No Pink Phones - A New Twist on Technology for Women

September 8th, 2008

Ying Cheng and I share one thing in common - we hate pink phones.

OK, actually, we share a few things in common. But one of them is an interest in technology designed specifically for women. Too often, we see big companies who want to reach out to the women’s market, so they simply take an existing product and make it pink. We’re both members of the “no pink phones’ movement. But the difference between Ying and I is, Ying actually took action and did something about it.

Ying Cheng started LA YIN a company devoted to fusing High-Tech with fashion and style.

Amen sister.

I recently bought a way cool red laptop zip cover to protect my MacBook while traveling. And talk about giving new life to something as dull as a USB drive! I now have a snazzy new red USB drive with cool swirly things on it. (Sorry Ying, I know I don’t do justice to your beautiful designs with my bad American slang, but “snazzy” is the highest praise I can give).

I asked Ying what it is that women want from technology products. Here is her answer:

We want products that make our life (which is not always the same as of our counter gender) easier and we want them to be easy to use, not too intimidating. We also want them to look good, in particular mobile phones, music players and other personal devices - as these are equivalent to personal accessories, they are an extension of our own personal expressions.

I think the key point here is, yes, many women look at technology products as a personal accessory or a personal expression. I think guys feel that way as well, to some degree. But a man’s idea of fashion and style may differ from a woman’s. Which is why I’m so excited to see more women taking matters into their own manicured hands and designing what they want.

LA YIN is starting with a few products, but Ying has plans to expand in the future. She has a board of over 100 women from around the world guiding and supporting her efforts.

I, for one, love my new LA YIN USB drive and laptop cover and am planning on giving them out as presents and thank you gifts to help spread the word. Why should I be the only one who looks fabulous with my stylish high tech devices?

In Customer Experience, Marketing to Women, Technology

Add Your Comments

Comments (11)

Sarah Garnsey
September 8th, 2008
1:44 pm

Great post and great product, thanks.

I, too, hate the ubiquitous pink-product thing.

But before I instinctively recoil from the latest pink “women’s” gadget or product, I try to remember that many products are deliberately pink because they are in some way supporting breast cancer research and making a statement about it. And even if they’re not, chances may be good that seeing the pink color will trigger that association for consumers, even if only subconsciously. Pink has gone from being just a “girly” color to being a color with powerfully strong symbolism (”grrrrrly,” if you will).

And that kind of awareness is never a bad thing. So even though I’m a woman who can’t bring herself to carry any of those pink things, I do appreciate what the color has done for us.
Nick Stamoulis
September 8th, 2008
2:10 pm

I agree with Sarah above..it’s tough to sometimes decipher whether an object is pink due to the whole breast cancer research campaigns or just to appeal to women. Either way, as a male - I can see how women would be opposed to the whole pink technology movement.
Karen @ ContentRobot
September 8th, 2008
2:33 pm

Please consider me a charter member of the “no pink phones” movement along with you way-cool ladies!

~ Karen
Ellen Hart
September 8th, 2008
3:19 pm

Holly, I love your articles! The ridiculous “Everything-in-Pink” marketing tactic is exactly why I started my own business. I sell laptop bags for professional women. And, like the real women who carry them, my bags vary in style, color, and personality. And okay, I’ll admit, a few of them are actually pink. But, just a few!!
Elaine
September 8th, 2008
7:03 pm

I have the same issue with bike gear! For crying out loud, just because I’m a woman doesn’t mean that I want a pink helmet or a pink jersey! (Or pink shoes, socks, sunglasses, gloves, etc.) The problem is when the selection on an item is so limited that you have no choice but to (a) support breast cancer research and (b) wear pink.

And no offense, but just because I’m a woman doesn’t mean that my main “cause” is breast cancer research. When it comes to disease, I’m more concerned about skin cancer, depression and Parkinson’s. I don’t want to be forced to “donate” because someone’s making an assumption based on my gender.

As you can see, I get a little irritable when the bike gear catalogs hit my mailbox.
Ying Cheng
September 9th, 2008
4:55 am

Holly, I love the American slang ’snazzy’ I read the other comments and I’m thrilled to meet other like-minded women.
Pernille
September 9th, 2008
12:05 pm

I have been so fortunate to come across Ying and her great stuff - snazzy is actually just the word for them! Technology, i love it, i can not imagine living without it. One of my main issues have always been to ‘force’ techies to make the stuff so I can understand it and have easy access. I’m not an engineer (and I shouldnt have to be). But way too often, usablity gets translated into… pink.

Functionality with a lot of style! Ying, you go girl!!
Women Cashmere Scarves
September 14th, 2008
2:29 pm

Great website and interesting to know how women are changing things for themselves and fellow women.
Tanya
September 16th, 2008
11:07 am

Holly,

Excellent article! I usually find myself choosing between 2 options: functional black, or girlie pink. I love pink, but not necessarily for my gadgets.

Thanks for sharing Ying’s site with us! I’ll definitely be buying.

Tanya Davis
Practical-Camping
November 18th, 2008
12:27 am

Being in the retail industry, I get a lot of request for Pink Things. Most of our products are not available in colors most women want, Maybe Ying can produce some camping gear in women friendly colors.
No Pink Phones - A New Twist on Technology for Women
November 23rd, 2008
5:11 am

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