What Happens When You Listen

Great blog post about eTail and customer service @ the fantastic DMNews blog.

We all read blog posts and countless articles every day that preach principles like: 'Don't worry about your competition', 'Make customer service a priority', or the grand-daddy- 'Don't compete on price!' It makes a better point coming from a business that has applied these principles to grow their revenues almost 400 fold* in 6 years. Zappos.com- welcome to the place where money meets mouth.

Check it out.


Thanks to [Wooster Collective] and [Topher] for the image.
*Thanks to the comment for the correction

Absolut Bad Move

USA Today reports on the Sweedish Government's decision to put Absolut vodka (amongst other brands) on the auction block.

With an estimated price tag of $5.7 billion, potential buyers for V&S include market leader Diageo, Pernod Ricard and Fortune Brands, which already has a distribution deal with V&S.

"It's the best price that counts," Swedish Financial Markets Minister Mats Odell told The Associated Press.

Absolut is one of the most studied brands in the world, being highlighted in any university's marketing program across the U.S. not to mention (I'm sure) the rest of the world. It's the subject of books- from advertising to photography.

The most disappointing thing about this is that the buyer, whomever it is, will immediately put their own stamp on the brand, revamping their ads and calling it a "reenergizing the brand" or a "brand face lift". With the world's biggest brands willing to jump from campaign to campaign in search of immediate short term results to justify their spending, it has been fun to see one stick with their originality and creativity for so long. Even better, it's been one that's worked.

[via AdPulp]

Visa Declares War on Cash; Chase, Vowels

Visa decided to pick on something its own size, but I never thought I'd see the day when a company would take on such a large opponent, CASH MONEY. Visa's spot shows their vision of a cashless universe running like a well oiled money counter, until Mr. Square pulls out his billfold and opts to pay with printed legal tender.


On the same level, Chase has decided that vowels are a waste of time in helping to promote new ATMs. Actually, these are some of the better billboards I've seen lately. These get to the point quickly, illustrate an idea simply, are good support to their newest TV and print campaign about increasing ATM convenience.