Two years ago as I was wrapping up my book, Skip to the Loo!, I stumbled across the Bathroom Blogfest—and a cyberspace-based group of like-minded souls. The time must have been ripe for women to come out of the water closet and speak out on a passionate topic. Restrooms are frequently overlooked as part of the customer experience, yet this is where significant impressions of a business are given many times daily with each visit.

The Bathroom Blogfest began in 2006 on a whim—and turned into an annual event—thanks to the efforts of a hard-working and enthusiastic core of individuals. This year, the 2009 Bathroom Blogfest happens during the last week of October. The theme is "Flush the Recession and Plunge into Forgotten Spaces", and I am happy to be a participant. Get ready for bloggers from various disciplines including marketing (my area of interest), sociology, research, psychology, environment, customer experience, and user-experience design, to share thought-provoking and inspirational information. Spread the word, share your comments, join the fun, and make your voice heard! Become a fan of the Bathroom Blogfest and Skip to the Loo on Facebook! Check back soon, and please cast your vote in the survey at your right!

Participating bloggers for the Bathroom Blogfest ’09 include:

• Susan Abbott at Customer Experience Crossroads http://www.customercrossroads.com
• Reshma Anand at Qualitative Research Blog http://onqualitativeresearch.blogspot.com/
• Shannon Bilby at From the Floors Up http://fromthefloorsup.com/
• Shannon Bilby and Brad Millner at My Big Bob’s Blog http://blog.mybigbobs.com/
• Laurence Borel at Blog Till You Drop http://www.laurenceborel.com/
• Jeanne Byington at The Importance of Earnest Service http://blog.jmbyington.com/
• Becky Carroll at Customers Rock! http://www.customersrock.net
• Leslie Clagett at KB Culture www.kbculture.blogspot.com
• Katie Clark at Practical Katie http://practicalkatie.blogspot.com/
• Iris Shreve Garrott at Checking In and Checking Out http://circulating.wordpress.com/
• Julie at Julie’s Cleaning Secrets Blog http://cleaningsecrets.greatcleaners.com/
• Marianna Hayes at Results Revolution http://www.resultsrevolution.com
• Maria Palma at People To People Service http://www.people2peopleservice.com/
• Professor Toilet at Professor Toilet’s Blog http://www.professortoilet.com/
• David Reich at My 2 Cents http://reichcomm.typepad.com/
• Bethany Richmond at The Carpet and Rug Institute Blog http://www.carpet-and-rug-institute-blog.com
• Carolyn Townes at Becoming a Woman of Purpose http://spiritwomen.blogspot.com
• Stephanie Weaver at Experienceology http://experienceology.blogspot.com;
• C.B. Whittemore at Flooring The Consumer http://flooringtheconsumer.blogspot.com
and Simple Marketing Blog http://www.SimpleMarketingBlog.com
• Linda Wright at Lindaloo.com: Build Better Business with Better Bathrooms http://lindaloo.com/