Comments on: Fight for what’s unique http://www.czmarketing.com/blog/2008/11/10/fight-for-whats-unique/ Driving Growth Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:28:43 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Scott Roy http://www.czmarketing.com/blog/2008/11/10/fight-for-whats-unique/comment-page-1/#comment-16336 Scott Roy Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:01:14 +0000 http://www.czmarketing.com/blog/?p=26#comment-16336 As the title of your blog entry suggests, I think "fighting for what is unique" is the problem we are facing and not necessarily the big corporation. Creativity requires time, effort, and risk. We need to take the time, effort, and risk to determine what sells and what does not. We next need to figure out how to promote ourselves as unique which takes additional time, effort, and risk. Do I want to "waste" my time on all this or do I do I want to slide into the tried and true method of opening a business and make a couple of pennies? You made me smile thinking of your annual trip to Amana Colonies... it must be fall again. I think about all the places I have visited. The shopping districts are always filled with T-shirt shops, cheap chatch-kes tied to the area's theme, and the same food choices. They all sell the same things. They all are close to the same prices. And they are ALL filled with tourists! Why try something new? Two exceptions quickly came to mind as I read your entry. I am sure there are others. Poopsies and The Toy Box in Galena, IL are must stop places when you visit downtown Galena. Both places offer hard-to-find and unique gifts. People can spend hours in these places, touching the merchandise, trying them out, and showing their companions their discoveries. This is shopping at its best: the discovery. Creating the environment of discovery takes effort and I do not think many (corporations or small business people) want to dedicate the time, effort, and risk to give their customers this experience. As the title of your blog entry suggests, I think “fighting for what is unique” is the problem we are facing and not necessarily the big corporation. Creativity requires time, effort, and risk. We need to take the time, effort, and risk to determine what sells and what does not. We next need to figure out how to promote ourselves as unique which takes additional time, effort, and risk. Do I want to “waste” my time on all this or do I do I want to slide into the tried and true method of opening a business and make a couple of pennies?

You made me smile thinking of your annual trip to Amana Colonies… it must be fall again.

I think about all the places I have visited. The shopping districts are always filled with T-shirt shops, cheap chatch-kes tied to the area’s theme, and the same food choices. They all sell the same things. They all are close to the same prices. And they are ALL filled with tourists! Why try something new?

Two exceptions quickly came to mind as I read your entry. I am sure there are others. Poopsies and The Toy Box in Galena, IL are must stop places when you visit downtown Galena. Both places offer hard-to-find and unique gifts. People can spend hours in these places, touching the merchandise, trying them out, and showing their companions their discoveries. This is shopping at its best: the discovery.

Creating the environment of discovery takes effort and I do not think many (corporations or small business people) want to dedicate the time, effort, and risk to give their customers this experience.

]]> By: Steven http://www.czmarketing.com/blog/2008/11/10/fight-for-whats-unique/comment-page-1/#comment-16334 Steven Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:05:07 +0000 http://www.czmarketing.com/blog/?p=26#comment-16334 Dave This is so true and a challenge for any creative types working in an environment where creativity is not allowed to flourish. In Seth Godin's blog he says that many of us "show up sober, listen to the boss and lift heavy objects". Real growth and career fulfillment lies, I think, in taking the risk, being creative and standing out against the backdrop of the Amana Colonies Corporation. Dave

This is so true and a challenge for any creative types working in an environment where creativity is not allowed to flourish. In Seth Godin’s blog he says that many of us “show up sober, listen to the boss and lift heavy objects”. Real growth and career fulfillment lies, I think, in taking the risk, being creative and standing out against the backdrop of the Amana Colonies Corporation.

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