WOMMA stickies
April 24th, 2007
After attending my seventh WOMMA event you might ask does a WOMMA event still have it. The energy, conversations and the content. In my opinion YES. I do miss Andy’s energy but the current WOMMA staff organized a wonderfully rich experience. I was really looking forward to hearing Chip Heath author of Made to Stick and he delivered. Who’s up for some Voodoo doughnuts? I got a double scoop of Chip Heath by also getting to share a lunch table and a wonderful discussion with Chip and my table. Other notable speakers and Case Studies were from Perrin Kaplan of Nintendo, the Wii was the word of mouth darling of the conference. It might be a stretch to consider Nintendo the underdog but in the battle of the console they are. And they won big. Lance Gentry of Izze and Ted Wright of Fizz were their typical engaging, funny, bold selves. I also enjoyed Ed Cotton of BSSP and the MINI case study. Yes, I’m a MINI owner but BSSP has done an amazing job to begin reaching to MINI evangelists. John Moore also outdid himself taking 300 attendees through a lunch WOM workout session.
The other part of WOMMA that I always look forward to is the socializing with all the kindred spirits of WOM. Josh Hallet of hyku, Bob Troia, Ted Wright, David Binkowski, Steve Hershberger, the list could go on and on. But conversations with these folks make WOMMA special to me.
On a final WOMMA note call me a homer but I have to give major kudos to our client Suzanne Fanning of Fiskars. Suzanne gets it, she believes in letting Fiskars customers have the word good or bad. It was great to sit on the back row and watch Virginia and Suzanne give the passionate testimony of Fiskateers. I wish I could say I taught her everything she knows but from the very first conversation we had with Suzanne she wanted to do the right thing.
And then there’s New Orleans. I love that city, the people, the food, music, and the signs. Man I love the signs. I took photos of over 50 signs, neon, painted, old, new, good and bad. The good news the New Orleans vibe is making it back. The bad news is that the crowds are way to sparse.
Other posts by Geno.
David Binkowski says:
It was the Q&A from the Tabasco session that made it special, wasn’t it?
It was great seeing you again, my friend.
April 24th, 2007 at 11:15 amChristy says:
We just got the “Made to Stick” download from two folks who attended WOMBAT last week. Of course, the hot button for our internal presenter was how he couldn’t have Chip’s presentation to deliver internally.
“He’s going against his own premise!” was the rally cry.
However, the very approach that Chip takes with his material makes it forbidden fruit. Knowing we had no materials to fall back on, we listened very carefully.
And, now, of course, we’re all waiting impatiently to read the book.
Geno, thanks for sharing your experiences. Wish I could have been there.
April 25th, 2007 at 7:39 amTed Wright says:
Thanks for the shout out(s) Geno. Love to you as well, man. I’d mention just one other “stickie” from NOLA and that was Ryan Berger/EuroRSCG prezo on the Jag campaign. There was some real cutting edge WOMM done on that campaign. The idea that he and his staff could get all that through the FoMoCo people is just amazing to me.
April 25th, 2007 at 1:02 pmAlways glad to see all of the Brains on Fire gang at the WOMMA meetings.
Thanks to everyone for attending the Fizz absinthe after party on Tuesday night. We had lots of fun putting that together and enjoyed seeing everyone.
Geno says:
Guys, it was an honor to share some absinthe with you guys. Ted, my bad for not mentioning the kick ass party. I did have some wicked dreams that night.
Christy, Chip’s background as a college professor serves him well as a presenter. Chip had some of the best pacing I’ve seen.
April 26th, 2007 at 6:05 amChristy says:
Ahhh… good presenters. Love a good presentation. I *will* be there next year, to see this stuff live. Alas, I had projects to tend yet again.
April 26th, 2007 at 10:52 amowen says:
hey all-
the video interviews we shot at wombat3 are up on our site…including a session with suzanne fanning of fiskars. good stuff! jesse and i enjoyed catching up with y’all. ’till next time-
owen
http://cobrandit.com/blog/womma/
April 27th, 2007 at 8:36 amAndy Sernovitz says:
I missed you too, Geno!
I wish I could have been there, but we were havin’ a baby. Ivy Liberty, 7lb, baby and mommy are happy and well.
Cheers,
Andy
May 3rd, 2007 at 4:37 amsuzanne says:
Your words are very kind, Geno, but I have to admit that you taught me quite a bit. Thanks and here’s to spreading the Fire!!!
September 20th, 2007 at 2:46 pm