Musings of a Marketing Maven

Christine Thompson> What's on my mind: life and work

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Entries from October 22nd, 2007

The Cost of Individual Expression

October 22nd, 2007 · Comments Off · Brand Matters, Marketing

There’s a real tension in Corporate America between the individual’s desire for creative expression — to make a mark — and the corporation’s desire to cut costs. When that individual happens to be a product manager, a marketing or brand manager, or a “creative,” it’s not uncommon for them to drive new variations in how [...]

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Interface Matters

October 21st, 2007 · Comments Off · Tools & Technology

Yesterday I was reminded that interfaces, if untested for a critical use case, can have potentially disastrous consequences. In this case the interface was between the rubber friction pads at the bottom of a long extension ladder and the rain slick Trex surface of a deck. While cleaning gutters vigorously after a recent windstorm, my [...]

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People & The Essence of Things

October 18th, 2007 · Comments Off · Back to Basics, Marketing, Tools & Technology

Several years ago IDC presented a segmentation model for mobile device users that included a cluster called “minimalists.” Minimalists routinely use technology-based products for home and work, but want products without complexity or unnecessary features. Minimalists want a phone to be a phone — not a camera, game console or FM radio. They want a [...]

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