Your photo on M&M's - so what?

Did you know you can now get M&M's with your photo on them? Yep, you just go to the M&M's web site, upload your photo, pick your colors and days later you can have pink M&M's with your daughter's picture for her Sweet 16 party delivered by the UPS truck. If you think this has nothing to do with your business, think again. It's called personalization and it's hot. Personalization is a trend driving the economy because it drives the purchase of technology. Consider all the technology consumed by companies that offer the ability to personalize their products. The process begins with making selections on the web, then flows all the way through the manufacturing process. This drives companies to buy web technology, ERP, configurators, product lifecycle management and complementary software and hardware to make it all happen. So, with an open mind, a little M&M might give you an idea for how to grow your own business.