DWR

Everyone has been touched by this economy unless you are living under a rock. I like the transparency I'm reading about from Design Within Reach. The CEO continues to blog about rumors, dispel gossip-mongering and, well...tells the truth. A new feature on their site is a little bit where they shared stories from the folks at the company. I think we often forget behind the pearly gates of corporate america still sits everyday people. No matter what the brand individuals with passion (we hope) for a specific product, cause, service, etc. are often the mysterious faces that drive the emotional need we all have at some point for a product. I like what DWR is doing, its creating relationships by connecting customers to creators of ideas and products. Most of its letting the outside (us) in on the conversation, the process, the decisions, etc. and its creating a connection between creator and consumer. When all else is equal and prices are the same here or there it may be the conversation, the connection, the willingness to be open that lets me, Joe consumer decide to go the DWR route over, say, some other vendor peddling their stuff elsewhere.

http://blog.dwr.com/designnotes/