Bio: Paul Williams
Hi there!
I'm Paul Williams... guest writer on Daily Fix and founder of Idea Sandbox.
I'm a professional problem solver. Through brainstorm facilitation I help people create remarkable ideas to grow their business. As one client put it, “Idea Sandbox turns brains into idea machines.”
Prior to launching Idea Sandbox in 2005, I spent 15 years building marketing, branding, and customer-experience strategy for The Disney Company, the Aramark Corporation, and Starbucks Coffee Company.
I founded Idea Sandbox driven by my passion to help others create remarkable ideas. I blend the skills and lessons I have learned to build a sandbox---an idea sandbox.
You can reach me on Twitter via @IdeaSandbox.
Through Idea Sandbox, I have helped solve challenges, grow brands, think-up remarkable ideas, and create innovation for companies including: Starbucks Coffee Company, Starbucks Coffee International, Panera Bread Company, Seattle’s Best Coffee, Woodhouse Day Spas, The Microsoft Corporation, and Wells Fargo Mortgage.
I am a writer, speaker, columnist, and brainstormer living just outside Washington DC, in Alexandria, Virginia.
If you like what you've read here, you can find more of my thoughts at my Idea Sandbox blog.
I always welcome comments and reactions to what I've written. I'm on Twitter: @IdeaSandbox
Nice to meet you,
Paul
Posts by Paul Williams:
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What’s the Soundtrack of Your Business?,
14 May 2010 in Featured Posts& Headline& Marketing
This week, a new U.S. Post Office/Hallmark Store location opened near my office. Meshing these two concepts together seems a smart idea.
However, a missing element made the experience strange—there was no music. It was oddly and uncomfortably qu…
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14 Business Books to Read When Stranded Somewhere,
23 Apr 2010 in Academia/Training& Featured Posts& General Management& Headline& Marketing& Marketing Analytics and Modeling& Marketing Leadership& Marketing Thought Leadership& Marketing Tools
If you were stranded with only 14 books to read, what would they be?
I’m about to move from Europe back to the United States. I have to tell the moving guys which books to pack for the sea shipment (which will take nearly two months to arrive at m…
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Be Remarkable Via Your Pricing Strategy,
16 Apr 2010 in Customer Relationships& Featured Posts& Headline& Marketing& Marketing Strategy& Marketing Thought Leadership& Marketing Tools& Promotional Strategies& Strategy and Tactics
Being the first, the best, or the only one doing something (and in a way meaningful and relevant to your customers) is a strategy your company can use to stand out from your competition.
Something that is relevant to all your customers is how they…
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Handing Customers the Keys to Your Factory,
09 Apr 2010 in Branding& Customer Behavior& Customer Relationships& Featured Posts& Headline& Marketing& Marketing Thought Leadership& Marketing Tools& Product and Services Marketing
How flexible are your product offerings to customer modification? Can your customers customize your products to make them their own?
In the book The Hummer and the Mini: Navigating the Contradictions of the New Trend Landscape, author Robyn Waters…
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3 Tips for Being a More Conscientious Marketer,
02 Apr 2010 in Customer Behavior& Customer Relationships& Ethics& Featured Posts& Headline& Marketing
Are you a conscientious marketer? I don’t mean, are you “green” or eco-friendly … although that’s part of it. I mean, when you build your marketing programs and consumer promotions, do you pay as much attention to customer needs as you do meeting…
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Knowing the Know-How Can Make You Millions,
19 Mar 2010 in Featured Posts& Headline& Marketing& Marketing Strategy
This short stack of used sticky notes contains, without exaggeration, tens of millions of dollars in good ideas. I wouldn’t classify them as “great” or “revolutionary” ideas. Not rocket science. Most, fairly basic.
Yet, if these ideas were acted …
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‘The Basics’ May Be Enough To Make You Great,
12 Mar 2010 in Customer Relationships& Featured Posts& Headline& Marketing
Taking your business from good to great to remarkable can seem a daunting task. But, it may be easier than you think.
The bad news from a customer perspective is that companies aren’t doing the basics properly, let alone getting to remarkable. Cus…
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How To Minimize Marketing Mistakes,
26 Feb 2010 in Featured Posts& Headline& Marketer& Marketing
“Measure twice, cut once.”
A handy piece of carpentry (and life) advice passed to me by my grandfather – Joseph Williams. This, along with – “Plan for the worst, hope for the best” – have come in handy when building marketing programs.
In my ex…
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Seven Methods For Affective Marketing Tactics,
19 Feb 2010 in Featured Posts& Headline& Marketing& Marketing Strategy& Strategy and Tactics
All the good marketing tactics are used up. They’ve been wasted on bargain aluminum siding, gym membership sweepstakes, and tanning salon offers.
All those beautiful tactics. How can I use the same tactics on you that someone else uses to promote …
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Five Better Ways To Remember Lists,
12 Feb 2010 in Featured Posts& General Management& Headline& Marketing
As marketing and business professionals, we’ve all been there… Big presentation, large groups of people, a lot of pressure… How am I going to remember my key points?
Last weekend, former US vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin was the featu…
