AG1 Failed. Here's Why.

Summary

The speaker critiques AG1 by Athletic Greens, highlighting it as overpriced and overhyped, with concerns over transparency and efficacy. They reveal that the actual cost of ingredients is significantly lower than the sale price and question the trustworthiness of influencers promoting the product. The speaker contrasts this with their own company, Blueprint, which they claim offers transparency, scientific evidence, and clinical-grade doses at a lower price. They emphasize their commitment to transparency and customer trust, while criticizing AG1’s marketing tactics and product composition.

Takeaways

• 💊 AG1 by Athletic Greens is marketed as a nutritional supplement but is criticized for being overpriced and overhyped.
• 📈 The actual cost of the ingredients in AG1 is estimated at around $10, but the product is sold for $99, creating a significant profit margin.
• 💸 AG1’s marketing strategy heavily relies on influencers, offering them recurring commissions between 20% and 30%, creating potential bias in their promotions.
• 🤔 AG1 allegedly 'pixie dusts' ingredients, meaning it includes small, clinically insignificant amounts of certain ingredients, giving a false impression of effectiveness.
• 🧾 Of AG1’s listed ingredients, 49 do not have a disclosed dose, making it unclear what consumers are ingesting.
• 🌐 The speaker contrasts AG1 with their own company, Blueprint, which claims full transparency by listing all ingredients, doses, and providing third-party lab test results.
• 💪 Blueprint aims to use clinical-grade doses of scientifically-backed ingredients to build effective supplement stacks at a competitive price.
• 💼 Blueprint claims their product is priced lower than what individuals would pay if buying each ingredient separately.
• 🔍 The speaker emphasizes that even in the scientific community, there is disagreement on what constitutes the 'best' nutrition approach.
• 🤝 The speaker stresses the importance of trust and transparency in the health and wellness industry, suggesting AG1 lacks these qualities.

Q & A

What is AG1 by Athletic Greens?

AG1 by Athletic Greens is a nutritional supplement marketed as an all-in-one drink for health and wellness. It contains various vitamins, minerals, and proprietary blends.

What concerns are raised about AG1's pricing?

The speaker mentions that AG1's ingredients cost around $10, but the product is sold for $99, implying a significant markup that the speaker considers unjustified.

How does AG1 use influencers for marketing?

AG1 pays influencers between 20% and 30% for each product sale made through their affiliate links. This arrangement is recurring, meaning influencers continue earning commissions from repeat customers, leading to substantial earnings for the influencers.

What is 'pixie dusting,' and how is it relevant to AG1?

Pixie dusting refers to including well-known ingredients in a product but in quantities too small to provide any real benefit. The speaker accuses AG1 of pixie dusting by not providing clinically effective doses of its ingredients.

What transparency issues are raised about AG1?

AG1 is criticized for not disclosing the specific amounts of many ingredients, particularly in its proprietary blends. Of the 75 ingredients in AG1, 49 do not have disclosed doses.

How does the speaker's 'Blueprint' stack differ from AG1?

The Blueprint stack, created by the speaker, emphasizes full transparency by listing all ingredients with their exact doses. It is also priced lower than AG1 and uses clinical-grade doses based on scientific evidence.

What is the speaker’s stance on the health and wellness industry?

The speaker acknowledges that the health and wellness industry is filled with disagreement, even among experts. However, they emphasize the importance of transparency, scientific evidence, and fair pricing.

Why does the speaker believe AG1 is overhyped?

The speaker believes AG1 is overhyped because its marketing creates the impression of significant health benefits, while the actual ingredient doses may not be sufficient to deliver those benefits.

How does the speaker describe the role of transparency in their product?

The speaker states that their Blueprint stack is fully transparent, including public lab tests (COAs) and detailed ingredient information. This level of transparency contrasts with AG1's proprietary blends and undisclosed doses.

What broader issue does the speaker highlight about trust in product recommendations?

The speaker stresses that influencer-driven marketing, where influencers are financially incentivized to promote products, creates a conflict of interest and makes it difficult for consumers to trust product recommendations.