Tran-sum-er (noun) 1. A consumer in transit. A consumer on the go. 2. A citizen of the world. Or at least, of airports. Or hotels rooms. Or the travel “headspace.”
There are Transumers among us. Or, rather, there is a Transumer in all of us. We become different people when we travel. We read books you would never find on our night stands. We watch movies we would never go for at home. And we buy things that would only appeal to us in this unique and elusive frame of mind. The Transumer values new experiences, top-notch service and the freedom to slide between borders and media with ease.
Tell us: Who, in your mind, best exemplifies the idea of the Transumer? Post your answers in the comments below. Give us a name and tell us why.
Next month we’ll unveil our list of the World’s Top Transumers, using your suggestions and quotes as sparks. Feel free to spread the word to friends and colleagues, Twitter followers and LinkedIn contacts.
The search for the Ultimate Transumer is on!
I don’t know the name of the person. But there must be someone who has the MOST FF points in the world. And this person is the ultimate transumer. Might be interesting to find the people with most points on various FF programs around the world, if such a list exists.
It has to be the His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama! The guy is in perpetual exile, such that his very idea of home is transient, not to mention transcendent….
Bill Clinton is the ultimate Transumer by far (which just sounds like a newfangled way of saying “jet setter”, by the way). It would be hyper cool to plot his movements on a world map.
That busy Bono person seems to fit the bill. But he’s not much of a “consumer” in transit – more like a “do-gooder” in transit. What would that be called?
What about that woman who writes for Air Canada’s enRoute magazine – Mary Gostelow? She seems to spend more time in hotels than at home.
A Transumer is not the same thing as a jet-setter because a Transumer doesn’t necessarily need to leave his or her home or city.
So someone who spends heaps of time on travel message boards, or reading Lonely Planet, or listening to podcasts on the train to work can be a Transumer just as much as someone with their own private jet.
Transumerism isn’t an activity but a state of mind.
Has to be someone working for an airline and I dont mean cabin crew – we could do a survey !!
Headline on Mirror in the beginning of August: Victoria Beckham clocks up more than 100,000 airmiles jetsetting around the world.
It’s hard life having to do day of shopping in Milan, hair done in Paris and dinner in London… Not that I’m too keen on her but you have to admit she’s a true transumer to the full extent of the word.
When i first read this post, people like Pico Iyer came to mind. Then, i thought about all the people i personally know who are on the go for work and for leisure: DJs, touring musicians, and journalists/writers in general…?
Godot. He’s always in transit.
How about someone like Bill Bryson, or even a non-travel writer like Salmon Rushdie or Yann Martel? They must always live in the so-called travel head space.
I’m not positive the ultimate transumer is the person with the most frequent flier miles, but someone who links the experience of discovery and exploration inherent in travel with the art of consumption–ie, people who shop when they are on the road because purchases, even in an airport mall, become souvenirs. So much of the pleasure in travel is connected to consumption, from the discovery of the perfect cafe to the fantastic art exhibition you happened to “take in” while you were just visiting. I would say that a true transumer is a connoisseur who makes the most out of their travel experiences.
I wish I could say the ultimate transumer is myself, but secretly hate venturing too far from home.
Guys, I have to agree with your december article that GEORGE CLOONEY plays THE ULTIMATE TRANSUMER.
http://sparksheet.com/you-don%E2%80%99t-need-george-clooney-to-tell-your-brand%E2%80%99s-story/
One scene shows Clooney and his naive protoge, already packed and ready for flight in the airport, emptying luggage and throwing out her “seemingly necessary” stuff like toiletries, pillow, etc, because it’s all available to her wherever she goes.
In fact, Clooney’s character is so king transumer that he is famous for giving motivational business speeches on achieving bliss ‘on the road’ with nothing but a backpack… and then setting that backpack on fire.
Oh and his life goal of 10,000,000 airline miles?!?! Exactly.
There are no ultimate transumers, a transumer is defined by various parameters, such as work, family, friends, free-time interests…
Personally I am more than happy to invest in the actual transit experience itself – for me it’s not about getting from A to B just quickly and cheaply- I want, and seek a transit experience that has me not wanting to leave my seat upon arrival- and this has happened on a couple of occasions.
Why? It was attention to detail, and a feeling of personalized service. I strive to seek out service providers that can continue to deliver this level of service during my on the ground transumer experience, starting with the limo ride from the airport, to my hotel check-in, to my first impression of the hotel room, to the restaurant, the bar, the in-store experience the day after…. right or wrong I get very agitated very quickly when I detect an unnecessary flaw in what should be a high and personalized level of service.
RT@spafax_raymond So network o' mine – who do you think best exemplifies the GLOBAL TRANSUMER? Comment at Sparksheet http://bit.ly/nfwdu
RT @Sparksheet – Who is the Ultimate Transumer? – http://tinyurl.com/nlpv2p
http://sparksheet.com/the-sparklist-who-is-the-ultimate-transumer/
Who is the Ultimate Transumer? – http://sparksheet.com/the-sparklist-who-is-the-ultimate-transumer/
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