“We need to get our story told. We need to initiate more conversations, and join even more. We need to take our ‘understated authority’ and other core values and ‘put it out there.’ We need to do more of the stuff that matters more. We need to create stronger relationships and a more engaging brand experience. We need to work with like-minded people.”

That’s a brief excerpt from an email we received about eight months ago from some people named Jeff and Rachel who live in Shanghai and have started a company called bambu. And after emails, Skype calls, and meeting in person, we made it happen:

bambuhome.com

Simple, straightforward, and not about flash… it’s all about substance. Product pages that tell more than the product facts… stories that tell the craftsmanship and reason behind the products (I think this is going to be a trend for 2008). It’s not just a Lacquerware bowl, it’s how it’s made. More importantly, it’s why it’s made.

Bambu is in the enviable position of having a great story, and the potential to build strong relationships based on shared values and ideas. The new site allows bambu to share what they’re thinking and why they’re thinking it. And they can change it whenever they have a new idea to share, a new story to tell, and a new conversation to start.

“Starting conversations and building relationships.” We never could have made bambuhome.com without the support, encouragement and friendship of Jeff and Rachel at bambu. Thanks guys for being one of those rare companies who are truly changing the world. Keep it up.