By Lisa Hochgraf
We're talking a lot in the credit union world about innovation. And I'm all for new ideas. Still, something that happened to me last week made me reflect on the value of products that meet basic needs.
I went shopping last Thursday evening, ready to spend money on new walking sandals (my old pair hurts my feet). Not cute ones, not pink ones, not flip-flop ones, not jewel-studded ones, though these all have their place, but sturdy, leather brown ones that I won't trip in when I chase my 3-year-old around the yard.
I shopped two of my favorite stores, each of which has large shoe departments (a must if I'm going to like a store). Despite rows and rows of options, only one of these stores had a sandal that I thought I could walk in--that is, it had a strap around my ankle. I was excited when I found the one option available, yet I still didn't buy a pair. They didn't fit.
I read this week about a credit union that offers more than 270 first mortgage products. Somehow that number of offerings makes me think of rows and rows of sandals. But I know credit unions are smart. I'm sure among those products is one that members can walk in--and that fit just right.
Lisa Hochgraf is marketing/operations editor for CUES' Credit Union Management magazine and edits the CUES Tech Port e-newsletter, News to Go.
Read more on innovation in this CUES Skybox archive.
