on line Archives - Steve Sammartino

K-Rebz

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Steve Sammartino

Earlier this week I posted about how cheap cool stuff is becoming. So I thought I’d share something cool we made in our office using Fiverr.

It’s about our IT guy Tome Krebs. He’s a funny cat and all you need to know about Tom to enjoy this video are the following facts:

We have a very old percolated coffee machine in our office. Tom drinks it – we think it’s only him.
He’s partial to grey clothing
He enjoys a good Christmas party dress up
The dog is Hanz – our office mascot

Laura organised a rapper in the USA to make up this rap. It cost $5 and I dig it big time.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzFIKB95ohU]

…
Makes a nice birthday gift idea.

And now it’s in print

Posted on June 28, 2010 by Steve Sammartino

I caught up with all round good guy Ned Dwyer yesterday. We chatted about many things, of which the top of the list was the recent launch of “And now it’s in print.” A project Ned is heavily involved with. Let me just say this. It’s one of my favourite startups this year. The world over. For many reasons, but here’s one:

I asked Ned what the business model was, and this was his reply:

“It’s too important to have a business model. We decided instead to just make something awesome and see what happens”

That’s it my friends, the startup ethic we all need to aspire to. Doing it because it matters.

A couple of other smart ideas entrepreneurs can take note of.

– They limited their production run to 500 copies (invent demand through limiting supply)

– All the articles and visuals are from content they found on line (blending off line & on line worlds)

– The idea was borrowed from South by Southwest (share ideas, re-interpret)

– They proved print can still be awesome. (Print isn’t dead, print industry management is brain dead)

– They set themselves an impossible launch deadline, and made it. (Don’t think too much, get it out there)

Kudos from me.

Some fun pics from the launch here. More info here: andnowitsinprint.com

Unlearning & decorporatisation of self

Posted on September 23, 2009 by Steve Sammartino

Another interview I did with Fiona Boyd the uber successful on-line entrepreneur who built and sold www.artshub.com.au about ‘Unlearning’. A concept which we need to embrace when leaving the corporate world to start up land. Enjoy.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwvP-bxaO7U]

Fiona has a great site with interviews and ideas on niche content. www.nichecontentmillionaire.com The title says it all – and she’s done it. Check it out.

Steve.

Social media – Numbers are irrelevant

Posted on August 4, 2009 by Steve Sammartino

I saw this little 1 minute video from Seth Godin (Who I used to worship, and now just ‘like’) and had to post it here. Be sure to read my comments below the video.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0h0LlCu8Ks]

Why the numbers are irrelevant to me….

My blog has few promotional elements on it (they’ll find me if I deserve it)
I only follow people on twitter I know. I want a conversation. Mind you if you @sammartino at some point I will follow you…. yes I’m interested in conversation.
Quantity loses to quality every time. Scores are misleading. Numbers are pointless.
Yes you can meet people on line and then create strong physical friendships. I have many times.

In summary I’d say this. If it doesn’t make sense in the real world (physical life) then there’s a good chance it doesn’t make sense on line. In ‘real life’, that is our off line life we think of our friendships and even business contacts in terms of quality. We don’t go around trying to make 1000 friends and wear a t-shirt that says ‘I have 1000 friends’. Rather, we prefer to have strong meaningful relationships which are one on one. Where both parties benefit. We don’t have a list in spread sheet with the people we’ve met. Sounds ridiculous doesn’t it?

Startups should be using social media to build relationships – not gathering numbers.

From now on I’ve changed my twitter link below on my blog posts. Can you see the change?

I am on Twitter – Click here to chat with me

Arrogance = your opportunity

Posted on January 10, 2009 by Steve Sammartino

I bought this reasonably cool pair of board shorts for surfing this summer.

They cost me a whopping $80. Which is what I call ‘insult pricing’. It’s a pretty simple equation actually. The key players in the surfwear industry (Billabong, Quiksilver and Ripcurl) charge these prices because they can. They don’t have any ‘credible competitors’ in this board short subsegment of clothing.

In recent years surf brands have been hit by many competitors in other areas of the market which they used to ‘own’. Especially in t-shirts, from the myriad of streetwear companies, to the uber cool on-line players like Neighborhoodies and Threadless. Interestingly the shorts in this photo would cost >$5 to make. There is significant margin in the product. Such high margins often begets competitive entry into the market place.

The arrogance of said surf brands has invented an opportunity for a nimble entrepreneur to steal part of this market. And the way to do it is exactly the way Threadless have. Go online and build a community to design the uber cool boardshorts / shorts and sell them globally at a fair price. In fact, surf wear is so clichéd and over branded these days that I avoid wearing it. Most of the designs are very rank and have really lost their edge. I only use surf brands for surf equipment. The only reason I bought the pair in the photo is ‘lack of options’.

If anyone knows some one already doing it – let me know
If anyone wants to do it – let me know as well. I think it’s worth ‘investing in’.