|
|
« September 30, 2007 - October 6, 2007 |
Main
| October 14, 2007 - October 20, 2007 »
Friday, October 12, 2007
Source: MIT Advertising Lab
 And no, I'm not talking 90210 or 02138. I'm talking about the U.S. Postal Service doling out a vanity zip code to the flagship Saks Fifth Avenue in New York. And the zip is not for an area of Manhattan. It's for the 8th floor of Saks which is now dubbed "10022-SHOE." The idea is that the Saks uber-shoe boutique is so large and important it has its own zip code. "Saks is the first entity to receive such a customized code" and the USPS claims they are not planning on doing any more. Hmm. That seems unlikely.
Posted by mwelch at 02:05 PM
Source: CNN
If you've flown a few too many red-eyes to San Francisco, London or Japan (or sat in traffic on 128), you've thought about it. When will the world's geniuses crack the concept of teleportation? Turns out that "over the last couple of years physicists have "achieved a rudimentary form of teleportation, albeit at the quantum level of atoms and photons rather than the macro level of objects and actual people." Hey, it's a start. But here's the rub. You wouldn't be transported. You'd basically fax a copy of yourself. That could be a bit problematic. I'll pass for now.
Posted by mwelch at 09:20 AM
Source: Time
Bill Tancer calls it couch multitasking. Come on, we all do it. Well, at least I do. More and more we write emails, chat, facebook or Google while watching TV. In fact, a U.S. study reveals that about 37 percent of us over the age of 12 do it. So far TV has measured success based on passive viewership, but Tancer says that method is outdated. Just take a look at the action on the Deal or No Deal and Dancing with the Stars sites (the two most popular TV site destinations) to see what happens when you create active viewing opportunities - voting and entering to win gets us couch potatoes clicking.
Related:
TV-Computer, Computer-TV
45% of Europeans watch TV online
Watch Current TV
TV is so last generation
We want YouTube on TV
TV out, Web video in
Posted by mwelch at 08:58 AM
Source: NewTeeVee
Over 16 billion online searches were performed in North America in August, 61 percent on sites like Google and Yahoo. Compare that to online video views - 9.1 billion in July, which is up from 7 billion in March. Video advertising startup BrightRoll trends that data and says that "U.S. video impressions will pass U.S. searches on core search engines in the next three months, and surpass total search in the next year." BrightRoll and others are trying to do what Google AdSense has done for search advertising - namely, Mint. Money.
Posted by mwelch at 04:35 PM
Source: Hub Magazine
Bryan Gildenberg writes a great white paper about how British retailer Tesco's plans to capitalize on key trends in U.S. retail today. As consumers are fragmenting their shopping destinations to meet their diverse needs (Trader Joes, Whole Foods, BJs, CVS, stores that cater to local ethnic tastes etc.), mega grocery stores aren't always on the errand list. And consumers are looking for "natural foods, energy efficient processes and an environmental message." Tesco's Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market takes a "small is beautiful" approach may have the secret ingredients for success. Tesco's U.S. stores will be rolling out this fall.
Posted by mwelch at 08:50 AM
Source: Ars Technica
The list of bands is starting to add up - Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, and, it's rumored, Jamiroquai and Oasis are next. What are they revolting against? Their traditional record labels and DRM. Instead, these bands are going it alone, without record companies - sending a collective chill down the necks of record industry execs. Yahoo is now joining Amazon in providing unencumbered MP3 sales - saying they "will refuse to sign any new distribution deals that make it hard for his users to get and use the content they want." Are we reaching the tipping point?
Posted by mwelch at 08:44 AM
Source: Fast Company
The often lavish cafeterias at high tech companies are now beginning to launch meals more in keeping with the needs and tastes of their workforce. When Cisco noticed that 30 percent of their nearly 50,000 workers had health problems due to being overweight, eating unhealthy meals or leading sedentary lifestyles they launched a program called "HealthConnections that incorporates fitness centers, diet and exercise coaches, and meal-planning help." Cisco estimates the program will save the company $160 million in health care costs by 2010. Other companies are adding Asian and Indian foods to suit their diverse workforce or making their cafeterias waste-free and carbon neutral.
Posted by mwelch at 03:07 PM
Source: Ad Age
The $16 billion bottled water industry is under siege. Why? This summer the media (myself included) grabbed hold of the idea that it makes no sense to pay Coke to put water in plastic bottles and ship them all over the world when we get water (nearly) free and clean from our own taps. The bottled industry feels unfairly targeted and complain that environmental concerns led to a 7% decline in plastic water bottle growth from last year. Meanwhile Nalgene, a reusable water bottle company, is readying a big marketing push. I'd say that's good market and green economics at work.
Related:
The new snob appeal of tap water
Pure water, toxic bottles?
The anti-plastic bag movement
Death to Stryofoam
Posted by mwelch at 03:04 PM
Business Filter in today's Boston Globe
 Your company divorce rate
Illustration: James F. Kraus
Cars divorcing oil
Skype's bad marriage
Geeks exposed
Grade your site
Viral blockbuster
Are MBAs obsolete?
Posted by mwelch at 02:51 PM
|
