Here’s another great Kickstarter success story.
Amber Jones, a New York City concierge, had the idea for an interactive scratch and sniff children’s book called New York, Phew York that told the story of a family’s trip to New York City using smells that are synonymous with the city, both good and bad. Think everything from fresh bagels, pizza and pastrami, to garbage, horse manure and sewer steam.
Jones submitted her idea to publishers, who all passed because of the high costs associated with producing a scratch and sniff book. So Jones turned to Kickstarter to crowd-fund her book with the hopes of raising $20,000 in pledges. She reached that goal and then some, raising $22,339.
Like most successful Kickstarter ideas, Jones’ book garnered considerable media attention both online (Gothamist and Huff Post, to name a few) and in local NYC media. The coverage helped drive the pledges she received and no doubt gained the attention of those same publishers who originally passed on the book. Most pledges were for $34, which gets you a signed first-edition copy of New York, Phew York. Six people pledged $500, which includes 3 signed copies, an invite to the book release party and a personalized itinerary for a NYC vacation by Jones.
Jones’ success is a testament to how well Kickstarter can work for people with creative visions that don’t fit within the paradigm established by more traditional enterprise; in this case, publishing companies. The response more than validated Jones’ idea, and we can see her scratch and sniff book being a big hit with tourists and children and the concept extending to even more cities.
To pre-oder New York, Phew York and learn more about the book, visit www.scentsationalbooks.com.
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