsPeelyWally]

I million isn't much when trying to get a business of the ground.

[Twogoats]

Small business? He's had more than 1m invested!!!