The Slack Socks Saga: A Quirky Marketing SuccessIn this episode, James Sherrett narrates the fascinating journey of how Slack created custom socks as a unique marketing tool. Starting with a small budget, the team decided to use socks featuring their tartan design as company swag. The process wasn't easy and included a 99-email thread just to finalize designs.Despite initial challenges, the socks became immensely popular, eventually leading to orders of up to 500,000 pairs. The socks not only contributed to brand identity but also symbolized the quirky originality and growing pains of Slack as it transitioned from a startup to a large business. The narrative concludes with reflections on how the company's unique identity evolved and adapted as it grew.00:00 The Slack Socks Story Begins00:22 Why Socks? The Marketing Strategy02:25 Design Challenges and Email Correspondence05:50 The Popularity of Slack Socks06:56 Evolving Designs and Internal Impact10:20 Reflections on Growth and Change13:02 Conclusion and Transition to Paid Slack This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.slackstory.com
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13:23
Saying No Nicely
Saying No Nicely: A Slack Story by James SherrettIn this episode, James Sherrett starts at Slack in 2014 as full-time Director, Accounts. He discusses the evolving roles and responsibilities in a small startup environment, focusing on customer interactions, providing demos, and collecting feedback.A key theme is the philosophy of 'saying no nicely,' both to customers and in shaping product strategies. James explores different ways to decline requests respectfully and strategically, the impact of this approach on customer satisfaction, and the overall business operations. Additionally, he touches upon the growth of Slack, its core functionalities, and how it became a pivotal tool for digital communication and teamwork.00:00 Introduction: Starting in Accounts at Slack01:33 Customer Interactions: Helping and Selling02:24 The Art of Saying No Nicely03:01 Examples of Saying No Nicely04:50 Learning from Customer Feedback06:37 The Philosophy of Saying No Nicely12:24 Slack's Core Functionality in 201414:39 The Complexity of Messaging15:48 Being a Guide and Guard16:48 Saying No Nicely: A Continued Practice17:36 Conclusion: Focus Drives Results18:03 Up Next: Slack Socks This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.slackstory.com
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18:22
Ending Marketing, starting Accounts
Transition from Marketing to Accounts at SlackA quick episode to mark the transition of the story from Part 1 to Part 2. A thank you for the audience's support and feedback. A recap of the topics covered so far. A sneak peek into what's coming next, including launching Slack's paid product and creating the Slack Wall of Love. If you're reading this you likely already know about the accompanying podcast.00:00 Introduction to the Slack Story00:23 Transition to Part Two00:40 Preview of Part Two01:05 Three Things01:36 Recap of Part One02:40 Podcast Information03:07 Feedback Request03:38 Okay, onwards This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.slackstory.com
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3:48
Please sit next to the money
Please sit next to the moneyIn this episode, James Sherrett narrates his tumultuous journey at Slack, starting as a consultant in June 2013, navigating through periods of high demand, strategic pivots, and personal struggles. Despite initial setbacks, including a retracted job offer, James continued to show up for work. His persistence and growing alignment with the team ultimately led to his official hiring as the Director, Accounts at the end of 2013. James shares insightful anecdotes about customer engagement, internal teamwork, and the evolving dynamics of startup culture, providing a behind-the-scenes look at Slack's early days. James' wife Monique also makes an appearance to offer her perspective.00:00 Introduction00:28 Early Days at Slack: Joining the Team01:32 Marketing and Customer Engagement03:12 Scaling Up: Handling Increased Demand03:58 The Polite Struggle for Control07:12 A Turning Point: December 201311:12 Monique Shares her Perspective22:04 Final Decision: Joining as Director, Accounts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.slackstory.com
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26:27
Learning from the first 1,000 Slack invites
The First 1000 Slack Invites: Insights and ObservationsIn this episode, James Sherrett shares the insights drawn from the first 1,000 Slack invites, from September, 2013. He shares 16 key observations about user behaviour and feedback that contributed to Slack's development and positioning. Despite early challenges, these initial signals of success helped shape Slack's journey to becoming a billion-dollar company. Toward the end, we cover hindsight bias and retaining the context of those formative days. The episode provides a unique glimpse into the embryonic stages of Slack's growth.00:00 Introduction: A Slack Story by James Sherrett00:28 The First 1000 Slack Invites: Initial Observations00:42 Context and Early Success02:09 Inviting Teams and Gathering Feedback03:35 Key Observations from the First 1,000 Invites09:34 Reflecting on the Observations10:26 The Journey of Slack: From Zero to Success11:39 Conclusion: The Reality of Startup Success This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.slackstory.com
In 2013, I started as #9 on the Slack team. A Slack Story tells the best stories from the 7 years and 5 jobs that followed. The Podcast is those stories in audio form. Plus more to come.
Subscribe by RSS with this link: https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/3721181.rss www.slackstory.com
Ireland