Opinion: A Virtual Consumer Experiment Turned Financial Megahit
Paul Glazowski about Opinion...
Some Internet successes baffle me. I’m sure a few have crossed your sights and caused you to raise a brow in disbelief as well.
Here’s one example. Does the name Stardoll mean anything to you? I wager it doesn’t ring a bell for a good supply of Mashable readers, despite the fact that the site has been spotlighted in our feed in the past. Three times, in fact. First in late June 2006, and twice in early and late August 2007.
If you haven’t been fortunate to familiarize yourself yet with Stardoll, I’ll give you brief tour: Virtual dolls plus virtual brand-name attire.
Yep, that’s pretty much the extent of it. Oh, and there’s some kind of social element to it. Something about club chats.
Why do I mention this “Barbie-2.0” invention? It’s been profiled today in the latest New York Times Magazine’s Consumed column, authored by Rob Walker. The reason he’s pinned up the site for all (who have no paid it heed already) to see: it’s grown a lot since it first broke onto the scene.
(To disclose fully here, our own Kristen Nicole was already aware of the site’s phenomenal success many months ago. Kristen has spoken rather optimistically of the site.)
What intrigued me enough to read Walker’s piece today and, in turn, offer a personal musing on the company myself, is what the business has managed to create without creating much at all. (more…)
