In this insightful episode of “From Startup to Wunderbrand,” host Nicholas Kuhne talks with David Wachs, founder and CEO of Handwrytten, a unique service that merges traditional handwritten notes with modern technology. David shares the journey of creating Handwrytten, a business that uses custom-built robots to write personalized notes for clients at scale. The episode explores the effectiveness of handwritten notes in customer engagement, especially in an age where digital communication is overwhelming and often impersonal. David discusses various use cases, from luxury brands to small businesses, and the significant impact these notes have on customer retention and brand loyalty.

Top 5 Tips:

1. Personalization Matters: Handwritten notes stand out in an age of mass digital communication, offering a personal touch that email and text messages can’t match.

2. Scalability with Technology: Leveraging technology, Handwrytten scales the process of creating personalized notes, maintaining consistency and quality across thousands of notes.

3. Strategic Use of Handwritten Notes: Identify key moments in the customer journey, such as post-purchase, anniversaries, or after resolving an issue, to send handwritten notes for maximum impact.

4. High Retention and Display Rates: Customers are more likely to keep and display handwritten notes, leading to prolonged brand exposure and deeper emotional connections.

5. Integration with Business Systems: Handwrytten integrates with platforms like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Shopify, automating the sending of notes based on specific customer actions, ensuring seamless incorporation into existing workflows.

Why Handwritten Notes Are More Effective

In today’s digital age, the art of handwritten notes is almost forgotten, yet it remains one of the most personal forms of communication. David Wachs, the founder of Handwrytten, is revitalizing this tradition by merging it with cutting-edge technology. In a recent episode of “From Startup to Wunderbrand,” David discusses how his company uses custom-built robots to scale the process of writing personalized notes, offering businesses a unique way to connect with their customers.

David emphasizes that handwritten notes offer a personal touch that digital communication often lacks. “Electronic communication between text and email… is overwhelming,” he explains, noting that customers tend to ignore even the most personalized emails because they recognize them as automated. In contrast, handwritten notes are opened and retained at significantly higher rates. These notes often end up on display in customers’ homes, serving as a constant reminder of the brand.

The Technology Behind Handwrytten

Handwrytten is not just about writing notes; it’s about doing so efficiently at scale. The company uses a fleet of 175 robots, each equipped with a real pen to create authentic, handwritten notes. David shares that these robots are programmed to mimic the natural variations of human handwriting, making each note unique. “We use AI to bend and twist the letters just a little bit… to make that writing look really real,” he says.

Integrating Handwritten Notes into Business Strategy

For businesses, integrating handwritten notes into their customer journey can be a game-changer. David mentions that the notes are particularly effective when used at critical touchpoints, such as after a purchase or on a customer’s anniversary. Handwrytten integrates seamlessly with platforms like Salesforce and Shopify, allowing businesses to automate the sending of notes based on customer actions. This makes it easy for companies to add a personal touch to their customer interactions without overwhelming their staff.

Use Cases and Success Stories

David shares several compelling use cases, from a luxury handbag company that sends personalized notes after purchases to a piano tuner who finds his notes proudly displayed on clients’ pianos a year later. These examples illustrate the unique value that handwritten notes can bring to customer relationships, far beyond what any email or text message could achieve.