Shoot, maybe this being real stuff works after all (yes, yes, it is its own reward too). Authenticity is so rare that it leaps out in a noisy crowded cluttered world. And being original its vibe continues to resonate with its own matching audience -- in case you are worried everyone were to suddenly wake up and becomes authentic tomorrow
Being visible and then gaining trust in the market is particularly tough for new and small businesses with limited resources. Entrepreneur Patrick Misterovich been reading this blog for a few months. Here's a bit of context from his blog profile:
I am a stay-at-home dad with three young sons and a small company called Lincoln West Studio. When I say small, I really mean it’s just me. In July 2004, I read a story about a guy who turned an Altoid’s tin into a set of iPod speakers. It got me thinking.
After that initial spark, the idea of an MP3 player in the guise of a PEZ-candy dispenser was hatched. In a recent email exchange which I initiated he writes:
As far as my project goes, things have been absolutely crazy lately. I sent a single email message to Phil Torrone of Make magazine telling him that PEZ had signed the contract. From there Cory Doctorow picked it up and posted to Boing Boing. From there it has gone crazy. I have done interviews with Fortune, Miami Herald, CNET, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, a couple of radio stations, a couple of local TV stations. The PEZ MP3 player has been mentioned on CNN, Washington Post, lots of local radio and TV. This without me doing anything.
I discovered that people really responded to the truth. The truth being that I am a stay-at-home dad trying to bring a crazy idea to life. The more interviews I have done the more I discovered my voice. I used to try and hide the fact that I was a stay at home dad. I also spent a lot of time thinking of how I could position the player to be popular with the right crowd and try pull a Tipping Point. But what I have learned is that the story is the thing. The story is about an unlikely product and an unlikely creator. The idea of an MP3 player shaped like a PEZ is quirky. Some people are going to get it and some won't. To make the idea even more quirky it is being brought to life by the unlikeliest person, in an unlikely place, using the unlikeliest of "open source" methods.
My favorite line: "This without me doing anything." Yes, that's the whole point, of course.
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