http://gapingvoid.com/2005/08/27/the-800-pound-gorilla/ "cartoons drawn on the back of business cards" Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:17:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= http://gapingvoid.com/2005/08/27/the-800-pound-gorilla/#comment-7579 Johnnie Moore Tue, 30 Aug 2005 17:08:13 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=1724#comment-7579 Hugh: Why not put your prices up a $K or two? Hugh: Why not put your prices up a $K or two?

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2005/08/27/the-800-pound-gorilla/#comment-7578 teeveedubya Mon, 29 Aug 2005 11:35:52 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=1724#comment-7578 NPR and BBC4? Congratulations. That neither of them do commercials is especially sweet. enjoy the ride hugh! NPR and BBC4? Congratulations. That neither of them do commercials is especially sweet. enjoy the ride hugh!

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2005/08/27/the-800-pound-gorilla/#comment-7577 hugh macleod Sun, 28 Aug 2005 10:45:43 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=1724#comment-7577 James, of course, the fact that it's well-written is key. Had it been pedestrian and plodding, I doubt it would've have gotten so much attention. But nobody who knows Thomas would accuse him of being pedestrian and plodding, so it was never really an issue. I'm not sure if I agree with you 100% on your second point. I think the business model generated a lot of initial interest among the non-suit buyers. It's certainly that which got the attention of the mainstream media. You may not include yourself on that list, but that's OK. James, of course, the fact that it’s well-written is key. Had it been pedestrian and plodding, I doubt it would’ve have gotten so much attention.
But nobody who knows Thomas would accuse him of being pedestrian and plodding, so it was never really an issue.
I’m not sure if I agree with you 100% on your second point. I think the business model generated a lot of initial interest among the non-suit buyers. It’s certainly that which got the attention of the mainstream media. You may not include yourself on that list, but that’s OK.

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2005/08/27/the-800-pound-gorilla/#comment-7576 James Kew Sun, 28 Aug 2005 09:46:47 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=1724#comment-7576 "The big initial rush of traffic that came English Cut's way wasn't people wanting to buy suits, but people who found the business model fascinating, and wanted to see how it could apply to what they're doing." The first half of that rings true: I suspect many visited English Cut purely out of cat-walking-on-hind-legs fascination at the idea of a blogging tailor, with the juxtaposition of old-world skills and new-world technology that implies. But the idea that all of the early visitors were fellow marketers looking for ideas seems a little too egotistical to me. I know I visited fairly early and had no interest in the business model; my initial interest was sheer novelty, and I remain subscribed because the content is interesting and well-written. Would English Cut have succeeded if the writing (which is Tom, right? comments about "him running around like crazy while I blog away in my pyjamas" make me wonder about ghostwriting) were pedestrian and plodding? “The big initial rush of traffic that came English Cut’s way wasn’t people wanting to buy suits, but people who found the business model fascinating, and wanted to see how it could apply to what they’re doing.“
The first half of that rings true: I suspect many visited English Cut purely out of cat-walking-on-hind-legs fascination at the idea of a blogging tailor, with the juxtaposition of old-world skills and new-world technology that implies.
But the idea that all of the early visitors were fellow marketers looking for ideas seems a little too egotistical to me. I know I visited fairly early and had no interest in the business model; my initial interest was sheer novelty, and I remain subscribed because the content is interesting and well-written.
Would English Cut have succeeded if the writing (which is Tom, right? comments about “him running around like crazy while I blog away in my pyjamas” make me wonder about ghostwriting) were pedestrian and plodding?

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2005/08/27/the-800-pound-gorilla/#comment-7575 hugh macleod Sun, 28 Aug 2005 09:02:20 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=1724#comment-7575 I am certainly not hinting that, Peter. I'm happy as a bug in a rug, selling his work... with him sewing like a maniac. But Jeeze Louise, the amount of new business that has come in during the last few weeks has just been silly... I guess there's worse problems to have. I am certainly not hinting that, Peter. I’m happy as a bug in a rug, selling his work… with him sewing like a maniac.
But Jeeze Louise, the amount of new business that has come in during the last few weeks has just been silly… I guess there’s worse problems to have.

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2005/08/27/the-800-pound-gorilla/#comment-7574 Peter Cooper Sun, 28 Aug 2005 08:49:38 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=1724#comment-7574 <em>No, it's not fair, and long-term I don't think it's sustainable.</em> I disagree, unless you're hinting that he, perhaps, should work harder at getting his own sales to "cut out the middleman". It's certainly fair though. He wants to make suits, and make a handsome sum doing so. You want to sit in your pajamas, blog, and come up with unique ways of selling stuff. You both do what you want, everyone wins. Being a gymnast or a football player is harder work than being a tailor too, but you can't think for a second how unfair it is that they have to put in more effort than their managers. No, it’s not fair, and long-term I don’t think it’s sustainable.
I disagree, unless you’re hinting that he, perhaps, should work harder at getting his own sales to “cut out the middleman”.
It’s certainly fair though. He wants to make suits, and make a handsome sum doing so. You want to sit in your pajamas, blog, and come up with unique ways of selling stuff. You both do what you want, everyone wins. Being a gymnast or a football player is harder work than being a tailor too, but you can’t think for a second how unfair it is that they have to put in more effort than their managers.

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