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

[greedygorb]

I don't what their market is? The hoi polloi are buying their marshmallows from the pound shop and a personalised cake from ASDA with your picture on it. The middle classes are probably spending £10 on a bottle of wine or a box of chocolates from Hotel Chocolat and maybe a balloon if they can be arsed. So that only leaves posh folk where £15 marshmallows are cheap for a novelty gift. They'll probably only do it once. And that's not knocking James Middleton who is probably a very nice chap. It's just a bit of a shit concept even if it is done well.

[saffronwblue]

Somehow James' mallows, pippa's dreadful book on entertaining and the family party business all leave the impression that this is a family that thinks of nothing but parties and entertaining. Does not surprise me that kate often seems a bit blank at charity visits etc.

[sparechange]

I've bought a few boxes of them. Harmless present and a lot less than a box of cupcakes with pictures on them, which is what a shop near me sells and does a roaring trade
I don't like cake, let alone sickly sickly cupcakes, so maybe that's why I think Boomf is a better idea

[Pagwatch]

My son bought the boomf marshmallows for my DD for her birthday last year and she loved them.
I thought they were really nice. Yes they are expensive but they were not out of place where they were on sale in Selfridges next to £50 boxes of macaroons.
The idea that a product won't be bought by anyone because it is overpriced does seem pretty niave - Harrods, anthropology, and most of west London seem to be proof that that's not true.

[BootCampSucker]

Is this a good time to whisper that I quite liked Pippa's book? Even though she didn't write it.

[KatyBerry]

Marshmallows were a big trend at fashion parties for a nanosecond a couple of years ago. It was after macaroons and before tequila... I think the investment in his company is more to do with interest in the process / inks he uses to print on foodstuffs than the marshmallows per se - there are some patents involved that may have application outside the heady world of marshmallows.

[user1477282676]

I have a posh mate in London who'se currently launching a business selling some confectionary which he makes himself. He's not the kind who "has" to work...spends a lot of time travelling etc.

His posh mates are all oohing and aahing over these sweets on social media and ordering them from New York and Paris.

Pisses me off tbh.

[BillSykesDog]

Pagwatch, but he has invested several million in this. If you want to make back several million you can't depend on custom from Harrod's and Selfridge's food halls. It has to be something with mass appeal that will catch the imagination of the general public and become a popular idea as a gift the way sending balloons or champagne became an option alongside/instead of flowers. I really don't think it has that appeal. I can see the appeal for Harrods type customers and also as corporate presents, but I don't think those niche markets will let him anywhere near break even.

[BillSykesDog]

Ah, katy, that's interesting. So it's the manufacturing process. I wonder what Kate thinks of her brother being a 'widget maker' as the royals call manufacturers?

Good on him in that case.

[user1478860582]

Businesses rise and fall all the time. Who would of thought ordering a card over the internet would be a thing but Funky Pigeon and Moonpig have done rather well? You can't always tell what will sell and what won't.

Or is it more to do with the fact that this guy is well connected and has the money to bank roll it that attracted everyone's ire?

[Zaphodsotherhead]

Rasputin Marshmallows - designed to kill you in half a dozen interesting ways - only one of which will work.

Like the Russian Roulette of confectionary.

[Robinkitty]

I would probably buy them if I wanted to send a novelty gift, £15 isn't that much money to me, if I'm getting a little gift it wouldn't break my bank to spend £15 instead of £5 or £10.
I can think of a few people who would crack a smile receiving them.

[OrchidaceousRose]

Marshmallows as a fun gift is nice. But at a reasonable price for a well-made confection.

We get our novelty marshmallows from the Marshmallow Lady, she has a wee shop a stone's throw from our old flat.

The rose and prosecco ones are DH's favourite, MIL loves the chocolate mousse ones as she's on a low fat diet due to previous gallstone trouble, DIL likes the whisky ones. They do beer ones sometimes and I loved the caramel latte ones they do sometimes.

But they're like £4. And taste good.

[NightWanderer]

Or is it more to do with the fact that this guy is well connected and has the money to bank roll it that attracted everyone's ire?

I would say less ire, more mild interest

We get our novelty marshmallows from the Marshmallow Lady, she has a wee shop a stone's throw from our old flat.

They actually look good!

[MudCity]

Don't get it at all. Overpriced, tacky and pointless and just an extension of his parents' business.

IMO he is an example of someone with too much money and time on his hands. He doesn't depend on the business to survive, therefore it is more an expensive hobby than meaningful employment.

[Dahlietta]

I opened this thread thinking "James Middleton's marshmallows" must be some kind of euphemism. He has a general air of being doomed about him anyway, doesn't he? I am speechless about this marshmallow business.

[OrchidaceousRose]

They are very tasty Night. Am going to be back in the old 'hood on Wednesday and can see me popping in for old times sake...

[noblegiraffe]

We get our novelty marshmallows from...

I love this sentence opener. Imagine at dinner parties "Where do you get your novelty marshmallows?"

[Dahlietta]

I love this sentence opener.

Haha, yes. I had no idea this was a thing. I wonder who else makes them??

[EssentialHummus]

I'm another one who doesn't get it. I don't want to eat a lovely photo of my family members/nephews/friends. It does show "I've thought about you and actually planned a bit to buy this gift", but so do lots of other things.

While we're on the topic of rich wastrels pushing confectionery, could I mention Jamie Laing/Candy Kittens? Gets right on my wick.

[BinkyBuntyFintyCunty]

Cocoa Loco do lovely homemade cookies and brownies £2.99 a pack. Their Anzac cookies are like Bountys and their chocolate ones are amazing warmed up. Great value for money and a great 'alternative to flowers' gift. (I don't work for them. Honest!)

[showmeislands]

I bought some last Christmas for a family get together as a bit of novelty fun. At that price it was a one off though!

[QueenoftheAndals]

It's always seemed clear to me that if it wasn't for who their sister is married to, James' marshmallow business and Pippa's book and media career would be non-existent, even with the backing of Ma and Pa Middleton. But fair play to them I guess, they have capitalised on their opportunity to make the most of their limited talent.

[DianaMitford]

I have found my people! I've been staggered for years that a) he came up with the concept and b) he actually continues to try and make this woeful, failing, frankly absurd business survive. I mean, photos on marshmallows....who has ever looked at a photo and thought "Oh that's a lovely photo, I think I'll eat it"??