After one weekend in Savannah on “The Creative Coast,” Oddpodz founders Karen Post and Jocelyn Ring agreed that this is where their business belonged. The company linked up with The Creative Coast Initiative (TCCi) to help relocate their social networking business from Tampa, Florida and establish their headquarters in Savannah. Oddpodz has teamed up with TCCi for help getting in and getting plugged into one of America’s most creative regions as they to execute on their plan to unite the world of creatives far and wide.

Oddpodz, a global nation for creatives, is where change agents, problem solvers and creative people unite on the Internet. Founded in 2006 as an online community, the company has ambitious goals of growing beyond a pure e-destination, it plans to build a thriving, diverse revenue enterprise.

“Savannah has the creative energy we needed to truly grow an international brand. And, the initiative that TCCi has launched to attract other knowledge-based, creative and technology companies further complements our vision and is an ideal business/lifestyle location.” explained Karen Post, CEO. “We considered San Francisco, New York and Austin, but with the array of business resources and assistance from TCCi’s Chris Miller and his team, the choice was easy.”

Oddpodz takes the concept that pioneer online social networks like MySpace and Facebook created for the mass market and carves out a place for a segmented group of like thinkers—the influential Creative Class sm. The term Creative Class was first coined and later service marked by social scientist, Richard Florida who wrote the bestselling book, The Rise of the Creative Class, and studied this population and its positive impact on economies. Florida estimates there are about 38 million “Creative Classers” in the U.S. and more than 150 million around the world. Additionally, his research showed the Creative Class represents 30% of all employed and nearly half of all salaries.

The Creative Class, by definition, is not limited to only artists, musicians or designers but, also includes a growing population with a mindset of curiosity, possibilities and innovation. The Gallup Organization recently studied this market and estimates its buying power to exceed $600 billion annually.

“Since launching the beta version of our social network in January, we’ve attracted nearly 20,000 creative souls to join our nation,” said Karen Post, CEO of Oddpodz.” Our momentum is really building, we’ve signed up strategic partners like Atlantic Records, and we are finalizing a second round of funding and even received a thank you note from actress/producer Courteney Cox after she received one of our Odditeaz branded T-shirts.

Currently, Oddpodz provides its citizens with
•The Muzeum, our vitural space for social networking that includes
-Citizen profiles
-Chat rooms and forums
-Personalized galleries
-Voting for favorite works
-A pod garden to build common interest groups
-Three stages for music videos and other creative media

•Compelling design, innovation and creative content
-Celebrity and guest interviews
-Blog
-Weekly ezine covering trends and cool sightings
-A venting session

•Robust marketplace full of unique gifts and finds
-Over 200 hand picked vendors
-Art, fashion and home dwelling goods

The site recently enhanced its registration process, navigation and search functions and will continue to improve the visitor’s experience and amp up citizen involvement and interaction.

So why is this all so odd? And why all the Z’s? “Odd is where all great ideas start. In the beginning, most truly innovative products are seen as unusual. The Creative Class is an influential group of change agents that lead these wonders. However, many times their ideas are perceived by the common mass class as strange birds. Oddpodz is where they can come together and continue to contribute forward thinking to our society. The “Z” is part of our uncommon thinking and no rules language. There’s no cardinal law that says an “S” is your only possibility.” Post explained.

Oddpodz, LLC was founded in January 2006 by entrepreneurs Karen Post, a national
branding expert, speaker and author of Brain Tattoos, creating unique brands that stick to customers’ minds, and Jocelyn Ring, a former investment banker.

The Creative Coast Initiative (TCCi) is a non-profit organization that attracts, nurtures, and promotes brain-based business in Savannah. Our job is to make it easy for you to get in, get setup, get connected and be successful in this cool coastal city.
For more info see www.thecreativecoast.org