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37signals has hired a full time filmmaker to document its every move

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Re: 37signals has hired a full time filmmaker to document its every move

#11

Post by shareme »

jbarham wrote: post #5
epo wrote: post #2

It used to be a golden rule for investors that they should see signs of needless ostentation (e.g. a fountain in reception, limos for all executives) as a danger signal. Excuse the pun but making a film about yourself does not send out a good, signal about 37signals.

Given that 37signals don't have investors, why should they care? (I know that Bezos has tossed some money their way, but the terms were apparently in exchange for his advice, rather than for an eventual exit.)

It does in fact have investors

Re: 37signals has hired a full time filmmaker to document its every move

#12

Post by epo »

jbarham wrote: post #5
epo wrote: post #2

It used to be a golden rule for investors that they should see signs of needless ostentation (e.g. a fountain in reception, limos for all executives) as a danger signal. Excuse the pun but making a film about yourself does not send out a good, signal about 37signals.

Given that 37signals don't have investors, why should they care? (I know that Bezos has tossed some money their way, but the terms were apparently in exchange for his advice, rather than for an eventual exit.)

No but customers might, after all a company with money to openly indulge in corporate masturbation might find it difficult to justify their pricing or put prices up, imagine the reaction to Netflix if they had started making a film about themselves 6 or 9 months ago.

Re: 37signals has hired a full time filmmaker to document its every move

#13

Post by epo »

hfthrowaway wrote: post #10
epo wrote: post #2

It used to be a golden rule for investors that they should see signs of needless ostentation (e.g. a fountain in reception, limos for all executives) as a danger signal. Excuse the pun but making a film about yourself does not send out a good, signal about 37signals.

Have you seen the production quality of Apple's manufacturing videos? The ones that include Jony Ive and Bob Mansfield? People like working with human-centered companies. Showcasing what goes on behind the scenes is yet another marketing/"brand management" opportunity. Actually, its a definitive advantage because most software companies are run by socially awkward people. Lastly, sighting investor's "golden rules" is…

"citing". Some general principles, especially about human behaviour are ignored at your peril.

Re: 37signals has hired a full time filmmaker to document its every move

#14

Post by maximusprime »

epo wrote: post #2

It used to be a golden rule for investors that they should see signs of needless ostentation (e.g. a fountain in reception, limos for all executives) as a danger signal. Excuse the pun but making a film about yourself does not send out a good, signal about 37signals.

37Signals is mainly a company that engages in self promotion. Very little of what they do seems to be about products, it's mostly to do with PR.

Making a movie about themselves seems like exactly the sort of thing they would do, and I'm sure it'll be lapped up by their followers.

Re: 37signals has hired a full time filmmaker to document its every move

#15

Post by skrebbel »

epo wrote: post #2

It used to be a golden rule for investors that they should see signs of needless ostentation (e.g. a fountain in reception, limos for all executives) as a danger signal. Excuse the pun but making a film about yourself does not send out a good, signal about 37signals.

These guys sell 1.000.000-ish licenses of, say, $40 on average every month, with 25 employees (or something like that). Do the math on how much profit they're making. Now that they got bored of buying exclusive cars that match the Italy villa, they hired a filmmaker.

Why would they care what an investor thinks about that? The message to customers is, and will be, "so many people chose these products, they must be good". It'll take years for that trend to reverse, and by then they can just fire the filmmaker, hire one extra interaction designer and make another nice product that they can make everybody want.

Re: 37signals has hired a full time filmmaker to document its every move

#17

Post by 16s »

Andrenid wrote: post #8

I'm not sure if this is complete egotistical wankery, or awesome. I'll get back to you after I watch the movie.

My vote is for complete egotistical wankery... mostly because I like the sound of that. It fit's the fart-app/social generation very well I think.

Re: 37signals has hired a full time filmmaker to document its every move

#18

Post by brudgers »

The first thing that crossed my mind when I read the headline was "The Office."

However, it isn't a bad approach to marketing. Considering that many of their users are captive - i.e. are required to use their product by their employer - showing the thought that goes into their product is likely to create buy-in among the worker bees of 37signals' customers.

Re: 37signals has hired a full time filmmaker to document its every move

#19

Post by jmonegro »

shareme wrote: post #11
jbarham wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Given that 37signals don't have investors, why should they care? (I know that Bezos has tossed some money their way, but the terms were apparently in exchange for his advice, rather than for an eventual exit.)

It does in fact have investors

Not in the traditional startup way. They took some money from Jeff Bezos (in exchange for a little equity) a while back but it was so they could cash out. They didn't need it, and I'm pretty sure Bezos doesn't give a single fuck that they're doing this.

They aren't going to sell out, so Bezos wasn't looking at an exit as a return on his investment (and he doesn't need it either).

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