COOL… a personalized photo book!

We know Presto users love to receive photos from their extended family members. I recently found out about an amazing new personalized photo book that allows you to include your own photos into a piece of American history. Regardless of your politics, this revolutionary new book concept captures a unique moment in U.S. history. It's called…  

The Obama Time Capsule is the creation of my friend Rick Smolan, a former Time, Life and National Geographic photographer and co-creator of the “Day in the Life”, “America 24/7” and “America at Home” books. Charles Gibson from ABC Evening News described The Obama Time Capsule as “a book unlike any ever published before.”  [see clip here]

There are many great large format photography books about President Obama’s journey to the White House but what makes this one different from every other book is that it enables you to weave your own name, your dedication, personal photographs and even your kid’s artwork into Obama’s inspiring story.

Although Rick tells me that everyone who has personalized a copy loves it, the challenge for his company and the concept of personal publishing, is to get enough books into people’s hands to generate the widespread awareness necessary to compete with traditional books sold in bookstores. Because every copy of the book is different, there are no copies in stores, no shelf displays, no review copies and no books sitting in warehouses. The book doesn’t even exist until someone orders it online! Every single copy is personalized for each book buyer, and each copy is printed one at a time. The Obama Time Capsule truly represents a revolution and the future of book publishing.

But the only way to make this revolutionary concept work is to create a grassroots network of support for this kind of personalized publishing. That’s where you can come in. If you want to support this brave new world of personalized publishing, you can participate in one of two ways.

1) If you feel a personal connection to Obama’s Presidency, or believe that someone you know would greatly enjoy a gift of the book that included photos of your family, I invite you to visit Rick’s website to learn more and to take advantage of the introductory price on the book (temporarily priced at $34.95 but will soon retail for $65). [click here]

2) Or, if you have a blog and/or if you use Twitter you can help spread the news of this amazing book by embedding or pointing to this very cool 60 second video trailer: http://www.youtube.com/obamatimecapsule09     

Rick's book has been widely praised and has been featured on the cover of USA Today, in The New York Times, on the ABC Evening News and CNN’s Situation Room. The reviews on Amazon.com have been 5 star. [examples]

Although Presto makes no profit from any sales of Rick's books — and I certainly do not wish to promote any particular political view — as lovers of new technology like Presto, I thought you would enjoy knowing about such a unique new concept. Rick and I thank you for any support you can offer in helping spread the word about this exciting project.

Comments

[Presto CEO]

Dear Karen:

Okay. I hear you loud and clear. You only want Presto-related information and for me to be less assumptive and invasive. Thanks for the feedback.

[Karen]

While I think that the idea of a customized item asssociated with a event that was important, even special, to many many people, I feel that you made an error in this offer. I see that this is being made painfully clear above and that you have acknowledged as much for which I commend you.

Having offered this for the first time as being directly associated with a political figure, which is always dangerous, was unfortunate. A more general topic, less emotionally charged, would have been safer, though no doubt, you would have gotten just as many irate complaints. Alternately, your customers would have perceived a selection of topics as more generic and not as if you were promoting a political position.

But what bothered me the most was the tone of your message which was creepily invasive: "...we KNOW that Frances..."
The assumption that I "likely have a passion for photography..."
And, of course, the assumption that I would be interested in tying my life and my families life to the events surrounding the election of Obama, our first African descent president.
You offer me the opportunity to ..."weave your dedication..." To What?? Obama?
"You are someone who already enjoys creating custom-published Presto Mail letters from the emails and photos you send to Frances." You, Mr. Radsliff, are telling me what I enjoy? A very poor choice of expression and one that really turned me off.

I feel like my privacy has been invaded. It so happens that you got most of your assumptions right which is precisely what made this feel so invasive.

Your letter exudes great emotional joy at the election of Obama, though of course, it would be wrong as wrong of me to ASSUME that you are, no?

I just feel, very strongly, that you approached this wrong. That such a directed and personal letter from you offering, soliciting, a product completely unrelated (in my opinion) to Presto, was just...out in left field. Startling. And creepy.

May I close saying that I do in fact think that the concept is brilliant. That Mr. Smolan has infinite opportunity to get knowledge of this product to countless Obama fans, not to mention his connections at Time, Life and Nat. Geo. You even confirmed that Charles Gibson of ABC was aware of it and had a very positive reaction which he has made public.

So why put your relationship and business with your clients in jeopardy? Like the others, I am very hesitant to continue the service for "Frances." I am considering removing myself from the arrangement at the very least. I feel that you need to give me, "Frances" and her friends reassurances that you will not repeat this type of invasive solicitation. That if there is something as "cool" as this (and it is cool) that your approach is different. The product must be related to Presto, which this is, but only very tangentially (photos and family); that it is generic in nature; and that the knowledge is somehow made available to Presto clients in a less invasive way.

Sincerely,

Karen Ficano

[Dina]

Thank you so much for your timely response! I apologize for getting so angry so quickly- I am( clearly ) feeling like I am constantly being inundated with images and stories of Obama's life and struggles. I am sick of it! I do think that this idea is very cool!!! If it wasn't more 'Obama stuff' I would consider ordering! Maybe your friend would consider a millennium book with current events...I do hope that this idea takes off- as I am sure it will...

As far as accepting Obama as the president, I do and I will stand behind him, although I am not thrilled about it. I obviously thought that McCain was a better choice...But no one asked me;-). I hope that your friend has a lot of success with his endeavor- so he can create another photobook that I will order.

I do enjoy your service and I know my grandma does as well-she's an Obama supporter!(blaah) I won't cancel today- but maybe tomorrow... I am sure you will never send out an email with anything political again ;-)

Happy blogging, Dina

[Presto CEO]

Dear Tom:

My company didn't create this book. And the company that did decided to do it about the President, not about Apollo 11. I could have declined to tell Presto subscribers about this interesting concept of personalized publishing, and maybe I should have. But, there is only one opportunity to tell about something that is new to the world. And that is when it is new. If I had waited until the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th book to be published using this technology, there would probably have been no reason for me to tell a constituency about it -- because it would have been old news. Personally, I did not vote for our President, but I do not "hate" companies that report the events of the day. In this case, Presto is not even affiliated with the company that makes this book. I thought the information was interesting enough to pass along. I am truly sorry you are offended.

[Tom]

Your sales pitch for the book about Obama was a very, very amateurish move for the CEO of a company. You took a cool idea -- personalized publishing -- and got it all mixed up in politics. Alternatively, here's what could have been a home run for you and your company: a personalized book celebrating the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11. This is especially true since your key customer demographic (seniors without a computer) all watched Neil Armstrong step onto the lunar surface in 1969 and you could have helped them relive one of the greatest achievements in human history. Do yourself and your customers a favor and stay out of politics. What a joke.

p.s. I bought the Presto printer for my 90 year-old father. He enjoys the service very much, but if I shared your solicitation with him, I'm almost certain that he would ask me to cancel the service. Again, use your head before offending your customers. Undoubtedly, your board of directors will be having a little chat with you about your big-time screwup.

[Presto CEO]

Dear Elizabeth,

As I mentioned in my other replies to angry comment posts, I have nothing to do with Obama. I didn't even vote for him. And, the only assuming I thought I was doing, was assuming that Presto subscribers liked to send personalized messages, and they might be interested in the world's first truly mass-customizable large format photo book. Or, that if you weren't interested, that you would just disregard the email, not cancel your Presto subscription. I'm sorry if I offended you by sending you this email. It would certainly have been better if this first-of-its-kind book was about a different topic, but it wasn't. So all I can ask you to do is please accept my apology.

[Elizabeth]

I thought this was a joke when I first got your email this morning...Obama Time Capsule?? I want nothing to do with this mess and how dare you assume I would!! I am going to cancel my services with your company because of this stupid sales pitch to get me of all people to spend one penny on anything that has to do with Obama! I am so disappointed since my parents really enjoyed this service....

[Presto CEO]

Well Rhonda, I did not assume everyone would be interested in an homage to the President. My assumption -- incorrect, as it turns out -- was that people would be interested in the technology because it is the new news. The president is the old news. And the reason for choosing this subject matter to showcase mass-customized large format photo books is that this is the first one that has ever been done. Other books have had customizable slip covers, and there are some children's books that allow you to insert your kid's name and/or photo into them, but as for "coffee table" books, this is the first. So it was not the subject matter I cared about. In fact, I'm not a fan of the president. And, the only assumption I made -- again, incorrectly -- was that people could focus on the interesting technology and separate it from the subject of the book. That was a mistake and I apologize for any offense it caused.

[Ronda]

I’m so disappointed with this email and solicitation. I found this to be troubling that you assumed all your customers would be interested in this homage to President Obama. You say you are not pushing a political agenda, but using this particular theme put your intentions at risk. If promoting the new technology is the objective, it seems using a more universal example rather than this ever-more polarizing figure would help you accomplish your intended goal--of helping introduce the new technology.

You may think why would anyone bother to respond with a message such as mine-not everyone is enamored with our President and his agenda. Your presumptions are troublesome. Reading your message was aggravating--it produced exactly the opposit reaction of what I assumed you'd intended.

The Presto is great-your presumptuous email is not.

Regards,

Ronda

[Presto CEO]

I neglected to say in my last reply to Dina's post that I am truly sorry for sending you an email you found offensive. As you said, Judy, "the technology you present is wonderful" and that was my only purpose in sending the email; to let you all know of this fascinating new concept. I assumed that people who disliked the President or who were uninterested in this technology would just disregard the email. I was wrong. Emotions are running very high on this subject. But please let me emphasize that my note was not to do with politics, rather it was to do with technology. That said, I apologize for picking this highly charged subject matter to introduce this new technology.

[Judy]

I agree with everything Dina posted. How dare you send such an email when this man is so corrupted. He is destroying the United States bit by bit everyday. The technology you present is wonderful, but is greatly overshadowed by the subject matter. Shame on you. Shame on Obama. I don't have the heart to call him our President.

[Presto CEO]

Thanks for your comment, Dina. But truly, I am uninterested in Obama's "rise to power" but am fascinated with the concept of mass-customized publishing. It is a shame that this new technology may be overshadowed for some by the subject matter. But truly, the only reason I blogged about this topic and shared the information with Presto users is because it is an interesting technology. For the record, I voted for McCain. But I also accept that like it or not, Obama is our president, and I did not want my personal politics to prevent me talking about an interesting topic. Most of all, my friend Rick Smolan is a truly great guy and a fabulous photographer and publisher (have you seen his "Day in the Life of America" books!). And I just wanted to help him with his project.

[Dina]

I am very disappointed in your push to sell a political agenda- although you say you are not... you clearly are. I subscribe to your service so that my grandma can communicate with our family- I have recommended your service to all of my friends- many have purchased your product. Knowing that you will be sending out emails with a political agenda frustrates me- and as a result I will not be recommending your product anymore and will consider purchasing a computer for my grandma to get her email. As you can tell I do NOT think that Obama is a wonderful president and I dont think that his rise to power was completely on the up and up. I hope that since you have decided to stay neutral that your next email will be selling a video about Obama's link to corruption and dangerous allies.