--- title: If Blockbuster:Netflix, Then Utility:Dandelion—Have We Reached a Disruption Tipping Point? description: "Blockbuster went bankrupt in 2010, brought down in part by a business they didn't even consider a competitor but rather a \"very small, niche business.\"" image: https://blogs.ksvc.com/hubfs/Dandelion.png --- [![KSV](https://www.ksvagency.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/logo-charcoal-640.png "KSV")](https://www.ksvagency.com) ![☰](https://www.ksvagency.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/icon-hamburger-charcoal-70-50.png "☰") - [Focus](http://www.ksvc.com/focus/) - [Capabilities](http://www.ksvc.com/capabilities/) - [Work](http://www.ksvc.com/work/) - [People](http://www.ksvc.com/people/) - [Culture](http://www.ksvc.com/culture/) - [EnergyWire](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire) # If Blockbuster:Netflix, Then Utility:Dandelion—Have We Reached a Disruption Tipping Point? Posted by [Ashley Nicholls](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/author/ashley-nicholls) on July 21, 2017 at 9:30 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Blockbuster went bankrupt in 2010, brought down in part by a business they didn’t even consider a competitor but rather a "very small, niche business." That "small" and "niche" business took less than ten years to disrupt Blockbuster's business model, shift consumer expectations, and eliminate the need for physical infrastructure. And now, that little company, Netflix, is worth an estimated $70B. Aging business models, ever-shifting consumer expectations, reliant on physical infrastructure...sound familiar to anyone?   Well, have you heard of [Dandelion](https://dandelionenergy.com/)? They’re just a very small, niche business....that got its start at Google’s Alphabet... ![Screen Shot 2017-07-20 at 4.06.54 PM.png](https://blogs.ksvc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202017-07-20%20at%204.06.54%20PM.png?width=581&height=221&name=Screen%20Shot%202017-07-20%20at%204.06.54%20PM.png) And they’re making it stupid easy to do business with them: ![Screen Shot 2017-07-21 at 8.29.16 AM.png](https://blogs.ksvc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202017-07-21%20at%208.29.16%20AM.png?width=581&name=Screen%20Shot%202017-07-21%20at%208.29.16%20AM.png) Dandelion is at its core (pun intended): renewable energy, that’s easy to install, all but guarantees immediate savings, and features a simple user-focused billing strategy. Oh, and unlike solar, it doesn't need to be connected to any existing natural gas infrastructure. Bye, bye delivery charges.  So what to do? How to evolve in a regulated environment?  Well first, don't think a "small, niche company" isn't going to grow, or turn your world upside down. Let's return to Blockbuster for just a moment. In 2004, when Blockbuster had a network of 9,000 stores and over 80,000 employees they didn't believe they needed to innovate, but more importantly they didn't believe they needed to earn their business through a positive customer experience: 16% of their revenue was late fees. A frustrating customer experience was a core revenue strategy. No wonder they failed.  But your organization doesn't need to fail, and no one wants it to, including your customers. People tend to leave a brand or a service company when they aren't happy. And customer satisfaction, ease of doing business, and general customer goodwill is something every organization can focus more on. We certainly know Dandelion, not to mention Solar City, Drift, and the like certainly are.  So enjoy your weekend, but on Monday schedule a conversation about improving your customer experience with a colleague, or a partner, or with KSV.    [![world-class-brands-button-1.jpg](https://blogs.ksvc.com/hubfs/world-class-brands-button-1.jpg)](https://ksvc-2224113.hs-sites.com/ksv/deck/world/class/brands) [Download the brief now.](https://ksvc-2224113.hs-sites.com/ksv/deck/world/class/brands)  Topics: [Customer-Centric Marketing](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/customer-centric-marketing), [Utility Communications](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/utility-communications), [Data and Analytics](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/data-and-analytics), [Digital Transformation and User Experience](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/digital-transformation-and-user-experience), [Innovation](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/innovation), [Marketing Strategy and Best Practices](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/marketing-strategy-and-best-practices), [Audience Segmentation](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/audience-segmentation) ### [EnergyWire](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire) EnergyWire is KSV’s weekly insight into the consumer mindset when it comes to energy. It’s an honest conversation on the reality of their perceptions and motivations, and how energy services companies can use this insight to successfully engage customers. ### Sign Up ### Recent Posts ### Topics - [Customer-Centric Marketing (215)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/customer-centric-marketing) - [Utility Communications (183)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/utility-communications) - [Marketing Strategy and Best Practices (158)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/marketing-strategy-and-best-practices) - [Innovation (156)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/innovation) - [Digital Transformation and User Experience (100)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/digital-transformation-and-user-experience) - [Audience Segmentation (88)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/audience-segmentation) - [Data and Analytics (83)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/data-and-analytics) - [Energy Efficiency (76)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/energy-efficiency) - [Clean Energy (61)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/clean-energy) - [Branding and Brand Value (58)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/branding-and-brand-value) - [Research (49)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/research) - [Climate Change (48)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/climate-change) - [Inspiration (47)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/inspiration) - [Sustainability Marketing (47)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/sustainability-marketing) - [B Corporation (38)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/b-corporation) - [Content Marketing (37)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/content-marketing) - [Climate and Social Justice (35)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/climate-and-social-justice) - [Creative (34)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/creative) - [In the News (31)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/in-the-news) - [Smart Technology (24)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/smart-technology) - [Social Media Strategy and Best Practices (23)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/social-media-strategy-and-best-practices) - [Company Culture (19)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/company-culture) - [Media Strategy and Best Practices (19)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/media-strategy-and-best-practices) - [Industry Expert Interviews (13)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/industry-expert-interviews) - [Sustainable Brands (13)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/sustainable-brands) - [B2B marketing (12)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/b2b-marketing) - [Electrification (12)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/electrification) - [Creative Showcase (10)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/creative-showcase) - [Energy Storage (9)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/energy-storage) - [AI (7)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/ai) - [D2C (7)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/d2c) - [Artificial Intelligence (6)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/artificial-intelligence) - [Vermont (6)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/vermont) - [Branding (5)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/branding) - [Case Study (5)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/case-study) - [Brand Activations (3)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/brand-activations) - [SEO (2)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/seo) - [Search (2)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/search) - [Augmented Reality (1)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/augmented-reality) - [Digital Video (1)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/digital-video) - [OOH (1)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/ooh) - [Paid Search (1)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/paid-search) ... ##### Get in touch. ###### Vermont 212 Battery Street Suite 2 Burlington, VT 05401 [802.862.8261](tel:8028628261) ###### New York 27 E 28th Street Suite 15055 New York, NY 10016 [212.366.4000](tel:2123664000) ## Sign up for KSV insights ## Thanks for subscribing! 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