Archive for the ‘Authenticity Journal’ Category
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August 29th, 2008
In this corner, the real President
by Jim Gilmore
The last e-mail I read last evening, sneaking into my home-office after returning with my son from his evening hockey practice (yes, we start winter hockey in August in Cleveland!) and before heading upstairs to our sitting room to nestle in and watch Barack Obama's acceptance speech without distraction, was this e-mail from our managing partner, Doug Parker: << I've had three discussions with prospective clients in the past 24 hours about what we think about all the "real" references in the campaigns and speeches >> So I tuned into Obama's performance not only as an interested citizen, but as a watchful ... read more
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August 28th, 2008
Tomb of the Unknowns Doomed to be Inauthentic?
by Jim Gilmore
I encourage those lurking here to read this article by CNN.com: Tomb of the Unknowns caught in battle. Issues of authenticity dominate the question of what to do about the Tomb of the Unknowns, which is in need of repair or replacement in Arlington National Cemetery. Officials at the cemetery wish to replace the crumbling memorial with a replica marble tomb; historical preservationists cringe at that thought. "A replica is not the same thing as the original," says John Hildreth of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. True enough. But is preserving any original ... read more
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August 19th, 2008
Borders and the Placemaking Portfolio
by Joe Pine
Borders Group, owner of the chain of Borders book stores, has been "in play", as they say, for awhile but last week Barnes & Noble indicated that it will not be the suitor of its number one (physical) competitor. See, for example: Barnes & Noble not interested in buying Borders Group, newspaper reports Jim and I have a particular nostalgic reason for wanting to see Borders continue to exist and prosper. The Borders store on Michigan Avenue, across from Water Tower Place, provided most all of the books from which we learned about theatre, so great were its ... read more
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August 14th, 2008
The “Age of Fake”?
by Joe Pine
Where is the outrage? Many are asking that (now-cliched) question regarding the latest news: China faked the singing and some of the fireworks in its (wonderfully staged) opening ceremony to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Perhaps the wittiest take on it -- courtesy of our gal-about-thinkAbout Edina Lessack, who pointed it out to us -- comes from Chicago Tribune critic Julia Keller: The 'Age of Fake': Fireworks, singers, and beyond Keller asserts we're in the "Age of Fake" where "Fake doesn't seem to bother us much anymore. Fake is an accepted part of life. Fake sells." Except, ... read more
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August 4th, 2008
Using New Technologies for Real Design
by Jim Gilmore
As ones who lives in an eighty-year-old house with three wood-burning fireplaces, gas fireplaces have always struck my wife and me as so fake. When we see one at someone's house, we glance at each other with that "What are they thinking?" look that husband and wife both readily understand. Indeed, we think: Why would anyone go with such a fakery when one can have a real, wood-burning fireplace? But then last year, while on the Ohio City Home Tour that we take in each year, Beth and I visited a condo overlooking Cleveland and encountered ... read more
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July 30th, 2008
Martha Stewart’s Authentic America
by Jim Gilmore
Martha Stewart Living devotes nearly 25% of its August 2008 issue (pp. 108-147 of 176 pages) to survey "Authentic America" (discovered courtesy of my wife). Rich with vivid photographs of food, family and home furnishings in various idyllic countryside settings, a few phrases in the minimal word copy that accompanies the piece struck me as deliberately chosen to render Martha Stewart's America authentic: "secluded valley," "small-town pleasures," "simplicity and practicality," "new varieties...[of] ubiquitous impatiens...elevate this common beauty to uncommon heights," "relaxed living with Low Country elegance," and even "hearty chowder." Few of course actually live in this airbrushed reality. ... read more
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July 20th, 2008
Rendering The Hard Way
by Jim Gilmore
We've always shared our first three Axioms of Authenticity assuming the implication to be that businesses should not self-proclaim their offerings as authentic. Re-read the Axioms (or the whole of Chapter 3) and that sentiment seems obvious: Axiom 1. If you are authentic, then you don't have to say you're authentic. Axiom 2. If you say you're authentic, then you'd better be authentic. Axiom 3. It's easier to be authentic if you don't say you're authentic. Yet I've recently watched two companies quite convincingly self-proclaim the authenticity of their offerings: Import Brands Alliance defense of "The Authentic Black & Tan: Always made with Bass ... read more
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July 16th, 2008
Postcards From the Hedge: Faking a Vacation at Home | The Wall Street Journal
by scott.lash
"Staycationing" offers real value of a faked vacation as some consumers now "simulate the travel experience" in their own homes.
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July 13th, 2008
L’Occitane — en Brasil?
by Joe Pine
I was just telling someone about L'Occitane en Provence, and how one of the things I loved about this natural-authenticity-appealing retail chain was how every product actually came from Provence, and came with a story (a "true story" as the company likes to say). Then I found out only offering Provençal goods was not a true story. While visiting the site to re-order some shaving cream (the cream is nice, but it's shaving lotion is to die for), I was very surprised to discover that it was now offering products from Brazil! My immediate thought was "This is ... read more
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July 7th, 2008
The Anti-shoe
by Jim Gilmore
I recently happened upon this two-page ad copy in a magazine... Page one: We're anti-shoe. We're anti-boot. We're anti-sandal. And we're definitely anti-flip flop. In fact, we're anti anything that doesn't defend your back against the corrosive power of hard, flat surfaces. We're anti anything that doesn't improve your posture. We're anti anything that doesn't protect your knees or tone your muscles just by standing there. Actually, we're anti anything that doesn't change your life for the better. But something you can wear on your feet that can do all that? Now that we can get behind. Page two: www.theantishoe.com MBT® The Anti-shoe. So I checked out ... read more