Was Kodak as Consumer-Centric as Don Draper Asked Them To Be?

I finally got to see the first season of Mad Men.  In season finale our (anti) hero Don Draper knocks their socks off with a complete re-think of what could have been a pedantic, feature-focused advertising campaign.



Kodak has a rich history of understanding and communicating its rational and emotional place in its customer’s lives.  Was it their ad agency that first pointed this out?  I’m sure the facts are not as dramatic and rich in poetry, but this my friends is one well-written and produced piece of entertainment.  It works on so many levels, not the least of which serves to inspire professionals to be this passionate and engaged in our work.  It’s worth another view.

Posted via email from ConsumerX: cXChuck's Stuff

Wondering about Wonderland

The word “Wonderland” evokes many things.  Alice comes to mind for most. I'm involved in a project here in central Ohio called Wonderland Columbus. It’s a not-for-profit (’m on the board) that is operating the building and programming. 

Wonderland is a catalyst of economic and cultural development for the creative community.  In the great tradition of things like KEXP (www.KEXP.org) it’s a place for the creative community to work, grow their businesses and for all to experience the results.

We are doing this in the old Wonder Bread factory in the Short North.  The space will have artist studios and production space, a recording studio and rehearsal space, performance space, exhibition space, retail, restaurant and office space. 

We are developing programming that will inform, enhance and encourage cross-disciplinary collaborations.  We believe that working interdependently yields things none of us can imagine.

We have received up to $800,000 in federal and state historic tax credits, hired our executive director, Columbus College of Art & Design alum Adam Brouillette and established a solid board of directors.

This is and will be a multi-million dollar project that will be self-funded and self-sustaining.  It is our business model.  In order to make this a reality we are developing a diverse portfolio of revenue and funding streams.

For example, we are up for a Pepsi Refresh Grant of $250,000.  That money will help with making the building what we need it to be.  We need you to VOTE TWICE each day--online and via text.  Go here now: http://www.refresheverything.com/wonderland .

To learn more about Wonderland go here: http://www.wonderlandcolumbus.com/  or http://www.facebook.com/#!/WonderlandColumbus .

Thanks for wondering about Wonderland.

Chuck Palmer

ConsumerX

customer-centric retail strategy

Posted via email from ConsumerX: cXChuck's Stuff

Wonderland Food Cart Food Court

<p>Wonderland Food Truck Food Court from Mike Beaumont on Vimeo.</p>

I heart Wonderland.  Wonderland Columbus (www.WonderlandColumbus.com) is a mixed use place for the creative community to work and grow their businesses.  It’s a place for all to gather to experience great stuff and meet up.  Check out this video from SpaceJunk Media’s Mike Beaumont.   It perfectly captures what we are building Wonderland to be.

Posted via email from ConsumerX: cXChuck's Stuff

The Customization Experience: Industrial Design in Everyone's Hands

http://youtu.be/oSc8IDgCoTI?hd=1

Frank Tyneski, vice president of design strategy and new product development for San Diego-based Skinit, admits to having "almost a perverse fascination with buying behavior...why people buy products and what draws them in." Tyneski is a superstar designer with an award-winning track record.  He talks about the movement of design becoming a baseline expectation in consumer products and how important customization is to building the consumer’s experience with your brand.

Posted via email from ConsumerX: cXChuck's Stuff