In the program for 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee, there was a full page “publisher’s note” touting a way to win $5,000 for a local charity. It referred readers to http://rezoom.com.
Once there I became a little confused because I found more than I anticipated. It has a lot of similarity to MySpace, or any other social network site.
So good old Google to the rescue.
I find this:
In announcing the Premier Edition of REZOOM! Magazine, Jerry Cover, co-founder/Chairman and Gary Glover, co-founder/President of ReZoom.com, declared, “The Baby Boomer generation has always dreaded receiving that first AARP mailer. Our goal is to provide a younger, cooler alternative for people who see themselves very much in the center of life.”
Glover went on to say, “AARP is an association of retired persons. We’re a generation that has no intention of retiring in the conventional sense – REZOOM! Magazine and ReZoom.com are about living well, being well, traveling well, and building a better world.”
Jerry Cover added, “AARP was recently quoted as saying that they have to reposition the AARP brand to make it relevant to people younger than 65. We’re saying ‘don’t bother’. Americans in their 40’s and 50’s today are looking for something fresh and new, not a remake. ReZoom is to the boomers of today what AARP was to our parents 30 years ago.”
I have to say that I didn’t “dread” the AARP mailer, but I agree that I have little in common with the “retired” part of the organization. I like the redesign of their magazine and skim it every month, but their tabliod ususally hits the recycle bin unread.
Rezoom.com wants $19.95 a year for full access to the photo sharing, entertainment discount book, the magazine, a blog, etc. etc.
I don’t get it. Discount entertainment books are available for less than $19.95. Photo sharing is free lots of places, blogs are free, etc. etc. If their target market is 40-65 that are web savvy, I don’t seem them flocking to this site for a lot of generic information.
The site is trying to be too many things to too many people.
I saw their website too. It doesn’t make since. I’m 43 and have no interest in their site. I can find all that information and more for free. Why would I pay for that. I read some of the stories on the site and the writing really didn’t grab my attention. Bad idea and poor execution.
Hi Jim,
Interesting to get feedback from the other end of the boomer group.
Thanks for commenting.
hi there, thought I would just make a quick comment on this older post. we have recently re-launched rezoom.com and have taken some new approaches to the site, new look, better content, and every editorial aspect of the site is completely free. so please come check it out and tell me what you think, we appreciate the criticism, we are a young company trying to perfect our product. shoot me an email at phil (dot) thornton (at) rezoom.com
thanks!