Now & Zen, Inc. is an American company founded by Steve McIntosh in January 1995, that is based in Boulder, Colorado.That was Zen, this is Now: A former Celestial Seasonings executive builds a new company on a clock that takes its time, Boulder Planet, July 10, 1996 The Zen Alarm Clock was introduced in early 1996.Zen and the art of shut-eye maintenance, Forbes magazine, November 30, 1998 McIntosh stepped down as CEO in 2012.
Patents
Now & Zen holds two U.S. patents covering design and utility aspects of its chiming alarm clocks: U.S. Patent No. Des. 390,121, (issued February 3, 1998) and U.S. Patent No. US 6,819,635 B2 (issued November 16, 2004).
Products All Now & Zen products were invented and designed by founder and former CEO Steve McIntosh."Cool Zen Tools", GQ, December 2000 Early in its history the company produced a variety of household products; it later focused on alarm clocks and timers
The Zen Alarm Clock uses a series of progressive acoustic chimes to wake people gradually. In 2001, the company introduced a portable digital version of its chiming alarm clock.Company’s new alarm clock a hit, Boulder Daily Camera, November 23, 2001 In 2005, the company introduced an alarm clock and timer featuring a six-inch brass bowl-gong, called The Zen Timepiece.Now & Zen Introduces Tibetan Bowl-Gong Clock, Boulder Daily Camera, September 3, 2005 Reviews
The Zen Alarm Clock has been reviewed by major media outlets including The New York Times,A New Crow or Alarm Clocks, New York Times, January 25, 2001 The Los Angeles Times,Products to Help Pass or Mark Time, Los Angeles Times, January 6, 2002 the Good Morning America television show,Review of Unique Alarm Clocks by Diane Sawyer, Good Morning America, television program, April 14, 2002 The Washington Post,Raymond McCaffrey, Alarm Clock Helps Family Escape Fire In Home, The Washington Post, February 21, 2008. and Good Housekeeping Magazine.Gentler-Rousing Alarm Clocks, Good housekeeping Magazine, April 3, 2009.
Criticism The Zen Alarm Clock's New Age positioning received mixed responses from reviewers. In his review of the product in The New York Times, reviewer William L. Hamilton wrote: "It is like a monk losing his temper — om to OM! Now! Tranquil, tenacious — the Dalai Lama as drill sergeant".A New Crow or Alarm Clocks, New York Times, January 25, 2001 Similarly, Dads Magazine referred to the aesthetics of the triangular shaped version of the clock as a "hippie carpenter contraption," but nevertheless praised the way it woke users gently and gradually.My Favorite Gifts, Dads Magazine, November/December 2000 Moreover, despite the moderate success of The Zen Alarm Clock, the company has also had some failures, such as The Affirmation Station, introduced in 1998, which was designed to wake users with their personal affirmations. However, the product failed to gain consumer acceptance and was discontinued after three years on the market.Self-help for the sleepy, The Sacramento Bee, December 9, 1998
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