Tuesday’s company:
Method
“What the style element does is it creates mass market relevance for a green product. And I'm not just talking about Method right now, although that is very much our strategy. We're not the first company to think cleaners should be green, but we are doing them in a way that makes them accessible both from a price-point standpoint and from a design/aesthetic standpoint to everyone else who isn't this sort of tree-hugging granola -- forgive the expression ... Why would you do all this green stuff and then just hang out with other greenies? That's one of the biggest reasons why the traditional environmental movement has not succeeded. It's not democratic. One of the big goals with Method, and why design and sustainability are inextricably linked in our brand, is that if you don't have the design element, you're only going to appeal to people who are already green, so you're not actually going to create any real environmental change ... To us, "sustainability" and "green" are just aspects of the quality of our product -- they are not a marketing positioning ... I mean everything should be that way. Just build it into the quality of the product and let the experience of the product be the real hero.”
--Method Co-Founder Adam Lowry, in an interview with Grist.
They meet all the criteria of the list I put up yesterday, make products that work properly (and don’t look completely hideous while on your kitchen counter), and the quote above pretty much sums up why I chose them for this list. Also, they’re independently owned and are in no hurry (from what I have read) to sell out to a large corporation. Plus, it's always an inspiration to me to see younger people running successful businesses.
See you tomorrow.
Anyone have any companies they admire? Feel free to comment and tell us why.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Companies That "Get it" Installment #2
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2 comments:
Method products are great(avoid the stainless cleaner, though). The descriptions and instructions are humorous if you're used to reading the overly detailed instructions on most products. (Reference Brian Regan's commentary on "Pop Tart Instructions" here http://youtube.com/watch?v=l8kThoZpF_U )
I see A LOT of their products on the clearance aisle at our local Kroger, so we usually snatch up quite a bit of it every time it appears. (I'm confident it is a local thing; we have a high bpsm (bumpkin per square mile) ratio.)
As for my choices, Google is the clear winner. They excel in everything they release, they consistently rank as the best place to work, their products/service touch huge number of areas, and they provide wealth for their shareholders. They are a huge business, though, and there are some criticisms regarding China and their search engine.
I also like Valve Software (http://www.valvesoftware.com/) a great deal. They themselves were a small game development house that utilized traditional publishers like Sierra, Activision, or Electronic Arts. They developed a digital distribution system, Steam, giving smaller developers like themselves the opportunity to release games without having to break into brick and mortar stores (and no more wasteful paper manuals, cds, or boxes).
Initially, the system was heavily criticized, but now, you'll find almost all major publishers with their games on the platform. Like so many other successful business, they made it a hit regardless of the critics.
I've never head of the bpsm ratio before. Interesting consideration.
I have to agree with you 100% on google and their workplace environment. Their facilities are pretty amazing, which, as we both notice, trickles down to the final product.
And yes, the copy writing on all Method products is reason enough for me to purchase them!
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