Is your business stuck trying to figure out what your customer wants? You know there’s a really clever and sophisticated way to discover this….
Ask em! There’s a niche in the retail business where companies let the customer design and personalize what they buy. Nike was one of the first. It’s called NikeID. You pick the shoe you pick color the design the accents the sole they even let you personalize it with your name, or my case directions.Then there’s Jones Soda.They’ll take your personal photo and make a label from it, so you can serve YOUR NAME & FACE at your next party. Narcissist party of one you table’s ready… Seriously, if Jones likes it, you could be famous. Jones will distribute it nationally.
Topping that might be this company, Threadless founded by Thomas Ryan. His company was recently named most innovative small company in America by Inc. Magazine. It’s a T-shirt company where they’ve left the creativity and hassle of designing their shirts… up to you! YOU design it, YOU submit your art work and the online public votes….if THEY like your design, YOU win money and residuals every time Threadless sells your shirt. So far over 7 million has been awarded to 1,300 artists. They can afford it. It’s got 30 million in sales with a 30% profit margin. The idea of selling YOU as the brand is brilliant. Your customers get creative… they tell their friends. Their friends will talk about you on a social network…and who wins? Your company! You caused YOUR IDEA to go viral FOR THEM!
Here’s the point …as much as you think you know your customer, most of the time you’ll guess wrong. So let them tell you what they want to buy!
Oh finally, want your company to go viral? Contact me and I’ll do a Relevant Report all about YOU and how interesting YOU are. You think I’m kidding? I wish I was…I don’t even know you…and yet, I make the offer. Call me.
The Relevant Report
Michael Burger