nor does Kickstarter force them to produce anything. It’s up to each pledger to determine the validity of the project, and the contribution is given with no strings attached and no expectation of a return on investment. According to the site, since its launch in 2009 “over $350 million has been pledged by more than 2.5 million people, funding more than 30,000 creative projects.” This is how the volunteers in Puerto Rico were able to raise the funds needed to buy solar lights and the mounting equipment needed to turn that Mango tree into a Christmas tree. For more information about their adventure visit their Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/LightItUpArbolSolitario.
This idea of crowd-funding a project is so powerful it begs the question, “How can we use this tool to drive innovation in our own industry”? A quick search of the Kickstarter website shows not one single project for the auto parts industry. Clearly, the creative slant Kickstarter looks for does not lend itself as an incubator of ideas for auto parts innovators; but, the crowd-sourced funding model does. We all have challenges in our businesses that are screaming for a tech solution. You have to wonder, what if there was a website where we could tap into our industry’s collective brain trust and look for new ideas to advance our business tech know-how? Ironically, the Kickstarter name would have fit us to a “T.” CM
■ ■ ■
Visit Mandy’s blog: www.mandyaguilar.com
Get FREE product and service info from the companies featured in this issue of Counterman. It’s fast and easy!
www.Counterman.com/ASAP and click the company you want info from! Advertiser
Page
Advertiser
Page
Advance Auto Parts Advics Affinia/Raybestos Airtex Corp. Aisin Apex Automobile Parts Arnott Industries Continental Corp. CRP Industries Inc. Dayco Corp. DEA Products/Pioneer Inc. Delphi Product/Service Solutions Denso DMA Goodpoint Eastern Catalytic ExxonMobil
Cover 3 37 13, 38 Cover 2,1 14 25 19 10 34 33 7 4,5 27 16 30 Cover 4
Federal-Mogul GAAS GMB North America Interstate Battery Systems of America KYB Americas Corp. Mr. Gasket Performance Group NAPA Belden/Echlin NGK Spark Plugs NUCAP Industries Packard Industries Philips Lighting Schaeffler Group USA SK Hand Tool TechSmart Walker Products
20, 21 35 17 3 11 22 43 15 18, 42 44 28 9 12 29 41
counterman.com 47