Is Your Business Weird?
Being “weird” is now a badge of honor. We don’t care to be around people who are so self conscious they don’t ever show their true personality. Let’s face it – we’re all a little bizarre. Exposing our mutual weirdness bonds a group in a way that being polite and tactful never would. This mentality has huge implications in the business world.
Businesses today who embrace the weird are the ones that thrive. Think of your favorite businesses: the ones with personality, who seem to “get” your individual desires, who have a unique story. They aren’t trying to be all things to all people – they un-apologetically true to themselves.
Two of my favorites:
Whole Foods is my favorite place to grocery shop. I care enough about my health and know enough about the benefits of organic and whole foods that I LOVE having an entire store dedicated to the lifestyle. I know that I’ll find unique products that I haven’t tried yet, and I’ll be able to score the hard-to-find produce that I can’t get in other places. The whole store exudes a healthy, weird vibe. They completely ignore what is “normal” All-American food to give people healthier options.
Crossfit is a fitness lifestyle that is basically the anti-gym. They have “boxes” (Crossfit facilities) that are popping up all over the country, including in Clarksville, that have hoards of rabid fans. They debunk the notion of spending a half hour on a treadmill is ‘working out’. For the girls, you’ll sometimes hear the mantra ’strong is the new skinny’.
Dave Ramsey encourages his followers to be financially “weird”. Ditch the credit cards, conventional wisdom, and debt. Live a lifestyle now that isn’t normal, to be able to live the lifestyle that you want later. His followers/customers are extremely loyal and his business is thriving.
In our metro area of Clarksville, there are HUGE opportunities for businesses with personality. I can only think of a handful businesses that I can say I know what their personality is – in that they have figured out hiding behind corporate grayness doesn’t work as well as it used to, and are using advertising to communicate their weird. The weird is what connects us. We have fierce love for the things, businesses, and people that are weird in the same way we are. Embrace it. Show it. Reap the benefits.
Who are your favorite weird businesses??
Leave a comment below.
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