Comments on: Community is great, just don’t start with a crap product

By: davidglashan

davidglashan — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:33:28 +0000

came across this and have to say, “I love the attitude” i am not a great marketeer and that is why i am reading as much as i can to learn, I do believe that i have great inovative practical and cool products, I just need to get them known out there, any advice would be fantastic.

By: davidglashan

davidglashan — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:33:28 +0000

By: socialmallard

socialmallard — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:48:48 +0000

Hi Tim, thanks for the comment and I hope things are going OK on your end!

To clarify a bit, I didn't mean to knock marketers – given I am one – nor anyone at WOMMA – which I desperately wish I could have attended. I just wanted to highlight that it's damn hard to build a passionate community on top of crappy products. Great marketing is vital, but it can't overcome a horrible foundation. As you pointed out, Patagonia is definitely one of those who got it right.

To a lesser degree, it's the same way for me with REI. It's like my temple, some days I just go to wander and absorb it all, and I talk up the place to anyone who will listen.

By: Tim K

Tim K — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:39:59 +0000

Totally on, Kevin!

Patagonia has remained true to building amazing products for their core users for decades.

I'm guessing the bulk of the geeks at the WOMMA conference don't have 20 year-old (still functioning and adored) Patagonia retro fleece jackets in their closets. But Patagonia's core customers do. And it's those climbers, fishers, surfers, and skiers who talk about all the cool trips they've taken with that gear, how awesome Patagonia quality is, and so.

It's those folks who build the buzz that gets the mainstream to buy ass-loads of Patagonia organic t-shirts and computer messenger bags and allow Bondurant to work his marketing magic (not to mention get his conference invite .