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Not dead, just taking a break

Donal Reddington — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:03:34 +0000

It’s been a long time since I posted anything here, for which I owe readers an explanation: I had become disillusioned, not with MadeForOne.com, but with trying to research and write blog posts using a 56k modem. That’s right, for the last four years or so this site was maintained using a dialup internet connection.

Now, following a change of address, I have managed to get a proper internet connection thanks to Permanet, so MadeForOne.com, like a hibernating bear in Spring (!) is coming back to life. It is likely that the focus of the site may become a little wider in terms of looking at matters relating to innovation and economy in general, but still with a strong emphasis on its core topics such as mass customization, crowdsourcing, and customer innovation.

It’s nice to be back!

Happy Christmas!

Donal Reddington — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 12:45:37 +0000

I’d like to wish everyone a very happy Christmas and a peaceful new year.

Thanks for visiting in 2006. I’ll be back posting in a couple of days (but not today!).

4YourSoul.com relaunched as Cardways.com

Donal Reddington — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 22:53:30 +0000

Cardways.com, an online customized gift card and greeting card destination, recently announced the launch of its new Web site. Formerly 4YourSoul.com, Cardways.com is a service of Arroweye Solutions. The refreshed Web site offers consumers the opportunity to customize gift cards and greeting cards. Users can choose from a host of leading retailers from which to purchase the gift cards.

American consumers spent more than $55 billion on gift cards last year, making them the most given holiday gift category in 2005. At Cardways.com, consumers can personalize gift cards by uploading digital photos and script to create a personalized message for family and friends. The user’s photo appears on two-thirds of the gift card. The remaining third of the gift card features the retailer at which the gift card value can be redeemed.

Cardways.com charges $4.50 (plus the value of the gift card and a stamp) for a completely customized gift card and greeting card package, or $3.25 for a personalized greeting card (without a gift card).

Retailers currently offering customizable gift cards include Linens ‘n Things, Circuit City, Overstock.com, Yahoo! (only at Yahoo! Photos), Waterford.com, 6pm.com, Napster, Regis Salons, eBags.com and Lids.com. Retailers offering custom gift cards in time for the holidays include Lowe’s Home Improvement, Travelocity, Comp USA, Dillard’s and Quizno’s.

Mass Customization Events Calendar

Donal Reddington — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 00:24:49 +0000

I’ve added a Mass Customization and Personalization Events calendar to this site, using Google calendar. I’ll add details of any conference or other event that is likely to be of interest to readers. The Mass Customization and Personalization Events calendar can be viewed from the site homepage.

I’m slowly re-designing the homepage to act as more of a ‘portal’ to the information contained in the various sections of the site.

If you are involved in organising an event that you think should be included in the calendar, please contact me with the details.

BBC Publishes Public Comments on Personalized Education

Donal Reddington — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 21:59:26 +0000

The British state broadcaster, BBC, has published comments submitted by its audience on the topic of personalized education . The cross section of opinions and views make interesting reading.

PersonalizationMall.com in Internet Retail Top 500

Donal Reddington — Mon, 29 May 2006 21:11:52 +0000

PersonalizationMall.com debuted in the 2006 edition of Internet Retailer’s Top 500 Guide for the first time ever. The guide ranks America’s 500 largest web retailers based on their 2005 online sales. PersonalizationMall.com ranked 305th in the guide for overall web sales in 2005 and ranked 22nd in the mass merchant category.

(Disclosure: This site carries advertisements for PersonalizationMall.com)

Literacy through personalized books

Donal Reddington — Mon, 29 May 2006 21:05:43 +0000

An article in a newspaper called the Hardin County News describes how personalized books are promoting literacy among young children in Lumberton, Texas.