Take Note is an interesting on- and offline connection from Staedtler, an international writing instruments supplier. They invite site visitors to say something, whether thoughtful or stupid - by online writing a note to friends, strangers or themselves. Staedtler will write down this message on real paper and send it on to the specified address - along with a black and red pencil. Too bad it only works for Australia, but the idea from agency Host is great.

I think this is a great website but feels like a sampling campaign with some missed opportunities.

Like so many great websites, some of the key non technical aspects of the campaign have been overlooked. As the sender, I wasn't asked for my details (email or physical address), which I think is a missed opportunity for building a consumer database. As they are giving away a free service, they should have used the opportunity to include 1 or 2 consumer insight questions. The gallery of existing notes are difficult to navigate - I would have got someone to write some clever notes and sorted them into categories such as humour, friendship, love etc. I think the promotion could have been adapted to market customised pencils that contain a special message .. perhaps with a min order qty of 100.

Posted by: Ian Farmer at March 13, 2006 01:21 AM