For years now, I’ve been riffing on “The Global Microbrand”, something I’ve always wanted to create for myself:
A small, tiny brand, that “sells” all over the world…The Global Microbrand is sustainable. With it you are not beholden to one boss, one company, one customer, one local economy or even one industry. Your brand develops relationships in enough different places to where your permanent address becomes almost irrelevant.
And from what became glaringly obvious early on, a lot of my fellow bloggers had the same idea. To which I’ve always said, “Hurrah!”:
So then the next question is, when does your microbrand become TRULY global? Where is the tipping point?
Your guess is as good as mine, it really all depends on your definition of “global”. Although this blog has had readers from all over the planet for many years, most of my actual, paid business over time has come from the UK and America. So it never felt THAT global to me.
Then last week I shipped an order of signed prints to a client in Brazil…
And then today, somebody from Mainland China purchased a Purple Cow print. We’re talking “Mainland”. Not Hong Kong. Not Taiwan. Mainland.
Something interesting is happening, I can feel it…
The New Republic
Len Schlesinger
Seth Godin
Brian Clark
Sweet. It’s fun to think of people in other countries admiring one’s work. Early on a blog in Brazil picked up my work bringing a LOT of ongoing traffic. Then a German vlog covered me and I had to ask a contact in Germany to tell me what they’d said! A guy in Lebanon got one of my handpainted stickers and another in Italy bought a Springsteen. Now I just found out that a French television show featured my work.
Art knows no boundaries.
Peace.
Hugh,
If you do ever write another book — it should be on global microbrands. Definitely.
Come over to X media lab Aotearoa !
we need crazy deranged fools!
I’m so looking forward to seeing this Purple Cow print hanging in my room. Seth’s book and your blog changed my life. I’m very much indebted to you two. Thanks Hugh! Best regards from China (Mainland that is) : )