Industrial Age Economics

You can have any colour you want as long as its black
– Henry Ford

The Industrial Age was marked by mass market standardisation.

1 size fits all.

Industrial Age economics was born out of scarcity.

Because each of these ingredients cost time and money, the category owner that can create large assembly lines to take advantage of economies of scale, wins.

Large upfront fixed costs involved with setting up factories & purchasing plant & equipment also provided a huge barrier to entry – allowing the big guys keep getting bigger.

Hence the world became awash with Ford Model Ts, McDonald’s Big Macs and Ikea Billy Bookcases.

But what happens to traditional companies when the key components of the Industrial Age paradigm are no longer scarce?

What happens to Model Ts, Big Macs and Billy Bookcases in an age where goods are approaching free and are readily available in abundance?

How much of your future relies on Industrial Age scarcity?

No Comments

jonathonsciola
January 21, 2015 9:26 am

I love your thinking. I have been riding this path of Sethgodian marketing for around 10 years and i love the way you eloquently summarise all he, and I have been pondering. Interestingly McDonalds is allowing us to create our own burgers now.

Adam Sugihto
January 23, 2015 9:02 am

Yup – Seth Godin’s the best! I owe almost everything I am to his generosity in sharing his ideas…

jonathonsciola
January 28, 2015 10:58 am

Great mentor. Check out @jeffjarvis for an even more brilliant prodigie on media tech and journalism.

Leave a Reply