The Cheese Cupid

This morning HARO (Help a Reporter Out) had a fascinating advertiser. The Wisconsin cheese board got together and created an amazing website, that fits what they're trying to sell (cheese) in a way that helps their audience. Brilliant!

Called the Cheese Cupid, this site lets you put in what you are drinking and it tells you what cheeses to pair with it. Say you're drinking a pilsner, apparently havarti is a good pairing. The site even goes a step further and suggests what food items could be paired with the cheese.

I adore cheese. This website just makes it even easier to consume.

Critics might say that the consumer has to take the additional step of going out and buying the cheese in a supermarket. And that there's no way to compel the consumer to purchase Wisconsin cheese. So what? The Cheese Cupid is building a larger group of educated cheese consumers. If they're successful, more people will buy cheese at the grocery store and more shelf space will be found.

We have gone through the wine trend and that has become an integral part of Chicago's foodie scene. We're definitely in the midst of a beer trend, with bars expanding their beer list and people seeking out those bars that have always curated their draft and bottle lists with extra care (Edgewater Lounge, Jakes Pub, Long Room are just a few).

Could the cheese revolution be next? Are we already in the midst of it? There are already a few stores dedicated to cheese (Pastoral is a favorite) and many have opened and closed in recent years. Trader Joe's and Whole Foods certainly dedicate a lot of shelf space to quality cheeses. One of my favorite places to get regionally produced cheese is Paulina Meat Market. If there are even more quality places for cheese purchasing, I may end up with a serious imbalance in my diet.

Are there ways that we can market theater in the same way? Could a collective group like the League of Chicago Theater's make a website that is highly interactive and takes an audience's preference into account when recommending shows? Maybe even take it a step further and give direct links to reviews and the box office website for purchasing tickets. Add in maps and restaurant recommendations (I smell sponsorship opportunities) and you have a one stop place for planning on evening out on the town enjoying theater.

Of course, a website this robust is a massive undertaking of time, research, and money. Can we afford to not make an investment of this kind? Will we remain relevant if we fail to find ways of communicating and building our audience on the internet?