Antique hardware and my return to eCommerce

I've made a measured change. After spending 2 fantastically enriching years as the Manager of Web Strategy for web analytics leader WebTrends, I've taken a job with a small and rapidly growing e-commerce start-up here in Portland, Oregon. I'm now leading the marketing efforts for House of Antique Hardware (www.houseofantiquehardware.com)...look out!

I've been an internet marketer/strategist for over 11 years. I've worked for a non-profit environmental organization, 2 interactive agencies in LA during the first boom, a very successful dot com start-up, the global footwear and apparel giant adidas, WebTrends and now HoAH. I've riden this internet wave through many twists and turns and as I look out at the possibilities I've never been more excited.

At WebTrends I sat on the front edge of marketing web software to marketers in a tremendously dynamic industry. I learned a TON about the world of online marketing tools and the vision of what marketing could/should be. But through it all one basic truth has remained and grown even stronger...marketing must be valuable to be successful. It's a simple but powerful foundation. Not persuasive or entertaining or aspirational...valuable.

I took my new job for many reasons but one of the most compelling is that I've been given the opportunity to grow a company that has become successful by being authentic and by providing value. I've only been here for 2 weeks but I've received at least 4 all-company emails highlighting notes from elated customers. One of the emails was from a woman who was deeply thankful that one of our Hardware Experts had helped her find what she was looking for on another site! She articulated the WOMMA dream "...your expertise was truly valuable, you must work for a wonderful company".

It's refreshing and exciting to work for a company that understands that service is service and that providing value is the only way to be successful.