The Subscription Economy Requires Sticky Services

Inthe decadent boom years of the 1980s, there was a popular bumper sticker that read, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” The line is usually attributed to flamboyant billionaire tycoon Malcolm Forbes and, for many, remains a stark reminder of the hubris that existed during the Reagan era and beyond. It was the time of fictional financier Gordon Gecko and his maxim that “greed is good.” Conspicuous consumption and ostentatious displays of wealth and privilege were all the rage. It was the rise of luxury goods with bold logos and easily recognizable patterns. A period of new money and conspicuous wealth, a shift from the quiet subtlety of inherited wealth to the unfettered exuberance of hard-won cash. What was the point of being rich, someone once asked, if no one knew you had money. Nearly half a century later and the world has changed quite dramatically. The aging baby boomers, along with their endless quest for toys, have given way to a new generation of consumers that value experiences above possessions. They have welcomed the shift from a traditional model of physical ownership to a more untethered understanding of the value of the ephemeral experience. The flashy roadster eventually rusts and breaks down, whereas the memorable experience is yours to keep — forever. <a href="https://medium.com/illumination-curated/the-subscription-economy-requires-sticky-services-45a9775e1474">Read More</a>