Custom Nation

Why Customization Is the Future of Business and How to Profit From It

By: Anthony Flynn, Emily Flynn Vencat

Narrated by: Tori Kamal

Length: 5 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's Summary

Customization is coming in every industry, for every product. Embrace it or get left behind.

Smart brands such as Chipotle, Zazzle, Nike, and Pandora are ditching the outdated 20th century model of a one-size-fits-all approach to providing products and services. From a Netflix movie night to a marriage courtesy of eHarmony, customization is changing every corner of American life and business.

Custom Nation is a practical how-to guide by someone who has built his business on the power of customization. YouBar founder Anthony Flynn and business journalist Emily Flynn Vencat explain how marketers, brand managers, and entrepreneurs across all industries can reinvigorate their businesses and increase profits.

In Custom Nation, learn:

• Why customization is key to today’s businesses and what does and doesn’t work
• How to incorporate customization in new and established businesses to make your products stand out and sell
• What strategies work for the most successful and profitable custom brands

Drawing on firsthand interviews with the CEOs and founders of dozens of companies specializing in customization, Custom Nation reveals how customization can make any business stand apart and generate market share, increase profit margins, and develop customer loyalty.

©2012 Anthony Flynn and Emily Flynn Vencat (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

I Believe In Customization!

Would you listen to Custom Nation again? Why?

I would listen to Custom Nation again and again. There is so much useful knowledge packed in this audio book that I found myself constantly replaying and rewinding the audio so I could write down the important points in the message. I have probably already heard the whole thing 2 or 3 times already, just because I didn't want to miss a thing.

What did you like best about this story?

The best thing about the book is the no-nonsense and hands on advice that is given. I have taken the key points to heart, and I will be introducing them into my own business.

What does Tori Kamal bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Tori has a great voice. His speech is smooth and refined. His easy listen tone allows me to do other activities such as driving, riding my bike, doing the dishes while listening to some great advice about business.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Anthony's experience with big brands such as Zazzle and Cafe Press is such an insight to the way America will be doing business in the near future. I do not have personal relationships with these big players and Anthony's experience while interviewing them gives me the knowledge that would otherwise be out of my reach (for now).

Any additional comments?

I would recommend this audio book to anyone who is interested in adding an element of customization to their existing business or anyone who is planing on starting a new business.

Decent book but the narration is just ok

What did you like best about Custom Nation? What did you like least?

The author gives some good learnings and case examples, but this isn't (and maybe isn't meant to be) a broad overview of where mass customization is headed and how to best position yourself (your business) to take advantage.

Would you recommend Custom Nation to your friends? Why or why not?

Sure, in about the same way as I'd recommend Wikipedia as the starting point for learning about a new topic

What didn’t you like about Tori Kamal’s performance?

The narration is staccato with most (or at least so it seems) commas and other punctuation marks treated as periods and with emphasis all too often placed on the wrong syllables. The editing is also not great and in at least 3 cases parts of sentences are repeated. Kamal does enunciate well, however and he has a good voice.

Who do you think would benefit most from listening to Custom Nation?

Someone looking for a cursory overview of mass customization ... a starting point.

Any additional comments?

I liked the book ok and I did get some useful things from it, so I won't be returning it.