internet done well
I have a few weaknesses, some even that I shamefully hide. One that is painfully overt is my ardor for Apple, even though they are just another mass-producer of ubiquitous consumer goods (which is the paradox and source of my shame). But one weakness of mine not often mentioned, perhaps not at all, is Threadless’ $10 sale.
Yes, Threadless is another one of my ultimate loves. Why? Because their business is done exactly the way a group of architecture, industrial design, interior design, fashion design, and art & art history students would put together a business - done with careful attention to human factors and interaction, with near-flawless aesthetics, and also with efficiency.
Threadless capitalizes on internet social networks. Few people would compare Threadless to MySpace, but the similarities are there. By becoming a Threadless member you open myriad social doors and, though you may never meet anyone face-to-face, the interaction is just as relevant since everyone votes on design submissions - and that 12 year-old social studies guru’s opinion counts as much as the 24 year-old fashion design student’s. A company that sells t-shirts they design is one thing (Urban Outfitters), but a company that sells t-shirts that you design is the new, refreshing, other thing.
I mention near-flawless aesthetics because their website, though it has become more complex in recent months, still retains a friendly user-interface. Accessing individual pages and even browsing stock availability is a cinch. But, I also mention near-flawless aesthetics because the system of user voting for designs makes sure there exists no product that won’t be cleared out of the warehouse. Imagine designing a car that you are certain will sell every model that leaves production, without even the need of a sales[wo]man. This is usually one of the biggest faults to typical design companies trying to create something innovative - what if Pontiac had polled the general populus of the looks of the Pontiac Aztec prior to having put it to market?
Finally, I point out their efficiency somewhat redundantly following the previous paragraph. However, their sale-to-delivery efficiency rivals NewEgg. If anyone has ever received a shirt other than that which they ordered, please let me know; but I will personally comment that 5 day delivery actually means 2 in Threadless terms. This is in part due to increasing “bandwidth” of shipping companies today (UPS, FedEx, DHL), but the automation of Threadless can also be praised.
I say this of course because I mentioned my weakness to $10 sales. Tomorrow, I am likely to be sporting my Hypotamoose tee. I have always wanted a geekie non-VT-related math shirt. My life is approximately one half-pound of cotton closer to complete.
August 23rd, 2006 at 11:16 am
Very nice shirt.
Don’t worry — everyone has their weaknesses for corporate behemoths. For example, I actually like buying books at Borders.