Komuso Design
Komuso Design provides a simple and natural means of reconnecting with the self. Their product — The Shift — encourages people to slow down, steady their breathing and embrace the present. Their philosophy is backed by ancient wisdom. They embody the Komuso way of life, using teachings from Japan’s Edo period to spread their messaging.
Komuso Design only offers one product to consumers. Yet their brand is rich and vibrant. They invest a lot of time telling their story. And that narrative is what has elevated their company to a global presence. When the owners, Todd and Vanessa, came to us, their company was young and quite unknown. They had a vision for what they wanted to accomplish — the story they needed to share with the world — but weren’t sure how to go about it. That’s where we came in. We immediately connected with their vision. We understood the value their product offered to people and were eager to help share those healing powers with the world.
Our branding mission started with video production. The first video we filmed (below left) was essentially an introduction to the brand, the product, and the modern problem they solve through The Shift. The video to the left is much more impressive. What started as a 2-minute company profile video grew into a massive 6-minute story. It is the truest representation of the Komuso brand and a must-see. The third video we produced (below right) is a tutorial on how to best use The Shift.
Photographing The Shift
The Shift is the centerpiece of the Komuso brand. Don’t let its simple appearance fool you. It was developed by a psychotherapist and meditation teacher who used data from over a year of testing to engineer the ideal length, diameter, and quality of metal. Part of The Shift’s charm is its apparent simplicity. It may seem ordinary but it is, in fact, profound. Its design is, in a way, a clever nod to the power of breath, which when harnessed has an immense influence on our bodies and mind.
Given that simplicity is the namesake of The Shift, we chose to keep the aesthetic of their product photography minimal. This was also a stylistic nod to the natural form of The Shift and the philosophy behind the product.
When we took our photography outside of a controlled setting, our methodology and purpose had to change. We needed to connect The Shift to a mindset. After listening to our audience, we realized that many people underestimate the power of breathing. They often take it for granted and that leads them to disregard it as a healing modality. Because of this, people were failing to see The Shift for what it is and what it provides.
We realized that our photography needed to teach our audience about breathing and The Shift’s place therein. So, we chose to place The Shift in magnificent settings around the world, like the Mojave Desert. Our photography associates The Shift with these landscapes, ultimately connecting the tool to nature. The environments we chose are calm, vast, isolated, and ancient. They are timeless and powerful, as is the power of breathing. When the viewer sees these tranquil photos and notices The Shift is the reason the models are so relaxed, they immediately have an epiphany.
Marketing Komuso
We handle all asset creation, strategy, and distribution for social media and email marketing.
Instagram & Pinterest
The imagery above is created with our social media audience in mind. We thoroughly researched their online behavior to create media that we knew would resonate. The imagery and messaging unite the Komuso aesthetic with what they preach. This effective combination has grown their Instagram audience to 27.6k followers and opened avenues for additional marketing on Pinterest and through email.
The ad to the left was created specifically for Pinterest. This is an untapped frontier for Komuso, so our first step was introducing the product and the Komuso philosophy to users on the platform. In less than 15 seconds, we educate this consumer base on the purpose, functionality, and reward of using the Komuso Shift. There are no hard sales. This video conditions our audience for additional programming while encouraging them to be proactive in their search for a quality and proven anxiety treatment method.
Email Marketing
The success of our social media marketing campaign inspired similar programming in email marketing. Our team strategized to develop 5 separate marketing funnels to appeal to consumers at various stages in the conversion process. Some of these flows are evergreen and are automatically triggered when consumers either abandon their cart, sign up for our mailing list, or order a product. These series often push sales and, ultimately, lead to our Nurture Series — an educational sequence that informs on the company culture, the founders, and the science of The Shift.
Whereas the evergreen series encourage sales, the Nurture Series aims to strengthen the consumer-brand relationship. There is virtually no sales language. Instead, they inspire and provide meaningful tips. Though these emails don’t push sales, they have been highly effective at shuttling viewers to Komuso’s e-commerce site. They account for thousands of dollars in sales while deepening the brand story in the process.
Below, is also an example of our Re-engagement Series, which offers promotions on select holidays. These value-based emails subtly push sales, using the context of the holiday to inspire consumers to take action and make a purchase.
FEBRUARY NURTURE SERIES
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VALENTINE'S DAY PROMO SERIES
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