Zima
Zima is kinda like me: it was cool for about thirty seconds. Zima, though an icon of the 1990s, is actually studied as the paragon of the product cycle, because it rocketed to popularity, collapsed into obscurity, then hung on for over a decade, trying to reinvent itself (usually with unfortunate results.) Zima finally met an unremarked fate recently, when Coors Brewing Company (or Miller, can’t remember which) decided that while it was still a moderately profitable product, it really wasn’t worth their time or trouble. Most people didn’t notice, and of those who did, most said “Good riddance”. For the rest, Zima’s demise is a bit of a minor cause: people are actually coming out of the closet and telling the world they want their Zima back — or at least they did, before their website went under too, probably from a lack of hits (before it was canceled, Zima was like a Moped: fun, but they wouldn’t want to be seen doing it.)
Babylon 5 fans are in a bit of a quandary, because Zima exists in the Babylon 5 universe. If you ever watch B5 look above the bar in some of the drinking scenes and you will see a Zima sign somewhere. Product placement? Probably. Zima came out right when Babylon 5 — another ’90s icon — hit the now defunct Prime Time Entertainment Network, and both were popular topics on and early users of the Internet (which also exploded in popularity at the same time.) More to the point, my friends and I used to play a drinking game that involved watching Babylon 5 while drinking copious quantities of Zima. Those were good times, and I still drink a (single) Zima when watching reruns of the first season of B5 (or at least I used to.)
Yes, you read correctly. I admit it. I am a (mostly) macho guy who drinks Zima. And I like it (well, I like ONE Zima: the second Zima isn’t quite so good, and the third is kinda nasty, so if I’m determined to get plowed I usually switch to wine after that single Zima. Also I never drink it unless I’m watching B5, its a retro thing.) I know its not cool to like Zima, but nobody has called me cool since college and I’m old enough now that I don’t care any more.
So, when I saw the last three six packs of Zima on clearance sale at the local grocery store, I bought them. They are taking up space in my fridge and probably will for some time. The question is, if Zima was still profitable on a small scale and it still has its fans, would it not make a decent business for someone interested in serving a niche market? Hmmm . . . maybe I could be my own boss? Zima, anyone?