You’ve got a friend in me

July 26, 2010 · 10 comments

Caution: If you’re intending on watching Toy Story 3 and don’t want to hear how the films ends, it is probably best not to read on!

The ending is brilliant. Andy, now all grown up, has to decide what he wants to do with the toys that had brought him joy and happiness as a child. What does he decide to do? He passes these toys onto another child and allows someone else to experience what he once did. The product truly lives on.

Creating an experience that sticks with the consumer is gold for the marketing man. Creating an experience that can continue to be shared and passed on is even better – it’s immeasurable.

Are there any products that have given you a fantastic experience, which you were then able to pass onto somebody else?

I would love to hear about them.

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Tagged as: brands, experiences, products, sharing, toy story 3

http://www.jedlangdon.com/ Jed Langdon

Hi Rob,

I have been pondering this for a while to think about why my favourite childhood toy has stuck with me so much (and why even now I feel like getting it down from the attic – please don't tell anyone!). You are spot on, its because it was an experience rather than a toy. It was an experience which went on hour after hour, day after day, year after year. It was creative, you could use your imagination or you could follow instructions. You could play on your own or with your freinds, or even with your parents. It was the fact that this experience could be shared though that made it even more enjoyable and memorable.

I can't wait for an excuse to be able to share this experience with someone else, and maybe even visit the theme park of this iconic brand.

Can you guess what it is yet?
http://www.robertpickstone.com Robert Pickstone

Up until the theme park reference, I thought it was a snooker cue! The answer is not screaming out at me so I will have to have proper think about this…
annholman

Love this post and its analogy Rob. Sharing is a basic human need that we are taught when young, then somehow its driven out of us by work! Books are the things I sometimes pass on!
http://www.robertpickstone.com Robert Pickstone

Are you talking about Lego?
http://www.robertpickstone.com Robert Pickstone

Thank you Ann. I'm not sure why sharing is driven out of us. What do you think? Sharing knowledge is so important – in the workplace sharing knowledge can help performance, whilst personally sharing knowledge can be fun, rewarding and almost a buzz for some people.

Books are a great example of passing an experience on!
http://www.juusmedia.com/ Jason Stanley

I do believe a great deal of this is to do with nostalgia.

For instance I have an old original Star Wars Chewbacca figurine that I used to play with when I was about 5 years old. I still have that toy today. It only has one leg, is pretty beaten up and I have another one (with both legs complete) but the memories of having that one in particular are so built deep within me that one look at the toy can bring all those memories back.

That is where the desire to share comes from. I now want someone else to experience that same joy but I also want to relive that experience by seeing another person enjoy it. Very interesting subject.
http://www.robertpickstone.com Robert Pickstone

That's a really great point about being able to relive an experience by sharing it with others. Great experiences and emotions can stick with people for life, and people can often want to experience them again despite being 'too old' for a product. Experiencing something great and then wanting others to feel the same emotion is natural. In a strange sort of way I get really annoyed when I watch a great film, ask others to watch it, and when it is on others get distracted and don't pay full attention! It frustrates me that they are potentially missing out.
Alastair

Hi Rob, It's a great point and one that is touched on in the book 'The Go-Giver' which I love (and was in fact passed onto me by Julian Summerhayes). I've since given out that book to about 5 people and the reaction has been awesome. One person I gave it to visited me today and told me they loved it so much that they passed it on as well….

In terms of work, getting a referral (or having some passed onto you) is the holy grail. If someone is happy to put their neck on the line to pass you a customer you mustn't underestimate just how important that is for that person.

By the way, the author of Go Giver is on Twitter and engages with everyone @bobburg
Nicola Walder

Asthe oldest grandchild my toys were all passed on to my younger sister and then younger cousins, meaning not only did they leave my immediate family, but one day I will not be able to pass them onto my children. My husband's parents however have held on to all of the classic toys so he is frequently able to take a trip down memory lane when he sees his nephews playing with his toys of 25 years ago! Some things like the Bluebird yellow teapot are timeless and I would like to see them again! However all is not lost as my parents still have cycling Sindy with bike, camping gear and accessories!
Maybe one day the toys of years ago will be cleared out from my Cousin'e room and end up back in my loft? Hope so!
http://www.robertpickstone.com Robert Pickstone

Are you a little bit happy that others might be enjoying the Bluebird Yellow Teapot? Lets face it – your diary is usually too packed for you to be able t oplay with toys!