Does Planet Money’s game pass the shelf test? We go undercover to find out
Summary
Planet Money hosts Kenny Malone and Wayan Wong join Exploding Kittens co-founder Alan Lee to conduct secret shelf tests for a new board game, "Sell Me a Sasquatch." They sneak prototypes into a big-box store to evaluate visibility, durability, and customer comprehension using the "3 feet, 3 seconds" retail rule. The episode reveals how minor design tweaks, like kerning and back-cover clarity, impact a product's ability to catch shoppers' attention and close sales.
Topics discussed
Intro: Sneaking a board game onto retail shelves
Sponsors: Washington Wise and Capella University
The art and science of retail shelf testing
Placing the 'Sell Me a Sasquatch' prototype
Test 1: Visual appeal and shelf placement
Test 2: Visibility in chaotic, messy conditions
Test 3: Intercepting a real shopper, Diego
Analyzing back-of-box clarity and confusion
Game launch and call to action for listeners
Credits and final sponsor message
Listen ad-free on Castria