Fighting Dirty
Method co-founder Eric Ryan is no stranger to tackling giants. Ten years ago, he and co-founder Adam Lowry launched method, a line of cleaning products, among heavy hitters such as Proctor & Gamble. Against the grain of multi-national companies, method carved out its own industry niche with eye-catching design and eco-friendly products.
Ryan shared the cornerstones of method’s quirkiness that set it apart from multi-national brands that once held a corner on the household cleaner market.
Thanks to our sponsor
Find the white space
More than 10 years ago, Ryan took a picture of a cleaning product aisle and found a sea of sameness. Though he wasn’t known to keep a tidy space, Ryan understood consumer behavior and thought, “there has to be a way to do it differently.” It was by looking at a sea of sameness that he saw an opportunity to take boring categories and make them sexy.
Surround yourself with cheerleaders
“You want people who believe in you more than they believe in the idea,” Ryan said. During the initial product testing stage, they used roommates, family members and co-workers to try anything they created. When Target told method it “didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell,” Ryan’s inner circle gave them honesty that was crucial to perfecting method products and the encouragement to propel them forward. “You need that courage to keep going when things get tough,” said Ryan.
You can’t ignore office culture
Method’s open workspace was designed for the sole purpose of its Monday huddles. Employees gather weekly to give kudos, pitch ideas and ultimately, keep people excited about the mission, culture and business. “People are comfortable in that environment of openly sharing.”
Ryan also believes, “the bigger we get, the smaller we need to act,” which is why everyone from the head of PR to the creative directors takes a turn as a company receptionist. “It’s important to keep the humbleness of the place. Nobody here is better than the receptionist.”
Innovation’s a transfer of emotion
“The difference between small entrepreneurship companies is that you care so much more than anyone else,” Ryan said. “That passion is contagious.” Method conveys this passion by collectively greeting every office guest.
They’re making an emotional connection with their new factory in the Chicago area that is the highest-rated LEED Platinum building in North America. The goal is to bring in workers from the neighborhood who can walk to work, along with growing food from greenhouses on top of the factory that will be sold in local markets.
Big Omaha content is made possible by Yahoo.
