So most marketing experts probably already know this but I am reflecting on the idea and wanted to share. What makes a product good for a consumer market is quiet different from a business market.  This is probably rule #1 of business "know your audience".  But specifically, businesses will buy functional tools because it gives them a competitive edge, and of course, time is money.  But its much harder to sell the same kinds of tools to consumers.  What then are consumers motivated by? Emotional-based products; music, movies, books, sports, food, love, religion. No wonder these are such great online markets (iTunes, Netflix, Amazon, etc...)

 But try to sell consumers on functional tools and the battle is much harder.  Take for example Apple, they didn't sell people on computers because they were "functional" (Windows tried that angle).  Apple instead sold "cool." Why? Consumers will buy "cool."  However, take for example "The Swiffer," as useful as it is, the product just doesn't evoke passion.   It can be sold as functional, but not for the same relative price-point as an emotion-based sell.

On the business side however, productivity tools do sell and people are passionate about them; anything to make the operation is faster, better or give it a leading edge.  But here is the incongruity... what happens if you try selling a productivity tool to a consumer market?