The Big Idea Bake-Off

THE BIG IDEA BAKE-OFF IS A COMPANY-WIDE COMPETITION THAT GIVES STAFF MEMBERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEIR OWN IDEAS FOR THE FUTURE OF MARTHA STEWART LIVING OMNIMEDIA. I WAS ABLE TO NARROW THE 40 ENTRIES DOWN TO 7 FINALISTS...BUT I JUST COULDN'T CHOOSE A WINNER...SO I'D LIKE YOU TO HELP ME DECIDE. HERE'S A SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSALS FROM OUR 2008 BIG IDEA BAKE-OFF FINALISTS!

Barbara, Television Producer
Freestanding Martha Stewart store for merchandising and workshops
Big Idea: A huge Martha Stewart store right here in New York, and soon to come to a city near you! Imagine floors and floors of shopping, learning, creating -- all under one roof. Meet celebrities, join in live demonstrations, get one-on-one help from our editors, advice from our experts, be a guest on our radio shows, eat fabulous food, take a class, make the perfect cappuccino, and maybe even get to drink it with Martha. A store that's everything Martha? It's a good thing waiting to happen.
View Barbara's presentation

Katie, Digital Advertising Sales Assistant
marthastewart.com digital scrapbook
Big Idea: A marthastewart.com digital scrapbook that would allow marthastewart.com community users to create and store virtual scrapbooks online and share them with family and friends via their community profile. Users would design pages from scratch using virtual versions of Martha's tools and embellishments or scan and upload pages from actual albums they have already created. Ultimately, they'll be able to order their scrapbooks professionally printed and bound within their favorite Martha Stewart Crafts albums.
View Katie's presentation

Shara, Associate Product Manager
Special publication for pet lovers/pet food
Big Idea: To create a yearly or biyearly publication focusing on pets and pet crafts, where readers will be encouraged to create their own pet-related products, and we'll also offer tips for including your pet in your life...

My alternate idea is to create a packaged line of Martha-branded pet craft items. This line would vary from holiday-themed products, like a bone-shaped Christmas stocking, to wedding items, like a ring pillow your dog could wear down the aisle.
View Shara's presentation

Alexis, Deputy Home Editor
Special publication catering to those with food allergies and sensitivities that would include recipes
Big Idea: To publish a special magazine that offers delicious allergy-friendly recipes, making life for people with food allergies and sensitivities easier and more delicious. Millions of people, including myself, can't eat nuts, dairy, wheat or gluten, and I’d like to empower people to make great recipes even if they can't use all the standard ingredients.
View Alexis's presentation

Jackie, Senior Integrated Marketing Manager
Special publication about collecting
Big Idea: To publish a onetime magazine called "The Essential Guide to the New Vintage." It'll be filled with everything you need to know to spot treasures at tag sales and flea markets without investing a lot of money. The guide will cover new, inexpensive trends in collecting and show ideas on how to beautifully use and display what you've found.
View Jackie's presentation

Irina, Product Designer
Line of home merchandising catering to young demographic
Big Idea: To create a modern line of housewares that caters to a younger demographic. This line will combine affordability with the highest standard of quality that our brand is known for. The products in this line will be fun, colorful, and elegant; they will include furniture, tableware, home decor, bedding, and bath items.
View Irina's presentation

Jacqueline, Product Manager
MSLO employee cookbook
Big Idea: To publish an "Employee Cookbook," which will be a collection of the best handed-down family recipes from the 700-plus employees at MSLO. It will feature favorites such as my coworker Sabrina's carrot cake and my fiance's third-generation "Sunday Sauce." I guarantee there will be something for everyone in this cookbook, and it will also help to justify the "Martha 15" that everyone gains when they start working here!
View Jacqueline's presentation

Thank you for voting for your favorite Big Idea. The poll closed on Thursday, February 7. On Tuesday, February 12, Martha will announce the big winner live on "The Martha Stewart Show." Be sure and tune in to find out which idea Martha will be bringing to life.

Comments

[bernadette]

The store is long overdue and would be amazing!

[Nicole]

As a devoted fan based in the UK, can I make a plea that more Martha products are available to ship overseas? At the moment, we can buy Martha Stewart Living Magazine and Blueprint, but can't buy the beautiful products from Macy's. I stocked up when I was in New York in November but need a more regular Martha fix!

[Pru]

I second Nicole's comments. Over in the UK everything to do with Martha is very limited. We also can't get the Martha Stewart Newsletter, and there is no hope of getting any Martha Stewart products.

[jane]

launch the store ..... and bring back Martha By Mail while you're at it. I'm still missing that catalog!

[Michelle]

As a person who fondly looks upon her white metal Martha Stewart craft cabinet every day, I MISS MY MARTHA CATALOG! A Martha store is almost too much to even DREAM about!

I'd drive from Boston to NYC to go to it!

[Jordana]

I love the store idea. It's like American Girl place... you can go, get something to eat, learn something, and buy products. Then the poeple in the UK can have all their Martha info in one place, and maybe open a store in the U.K.

[Opal]

I really like the Celiac recipe collection ideas. Though I don't have Celiac, I am wheat-sensitive, and I have foodie friends who were devastated by their new, gluten-free diets.

[caroline goudeseune]

Dear Martha,
The big idea I'd love to see, is your team organizing a small house so that it is Martha-like, where you can live, do crafts, cook, entertain, have children playing, ...
thank you and please go on with your shows, wish you would come to Europe, wish there were shops where we could see, feel and eventually buy your beautiful things...
kindest regards,
caroline goudeseune

[Ally]

Though the store is a nice idea in theory, it would only reach the nyc demographic (at least in the shortterm). As an avid dog lover, I like Shara's craft ideas. At least it is something anyone could find at their local Michael's or AC Moore.

[Linda Gail]

Oh, please launch the Martha Stewart Store as soon as possible in NYC. Then start working on a store in the south and let Atlanta be the first place to have it. Everyone I know would love to be able to shop and learn in one place from one of the greats like Martha. I know I would be at the store every day. In fact I have a better idea. Launch the NYC store and one in Atlanta at the same time. Then your loyal fans in the south wouldn't have to wait for their chance to have their Martha fix.
Linda Gail, Atlanta Ga

[Lilly]

These are all great ideas and I think lots of people would be very receptive to them all. You clearly have a great, smart and motivated group of employees over there at MSLO!

[Rita]

A store would be nice. But the only problem is the store would never make it to Fort Chiswell, a rural community in VA, where I live. I think the cook book is a great idea. Just think of all those wonderful recipes. Love your show.

[Monique]

I LOVE the idea of having a digital scrapbook! Other companies are starting to move in that direction (i.e. Snapfish)so I would really like to see Martha Stewart get in on it also! I'm a scrapbook fanatic so I would definitely enjoy something like this.

[Kelley]

Hi Martha,

A Martha Stewart store is such a great idea! I am always searching for your craft supplies and creative ideas. How wonderful it would be to have them all in one place!

Kelley - Apex, NC

[Sally]

They are all great ideas!!! Why pick just one?
Can't we please have them all??!!

[jerusalem]

I love the Martha store idea- especially if all Martha products would be under one roof instead of having to go to 10 different stores to look at all the great Martha things that are out there -paint,crafts,fabric,furniture,homegoods...! Also, are you by chance bringing MS Kids back? Oh how we all loved that mag!

[Melanie]

Like Nicole, Pru and Caroline(above), I too think that, above all, your items should be more widely available everywhere, including Canada! It is so challenging to find Martha Stewart anything outside of the US. Please don't forget about your international fans.

[Kit Feldman]

I love the pet publication idea, especially since Martha's personal interest in animals covers large and small species and some that are not exactly run of the mill. Why not make it a vehicle to bring animal rescue efforts to readers attention, like the recent horse rescue story, and include vet advice and personal pet stories from celebrities and regular readers? Interest in pets is as an all time high....Why not jump on the bandwagon in a unique Martha way?
Kit Feldman

[Deborah]

If we had a Martha store, it could incorporate all of the remaining great ideas from the other 6 contributors.

[Rebekah @ Elizabeth Anne Designs]

I love the idea of the Martha store, but I'm not sure how long it would take to get to Birmingham, Alabama. However, the modern goods for a younger demographic would probably reach me a lot faster. :-)

[Margie]

I would like to see something which will reach the most people. I believe the store would be such an undertaking for limited numbers of users. With the word "globally" so prevalent in business conversation it would appear Martha Stewart new ideas should be there as well.
Personally I like the collecting idea because everyone collects something.

[Mohd Norizham]

I prefer Barbara's big idea than the others but all of them are great too...it would be much interesting to have a store which provides all kind of things in one place...but I find this idea would just bring benefit to some of your fans as most of them are living in USA...how about your fans who live outside USA like me?(currently I'm staying in Malaysia)...I would suggest Katie's idea for the solution...anyway, it's just my opinion Martha...by the way, the thing I really love about you is that you give an opportunity to your viewers to decide on some matters which I think quite important to you...thanks for giving us that big opportunity Martha...it's a good thing...all the best with your selection Martha :p

[Shannon Walker]

I love the store idea! I have always wanted to work for Martha Stewart (it would be the best job for my creativity and development/planning skills)but my husband and I don't want to move near NY. But I could work at the store! I'm excited.
Please come to Cincinnati, OH! I'll help you start it. :)I wonder how the stores would be planted?

[Elaine]

Thank you for soliciting our input on the contest. These are all great ideas and I can see why you are having a difficult time making the final selection. I will be voting many times over the next week!

[Michelle Schwartz]

I REALLY like the idea about publishing a allergy magazine. I do not have any allergies but my husband does and I read everything that is related to his food allergies. It is time that the celiac community have a well known spoke person like Martha Stewart in their corner.