Fun With Fakebook - Dexter and Rita

My coworker told me about a nifty little site for faking facebook conversations... considering that we share a borderline unhealthy addiction to Dexter, I found his first fake conversation to be quite amusing.

--SPOILER ALERT FOR DEXTER FANS THAT HAVEN'T SEEN THE LAST EPISODE--

Free Shipping, and Possibly Free Product Awaits you at Vornado.com

Until the stroke of midnight on December 22nd - you will not pay one penny for shipping on any product at Vornado.com - this is my promise to you (that is, if you live in the United States and are cool with standard ground.)


In case you're feeling lucky - we're also randomly selecting 10 orders placed between 9:00 AM today and Midnight on December 22 - and those orders are going to be completely free. If you are one of the fortunate winners, we'll give you a call on the 23rd and alert you that you've got a few more dollars to spend on panicked last minute gift buying.

It's a heckuva time to grab a Vornado whole room heater - you'll save some money and, in case you haven't noticed. It's really, really cold outside.

Vornado Zippi Product Review

Thanks rmak for sharing your thoughts on the Zippi... we'd tend to agree with your insights!

See all Housewares reviews at Expotv

Vornado Bumper Stickers - A few ideas

I've been meaning to create bumper stickers for Vornado since I came on board over a year ago... and a Digg post gave me the motivation I needed to throw a few together... Any favorites?

Energy Efficient Heaters - How A Vornado Pays For Itself In One Season

Here's a few excerpts from our Winter Energy Savings page describing how energy efficient heaters can save you bucks.

Fact 1. Local Heat = Lower Heating Costs

“Be sure to turn the lights off when you leave the room!” We heard it from our parents, and we say it to our own children. It’s simple to understand that leaving the lights on in an unattended room wastes energy... but what about your heating? Many homes rely on a central heater that attempts to keep the whole house at one temperature. With a Vornado heater, you can heat only the rooms you are in to perfection and back off the heat for the rest of the home. Vornado’s powerful circulator propels heat throughout your space similar to how a central heater’s air duct delivers warmth to each room.

Fact 2. The Whole Room Difference

Heating the room you’re in can save you serious money- but any old heater won’t do it. Vornado’s Whole Room Heaters are engineered to heat entire rooms using effective air
circulation called “Vortex Action.” While all heaters create heat, ordinary heaters only heat the space immediately around them because they do not adequately move the heat throughout
the room. Vornado heaters feature powerful circulators that distribute the heat throughout the space. Upgrade from a “space” heater to a whole room heater and you’ll see what a difference Vornado Vortex Heating heating makes.

Fact 3. Smart Heat Control = Smart Energy Usage

Vornado heaters use “smart” control technology to regulate room temperature to precise levels. Heaters such as the VH2 and TVH500 use an on-board thermostat to tell the unit when to turn on and off based on user-selected temperature settings. The AVH2, DVTH, iControl and TVH600 go one step farther. Instead of cycling the system on and off, the system regulates the heat output and fan speed, keeping the space heated to a comfortable, even temperature. Smarter heat control equates to smarter use of energy and no other line of heaters offers the level of heating control that Vornado provides.

So How Much Can I Really Save?
Here- let me tell you... clue- it involves three digits.

Eating A Habanero Pepper - This Is Why You Shouldn't

What does one do when one eats a habanero pepper, loathes milk, and suddenly realizes there's no water nearby? This is what one does.



The mastermind (or one of them) behind this phenomenally entertaining vid was @KathyPhanDesign who sent this our way via Vornado's Twitter Account. Many thanks to Kathy and the Direct Effect Team for sharing this with us.

Ingenuity - A Wheelchair Motorcycle Mashup

Driving to lunch today I spotted a slightly unusual motorcycle ahead of me. At first I thought it was one of those WW2 era motorcycles with a sidecar- but upon closer inspection (and 20 MPH+ breaking of speed limits) I was able to see just why this motorcycle was different...







A big high five to this guy for letting nothing interfere with his love of riding!

Vornado Flippi Cameo On "The Office"

Perhaps you've asked yourself, "How does Regional Manager Michael Scott maintain his steely executive composure, offering his employees the rock-solid leadership they need to operate in a focused, productive working environment?"

Or perhaps you haven't asked that. Regardless- it is safe to say that the midnight blue Vornado Flippi on his desk is keeping his office nicely circulated - perhaps even allowing his ficus tree to grow despite its sun-deprived location.

Despite Mr. Scott's often poor judgement - we are pleased to see he selected our desk fan to accompany his treasured "World's Best Boss" mug. So - for all you "Office" fans who are searching for an office fan - I'd offer this fan.

Want to be displayed in Vornado's Lobby? Crowdsourced Art!

So, the prez has asked that I coordinate the handling of artwork in our newly remodeled lobby at our Andover, KS headquarters. I've engaged all our Vornado marketing and design folks and the options have unfolded in many directions...

After much deliberation- here is a mockup of the direction we want to go.



Crowdsourced Art

It's just a mockup- but what we really want to do is to use actual photos from our consumers.

These I just grabbed off Twitter and Flickr (and yes, iStockPhoto for filler, thanks for noticing.)

It's wide open- it could be a Vornado product- or it could be a picture that communicates how a Vornado product makes you feel. Or what it reminds you of. Could be kids... pets... people... or clear blue sky - it doesn't matter - as long as it comes from you and you can let us know the story behind it. Doesn't matter if you're a professional or not- we want it all!

So- if you want your photo displayed proudly at Vornado HQ - send it my way! You can tweet it to me at my Twitter account, post it on our Flickr Group, or email it to me (bcartwright(at)vornado(dot)com).

If we use your pic- I'll send something to show you our appreciation. Just try to shoot it at a decently high resolution if possible.

Read on to see a few of the "other" ideas that were generated...

What about "Abstract Corporate"

Could play with our company history - plus open it up for some modern layering of type and image. Lots of opportunity for texture and color. Not too stuffy. Maybe a little much though considering the rest of the decor.













Could go "moody" and product based...

Ooh- Shiny product, slick deep images. Branding is there.But it takes itself so seriously. And, as a company- we're committed to making beautifully functional products- but there's more to us than that... plus it's reminiscent of the much hated "Inspiration - (Insert man with extended arms looking out over canyon at sunset photo) Corporate Art"

Then, of course there are just product shots.
Or Textural tightly cropped close ups of products.
Or do we focus on the people?
The consumer?
The employees?

I could blog for days on the many directions. I want to see what you all have in mind!

Thanks to all for your interest!

Birds On Wires - Transposed to Music

Birds on the Wires from Jarbas Agnelli on Vimeo.

The Most Baddest Record Player Ever - Clairtone

I just found a buyer for my Sylvania console record player (not the one above) today via Craigslist. *Sigh* I hate to let her go but I just don't have enough room in my house to dedicate a whole wall to a record player. At least I'll still be able to enjoy the tone of vinyl via a component turntable... And at least I now have a pie-in-the-sky dream for another console system that I can love even more than my trusty Sylvania. The Clairtone G2. Endorsed by Sinatra and coveted for over 40 years by lovers of mid-century modern design- this is hands down the coolest record player out there.

A little reading last night uncovered some very interesting sites dedicated to this icon of design. Namely:
A full G2 Restoration project
Great shots of a Clairtone Manual
The Art of Clairtone Book
And perhaps my favorite - a site built by designexchange.ca dedicated to the subject.

Working in a business like Vornado - where both product design and performance must exceed the status quo - Clairtone is an inspiration.

Personal Heater By Vornado - Meet The Newest Vornado Heater

For the first time ever - Vornado is taking heaters personally- literally.

Dubbed the "VH101" - This little heater represents the first time Vornado has taken it's signature Vortex "Whole Room" heater design, and downsized it for personal use.

Boasting deep pitch blades and the Vornado AirTensity grill- the Personal Heater circulates air around your personal space in similar fashion to how Vornado Whole Room heaters distribute heat throughout an entire room.


The personal heater is Vornado's response to frequent consumer requests for a pint sized winter performer. Standing only 7" tall, the Vornado VH101 Personal Heater fits nearly anywhere- perfect for use in the office. Sleek styling makes it a welcome addition to any desktop or bedside table.

The VH101 features 2 heat settings- high cranks out 750 Watts, and 375 on low - giving you control of your heat and allowing you to avoid annoying circuit overloads.

The VH101 Personal Heater is now available on Vornado's website.

Why Vornado Is Basically The Vampire Of Fans

Now that a co-worker has hooked me on True Blood, I couldn't help but point out some of the striking similarities between a Vornado and a Vampire... à la True Blood.

• Most often seen wearing black.
• They just about live forever.
• Much more powerful than you'd first expect.
• They both begin with V (obvious.)
• Specialize in sucking (air - that is.)
• Can be creepily quiet despite being in the same room as you.
• As a 68 year old brand, our age allows us more power and authority than our younger counterparts.
• Many consider them to be very useful at night in the bedroom.
• Finally- in order for one to enter your home, you must first invite it. (Go'head - Invite one into your home.)

Any other ideas?

These Guys Love Woot... And Vornado. And Mighty Kites.

Imagine how much these guys saved by Wooting all of these items. Clearly the mighty kite wins out in terms of overall utility. I mean - who does't want to fly a tiny kite on occasion.

Cats Love Zippi The Fan

You don't believe me? I will prove it. Twice. If you wish to get your cat one, here is a link to our Zippi. Even if you don't have a cat, it is a wonderful desktop fan.

Designing Fonts With Cars

My new inspiration - digital kitchen's blog. I would never have dreamed they would go to these measures to capture the font in such an accurate way... but I am glad they did.

iQ font - When driving becomes writing / Full making of from wireless on Vimeo.

Dented Box Deals - The 530L & 630B For Cheap

There's a little promo going on that has something to do with "Bent Boxes" - here's how this works:

1. We have product that is brand new, in bright shiny new boxes.

2. Sometimes those boxes get smudged, smeared, scarred, stickered, scratched, scored or scuffed.

3. Our retail partners no likey scuffed boxes. We get those back, or never ship them in the first place.

4. We are borderline OCD about not sending scuffed boxes to ANY customer (yes, even website customers) so we ultimately repack the beautiful, unharmed little Vornados into new boxes.

5. We thought, "Hey- instead of spending the time and money on repacking these, let's discount them a tad!" Then we reconsidered... "How about more than a tad?

Hence the $15.00 discount on the 530L and the $20 discount on the 630B.

Did I mention free shipping? No?
Well, there's free shipping too- so chalk up another $6-$15 in savings depending.

It's a screaming deal if you're ok with a little doohickey, damage, ding, or defect on THE BOX that your product arrives in. Need I restate that the product inside is in perfect shape, complete with the usual Vornado warranty?

This one's scheduled to end August 31st - so don't think too terribly long about it.

Silly Good Deal On The 735 Premium Circulator

So, you've thought about getting a Vornado before. You've kicked the tires a bit - but it's a decent amount of coin for a fan. Cease the tire-kicking, here's the deal for you. There's two parts to this one...

1. The 735 is priced at $59.99, or buy two for $99.99... that's up to half off the usual $99.99 price for one of these puppies. My point- you can get one of our best fans (it's a "Premium Series" which means you get 5 speed controls, a nifty grayish color, and a fancy spun aluminum logo) for a big discount. But wait... there's more...

2. We're running a "Risk Free" offer on ALL our premium circulators. That means that if you buy one on the Vornado website, we ship it for free to you. You then have 30 days to use it in your home. Use it day and night for a month... and if you aren't happy with it for ANY REASON, we'll arrange to have it shipped back to us at our expense. Once we get the product back- we refund your card and you're out absolutely nada. All the details of this offer are available here.

Vornado's best fans, one of which is up to half off, and our promise to give you your money back if you don't like it. It's hot outside, your electric bills are about to crank up, and you need a good fan to keep your cool. Now's the time, friends!

What Makes A Vornado Better? Different?

Common Questions Part 2: If A Vornado Is So Different, Why Do The Competitors Look So Similar?

At first glance, one might expect the two products above are related fairly closely... perhaps even from the same manufacturer, just different models. After all, look at the design cues and colors. Even the grill is the same. What could POSSIBLY make these two fans different, aside from the fact that the Vornado costs more? For the other guys, that beauty truly is only skin deep. While they imitate the look, and even the words Vornado has used on its packaging for years, they neglect what actually makes the product work. Vornado Fans are uniquely engineered to generate the performance our consumers enjoy. Here's what we mean...



What about the spiral grill - don't they both have that? Actually - each "vein" of a Vornado grill is angled to maximize its ability to shape the airflow. Think of it like an airplane wing. A little angle is the difference between function and fashion.

I'll hand it to them...the "other" low cost fan companies have done a wonderful, if not unabashed job of imitating the design cues of a Vornado. Our recommendation... try to make the products perform like a Vornado. Imitate the longevity and power of a Vornado motor, and the more durable plastics that go into its construction. Try to imitate the engineering too. You'll discover that every model features uniquely sized components - because even the slightest change in size or application requires comprehensive re-engineering in order to retain its powerful yet quiet operation. It's a challenge we're happy to make, because once a competitor would try to imitate the factors that transcend the visuals, they can blow a goodbye kiss to their "low price" position. The problem is, they won't be able to blow it very far.

Vornado's Own "West Coast Choppers" Shop

Ran across this pic of a tricked out Vornado fan today via Hudson Custom Machining
These guys turn electric fans into eclectic fans like nobody's business.

In their own words... "This is a 1952 Vornado fan that I restored in March of 2005. I used a metalflake Amethyst base coat / clear coat automotive paint. $150 a pint including all of the hardener, accelerator, and other stuff that you have to mix together to make this thing scream "Look at Me! I am hot!"



From Vornado to Darryl and crew... nice work! Keep us posted on future Vornado overhauls!

Wolf T-Shirt Amazon Reviews

This is simply magical. I never would have imagined how hilarious Amazon product reviews could be until I was introduced to this shirt...
What follows is a link to a plethora of product reviews that are so consistent in tone and message that I simply must applaud each and every contributor. Individually, they have created a collective masterpiece. Visit the Wolf Tshirt Reviews Page.

Fan For Greenhouse - Good Circulation: Your Plants Understand The Difference.

Vornado Found Effective For Plant Health In Japanese Greenhouses

Sometimes Vornado's pop up in the most unexpected places. As a marketing guy, I spend lots of time thinking about applications for the product - and this one is compelling. The following summarizes some research done by Yamamoto Agricultrual Corporation.

I have pulled some images right out of a Powerpoint show (that was shared with one of our overseas sales people.) I can't make this stuff up. Literally. No green thumbs on these hands. Last summer I "nuked" all the plants in my yard by applying grass weed preventer too close to the beds. The "arrows in greenhouse" image looks vaguely familiar. Whole Greenhouse Circulation, eh? Nice! We talk alot about Vortex Action. The plants seem to be listening.

I used babelfish to translate- and for the most part it looks like the photo captions describe the owner, and where his greenhouse is located. They also seem to indicate that he is growing sage.

Incidentally, this is basically the exact same fan as our 710 circulator. Did I mention it is on sale for a mere fifty bucks!?

If I new how to plant my way out of a paper bag, I would tell you specifically what the results mean. But, people that ACTUALLY DO know tell me that the results are good.

Vornado fans are perferct for greenhouses. How do I know this?

Because plants don't lie.

Dorito's Super Bowl Ad - Guessed I Missed This During The Game

I have watched this ad about 5 times now. Perhaps you saw it during the Super Bowl, but I must have been in the kitchen getting some chips... or beer. In case you missed it too:

Vornado Times Square Advertising

Here's what I am thinking for next round ads up in Times Square. What say ye?

710's Up For Adoption - End The Injustices That Have Befallen These Poor Circulators

IT'S ABSOLUTE MAYhem! We might as well be spring chickens because we're selling em' CHEAP CHEAP! We've been told to slash prices and liquidate inventory!

Ok, Now that I got the "Car Dealer Radio Advertising" lines out of my system, let's tone it down a bit. Here's the scoop on why these 710's are $49.99... nearly half off original pricing.

Despite their stellar performance as a circulator, and general popularity at retail, we "retired" the trusty 710 over 2 years ago. Why did we put this good working horse down? What major event triggered the end of the 710's illustrious career? A new base. Yes, the 710 is a "dinosaur" because of it's base. See below how we updated the design of our 700 series bases.

It's still touting all of the features that create Vortex Action. It still circulates ALL OF THE AIR in the room, even if the room is a small gymnasium. It features the same "head" size as all of our other 700 series products. Same number of speed settings as the 723. It was even assembled right here in the States.

You see, there were some left over after they were banished to the fan retirement home. They have never even been out of the box. Never even seen the sun.

I know- it's terrible for us to persecute these 710's on account of their stands... but you can benefit from this injustice. Save these stranded, neglected 710's. Adopt one today. They will serve you well for decades. We promise.

Beautiful Chalk Animation - Firekites Video

Taking a quick moment to post up a mesmerizing and beautiful video created completely from photographs of chalk board illustrations. From a personal standpoint, it's refreshing to see something so wonderfully "low fi" when so much content today is the same pixedigitech forumula.


Firekites - AUTUMN STORY - chalk animation from Lucinda Schreiber on Vimeo.

Is A Vornado Worth The Extra Money?

Many have asked, "Why is A Vornado So Expensive?" "Is A Vornado Really Worth The Extra Money?" Absolutely. Here's why. When you purchase a Vornado, you are buying a product that will last for years- decades even. It is designed and engineered in Andover, KS with years of research supporting its design. In terms of function, a Vornado is demonstratably superior to any other product on the market. The stellar performance stems from a huge investment by Vornado in the engineering and design phase of each product. The result of the engineering is evident in 4 key elements that go into every Vornado circulator. I'll detail these four elements in a future post- or you can see a little narrative about them here. For the money you spend, you will receive a product that works better and lasts longer. You will receive better customer service than can be provided by any other would-be competitor.

When we say our products work better, we are talking about "vortex action." Vornado’s signature Vortex Action circulates all the air in the room – meaning it makes a much bigger difference in the overall comfort of the room than other fans can- fans which are designed to only move the air immediately in front of them. To learn more about how vortex action works, click here.

You Ask. We Answer. The Big Questions People Ask About Vornado

There are some questions that arise frequently when it comes to Vornado product. I'll dedicate the next few posts to answering these questions. Here goes.... more to come.

Vornado Takes On Times Square

If you happen to be in Times Square in the next three months- order yourself an ice cream at Cold Stone, and look up. Vornado adverts will be visible on the CBS jumbotron for 15 seconds every hour for 18 hours all the way through June. That translates to 1,638 spots- glowing in full LED goodness throughout the NYC square.

Three different ads will run- one per month- and each features messaging you may not expect from a historic brand headquartered in Andover, KS.

April's Installment is posted above...

Each ad to follow will feature a similarly "in your face" approach that challenges the viewer's expectations of how a "fan company" is supposed to look and act.

The campaign is evidence of a new direction for Vornado - a brand that has been selling premium fans beginning in 1945.

Vornado's advertising has typically been oriented around its products' superior performance, design, and quality. In this regard, nothing has changed.

The difference today is a marketing approach with a focus on nontraditional messaging in equally nontraditional venues. The marketing approach actually mirrors Vornado's product design and engineering processes. 'How?' you ask? Both are defined by a consumer-centric approach that challenges convention, identifies with the consumer's thoughts and needs, and demands innovation.

What do you think?

Afternoon Sun in the Bedroom

Afternoon Sun in the Bedroom
Originally uploaded by lucyandorla

Ran across this picture as I was doing some browsing on Flickr.
I.
Love.
That.
Chair.

To satisfy my craving for Captain Chairy Goodness, I managed to score a Doerner chair- a knockoff (kind of like a plycraft- but a bit different) that is about 10% smaller than the real deal.

One of these days...

Anyway- I digress. I certainly enjoy the fact that our Vornado Silver Swan is in good company...

Thanks lucyandoria for posting!

Housewares - Chicago - 2009

And so it begins...
My first big trade show of my Vornado career. I should just say it's my first BIG trade show appearance. I have been to trade shows- mind you, but this one is probably the coup de grace by my standards.

Let's first talk about my standards.

In a previous life, I was with a small design studio. We designed trade show booths, but we never actually attended these shows. We would design booths, handouts, multimedia presentations, but never actually got to see the fruits of our labor. We relied on the second hand testimonials which generally consisted sounded like this: Me: "How did the show go?" Them: "Went well. Really really well." Me: "Well?" Them:"Very well." Me: "Well then... great news."

Not exactly constructive criticism. Not exactly constructive at all. I guess I am just glad it went "well."

Next trade show experience was in Chicago - on Navy Pier - an appropriate venue considering it was a fresh seafood importer's trade show. This was an enjoyable one. I probably spent all of 3 hours tending shop, and the rest of the time was spent sampling fresh seafood. "Fresh seafood" is a term that is often used loosely- but this was the best product each company had to offer. I can't officially vouche for how fresh it was- but it tasted good. Really. Really. Good.

Third trade show was with another previous life with an alternative energy company. It was the energy from biomass and waste expo. Hmmm. Energy from biomass and waste - not as immediately appealing as freshly caught seafood... but I learned alot from this one. I attended this one 2 years ago, and considering that the biomass to energy market is still clawing for attention amidst solar, wind and geothermal energy, it was a chance to see an emerging market in its infancy. Our booth was a perfect square- probably 10 x 10, or 15 x 15 or something to that effect. The company I was with was still spanking new- so we had lean budgets to work with. It was a decent show. We had alot of interest - but the whole industry suffered (or suffers still) from "tire kickers"- people willing to waste huge amounts of your time who actually only have a passing interest in what you have to offer. I think we met at least 150 tire kickers that day, as it we would later discover. What can I say. It went "well."

Back to Housewares. I'm back in Chicago (woot). I am with a kick a** company (woot) and my trade show booth boasts at least one dimension that has 3 digits in terms of linear feet. I have a tower display whose footprint dwarfs my other trade show booths. I have a great sales team to do the talking. Hell, I even have a 3D display (more on that later.) It's all good- but what's really got me excited is not the size of the booth- but the content. We have some great stories to tell. We have some new products that are fantastic. Best of all, I have a wonderful, storied, historical brand that actually still focuses on performance, quality and consumer service.

So, I will report back soon on Housewares 2009. I will be taking pictures- but I understand they are pretty chincy about cameras on the show floor. I may be relying on my trusty iPhone camera + twitterific to post updates to Vornado's Twitter page. Follow along. Ask questions. It's first for me - so join in!

I'm On A Boat

I recently came across this review on Amazon for the Vornado VH2 Heater being used on yachts... and having watched "I'm On A Boat" about a dozen times, I couldn't resist. Side note - "I'm On A Boat" is hilarious, but rather explicit- so consider it "NSFW" - and keep the kiddos from hearing it... earmuffs. " Vornado Heaters in Yachts, February 10, 2009 Being a yacht captain, we need heat in various areas of the boat such as in engine rooms and bilge compartments. This heater will turn off if it falls over. Air circulation is critical to prevent mildew and condensation. The heater air flow design is perfect. I have about 12 of these heaters on other yachts I take care of. Also, the Vornado fans are on the yachts as well." - David Ellard Source: Amazon.com

Flickr Pick - By ...George

We recently set up the Vornado Fan Club Group on Flickr. The photos so far range from "impromptu snapshot" to "elegantly artistic." This one really caught my eye today...

It was submitted by ...george whose photostream is full of some amazing work. We're glad a Vornado 630 made a cameo in this particular shot.



Maybe I love it because it is somewhere delightfully in between "snapshot" and "elegance."

Thanks for posting this one, George, and we'd be honored if any more Vornado fans made it in front of your lens in the future. Keep us posted.

Free Flippi - VERY Limited Time Offer

I've been talking with you for months now. Isn't it time we met? I want to know what my social network looks like. This is a little three day experiment...

Send me a pic of you interacting with your Vornado. Hugging, holding, juggling, having a staring contest- whatever... and I'll send you a free Flippi V6. Here's the catch. I have to receive the photo by midnight, Friday Feb. 20th - that's this Friday. After that, no mo' free Flippi's!

Use my Twitter account and tell me how to get to your pic.
Post it to my Flickr Group, and let me know via DM.

Get creative- I've got plenty of pics of product sitting on floors and desks- trust me. This is as much about you as it is about the product. If you want to do some creative cropping, that's cool- I have no problem with anonymity.

I don't have too many rules or stipulations- if you have questions, DM me on Twitter. The main thing- be creative!

I'll try to anticipate a few questions:

• Yes, it has to be a Vornado fan in the pic- none of those imitators!
• No, your face doesn't need to be in the shot if you're bashful.
• Yes, your pet can stand in for you. I'll just need to know his/her name.
• Yes, the offer is limited to one per photo submitter.
• If someone goes above and beyond, I reserve the right to send something else free to reward the effort.
• I can't guarantee you a certain color. Send me your preference, and I'll see what I can do.
  

You will need to DM me your address, or we can exchange emails- but I'll need to know where to ship the flip. Post other questions in the comments area and I'll get em' answered!

UPDATE:
I picked a few favorites from our submissions to date:















Lainey seems to prefer the VH2 Heater over the Vintage Fan or the Midsize 630.

Thanks to @loganculwell

















This pic just rocks. I enjoy the fact that the VH2 can assist in the creative process!

Thanks @irDominic keep up the good work!

















Fight the urge to make an Easter joke. Fight it!
Bob Jr. seems simultaneously appreciative and terrified of his heat source. They make a good pair, in my humble opinion. Tiny wooden rabbit bed FTW!

Many thanks @mistahmoogle

You and all the others will be seeing a Flippi at your door very soon. You still have till midnight tonight to send me those pics!

We Want To Hear Your Opinion

I have long hoped that, one day, I would get a phone call or email asking me for my input on a product. Any product. I don't care if its a pair of scissors or a lawnmower- give me a look at it, and I can give you more feedback than you probably wanted to hear. My call hasn't come yet, but consider this your invitation.

We'd like to hear what you think. Please take 3 minutes to look at these two product options and answer a few quick questions. We also invite you to give us some commentary on what you see.

When you finish the survey, we'll get you a special offer on a product that should help you finish out the winter in style...

From our standpoint, 3 minutes of your time can help us create products that you will enjoy for a lifetime. Our customers are an amazing group- we value your input- so g'won - take a look!

Vornado Twitter Background

Vornado Twitter Background
Originally uploaded by vornadofan

I am more than a little addicted to Twitter, so it's no surprise that we've created a background or six for our page. If your happen to love Twitter, and Vornado, then show us a little love and load this background onto your page! If you do, let us know. There just might be something reeeeel speshal in it for you!

Case Study: Vornado on Twitter

January 8th, 2008

Originally Posted by Jonathan Kash at Pistachioconsulting.com

Anyone who has been to college, bought a house, or has a spouse that likes to keep the house cold knows about Vornado. Twitter certainly has its service providers, but manufacturers are also represented. One of the most successful organization’s is Dell, who maintain a host of accounts for what seems to be all customer segments.

In Their Own Words

“Famous for fans. Hellbent on the best heaters. Air Purifiers and Humidifiers too. How can we help you?”

How is Vornado using Twitter?

What a bio; being hellbent on heaters certainly shows passion for the brand. I had an opportunity to speak with Brian Cartwright of Vornado to find how Twitter falls into their business.

JK: When and how did the company first learn about Twitter?
BC: I first heard of it via a digg.com post probably about a year ago. At the time, I thought, “Sounds high maintenance.” I was doing web development at for a wide range of clients, but didn’t bring it up to any of them. Now that I am with Vornado full time, and considering Twitter’s explosive growth, I realized it was time to open Pandora’s box. Vornado as a brand is fortunate to have a very loyal following. I’d like to think we can find, centralize and maybe even expand that following via sites like Twitter.

JK: How are you using Twitter today?
BC: Our use of Twitter today is at best informal and is evolving. We’re still learning. To date we have conducted impromptu surveys of people who are either complaining about or complimenting of their heater’s (any heater, not just Vornado) performance on a cold day. We’ve posted some Vornado-centric content and plenty of content that has nothing to do with the company. My vision for the page is keep the personal side of the company just as visible as the product side. We want to make it easy for our customers to find us, wherever they may look. We want to ensure that their experience with us is completely positive at every touchpoint.

JK: Who was the first person in the company to “get it”? How many levels removed from the CEO was s/he?
BC: Fortunately, our President “gets it” - not only does he get it, he consistently challenges the branding department to keep pushing. There were plenty of confused looks coming from mid-tier folks around here – but fortunately, the prez is already on board and very, very excited about what we’re doing. He has a keen understanding of the potential of web branding, and it’s a big part of why I’m now at Vornado full time- a position was essentially created for this (and other strategic branding activities.)

JK: Did management finally decide to use Twitter in an official way? If yes, what convinced them it was worth looking into? (Was there a story, event, or incident that became the “A-ha” moment?)
BC: Vornado’s process isn’t as bureaucratic as one might think. The management’s philosophy has been to bring in knowledgeable people who are good at what they do - and then give them the room to do it. Our branding department decided that we wanted to create an “official” presence on Twitter, so we did. Within a week or two of us flipping on the twitter switch, we saw that a local news correspondent @anitacochran did a story on Twitter. I sent the link to her story to the key people out here - and I think if there were any doubts whether this was something “real”, the news segment helped dispel those doubts.

JK: In what way did HR, PR, or Legal weigh in on the decision to use Twitter?
BC: Not at all. I had better keep it clean and make sure legal stays out of it too… (just kidding)
(JK: I’ve worked with lawyers for years; this is close to the truth!)

JK: How does Twitter fit into your Corporate Communications, Marketing, and/or Customer Service strategies (if at all)?
BC: I envision it playing a big role in all of the above. We will make new product announcements to our Twitter group, we’ll offer unique pricing. If we are able to amass a good size group of folks that own, or are interested in our products, then we’ll absolutely utilize it as a customer service corridor. We’ll respond based on the needs of the following we attract.

JK: How has Twitter influenced the work of project teams or any collaborative effort within the company?
BC: We are beginning to consider how Twitter might impact our product launch strategies, ongoing consumer education and special pricing promotions.

JK: How do you intend to measure Twitter’s impact on your business? What kind of impact would Twitter have to have before its use is considered a “success” by the enterprise?
BC: Personally, I will gauge our Twitter success on our number of followers. We’re still in the double digits now- so we have a long way to go. We aren’t looking to twitter to be a marketing initiative with tangible R.O.I. - it is a branding initiative. Any marketing benefits that may be derived are peripheral. We’ll also be watching how many folks visit our website based on our “tweets”.

JK: Did you perceive a need for outside consulting to help decide how social media in general and Twitter in particular would be used?
BC: Yes. I’ll be the first to admit that I know “enough to be dangerous” but I certainly don’t know it all. Plus, I know that I never will. Social networking, online branding - these are all my department’s responsibilities, but I can’t focus on them exclusively. We will use experts to help us refine our execution, but a priority for us is that Vornado “keeps it personal” - we want to retain a personal touch with all twittering, blogging, digging, flickr group activity, etc.

JK: Any lessons learned along the way? What advice would you give other companies that are thinking of using Twitter or something similar?
BC: I feel like we’re still too new at this to have much sage-like advice- but my main thought would be to make sure you don’t just start blasting out links to every product you sell, or every service you offer. People are quick, and well advised, to ignore these companies. You need to respect their screen, and their intelligence.

From this interview, we see a few takeaways:

Support from senior management is critical. Not only does this make planning & budgeting easier, but it makes the work fun.

Social initiatives must be given room to succeed. Keep policies out of the mix and develop an atmosphere of trust and responsibility.

Look for the squeeky wheel! Vornado is engaging with people, regardless of the brand.