Status Skills

A September 2006 posting on trendwatching.com sheds light on the coproduction-drive called "Status Skills". The article discusses the trend of "status skills", which are skills customers acquire related to specific goods or services. For example, if you buy a Mini Cooper, you can take a course for EU 325 that will teach you how to drive it. If you buy an Apple computer, you can go to an Apple Store to take a free course to learn how to manipulate mp3's.

The link to customer experiences is that companies are creating add-on experiences to support full usage of their goods and services. They are also developing a community of like-minded customers who become further "walking advertisements" for the companies.

For a peek at the trend, see http://www.trendwatching.com/trends/status-skills.htm

Toilet Paper Experience

Flipping through the Sunday circulars this weekend uncovered an interesting twist on coproduction experiences. Cottonelle, a toilet paper, markets itself as helping kids learn how much toilet paper to use (a problem any parent has). The toilet paper has printed on it "puppy tracks" leading to an image of a puppy engaged in some sort of interesting activity. The message: when you see the puppy, tear off the paper.

Check it out at: http://www.cottonelle.com/products/kids.asp