critical assumption

3 keys to being true to your "brand"

noreply@blogger.com (amckinnis) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 22:08:00 +0000

Have you noticed that companies aren't true to their brand? They constantly make decisions which are true head-scratchers. Is Coke a health brand? Is Snapple a fruit drink? Does McDonalds conjure up images of a night out on the town?

I've got three questions you can ask yourself as you look to expand your company or market - that may help you stay in-line with what your customers want and all the hard work you've put into establishing your "brand"...

(1) Does it make sense? Seems simple enough - you should have already asked yourself this question - right? During the frenzy of the new product or service idea this one sometimes slips through the proverbial cracks. Making sense does not always when making money is key motivator (or retrenching, establishing a foot hold, maintaining market leadership, etc.). And maybe it was your boss or your boss's boss that came up with this brilliant idea. Do you question their sanity by asking a simple question like "Does it make sense"? Of course it makes sense - these brilliant people thought of it - and look what they've done.

But sometimes, it doesn't make sense to expand, to introduce that new product or service, to move into new area or market. Just think to yourself it your customers will believe this new thing. If you're a fast food joint, does it make sense to put table cloths and candles on the table after 5pm? If you're an accountant, should you start selling insurance?

Just make sure "it makes sense" - no just to you, but to your customers.

(2) Will it make money? Sometimes businesses rush into something because it's a hot trend, or "everyone will expect us to...". It happens in the world of technology all the time. Some new technology or service hits the market and everyone is afraid they'll miss the next internet trend, and the next Google or Facebook will be born - and they will be out of business. That may happen regardless of chasing the trend or not. All you really have to do is look at a company like AOL or Yahoo or MySpace to realize that consumers are fickle.

What stays is "style" no matter what business your in is making money. By that I mean, making more than you spend, thus leaving you with the ability to "invest" in your business. So ask yourself - can I make money with this new product or service? How and when? Many companies today are doing the "try it before you buy it" program - or the 100% of your money back if you don't like it program. Neither of these are bad - but can you make money long term. What's the second and third "thing" you are going to sell your customers? How do you make money?

(3) Is it a long term or short term "play"? Now most people want to believe their business or products will sell forever. Some do and some don't. Being realistic about the longevity of your product helps you create a long term roadmap. Maybe this is just a way to get people in the door, get them to understand who you are and become life long customers. Maybe its just a way to fund a longer vision. Nothing wrong with a short term play if you have a long term plan.

Well those are my thought for today - help they help.

Random Thoughts | Commodities Profiteers

noreply@blogger.com (amckinnis) — Fri, 27 May 2011 21:13:00 +0000

There's probably another post in here about it, but I'm going to say it again - we need to totally revamp the commodities market for oil, including gasoline, diesel and heating oil.

It should be about a market for buyers and sellers - not middle men and brokers. I know, there's a thousand reasons why it's a good thing - but I have one reason why it's bad....it adds cost to the product - pure and simple. Some will say it balances out during the long term - but remember that Milton Friedman [one of the fathers of modern economics] said that the problem with long term planning is that most of us are dead in the long term [I paraphrase].

But I don't believe it does zero out in the long term. I believe one of the reasons we fell into the great depression of 2009 was the rising gas prices. I caused a slow down of spending in other areas - and that combined with some interesting financial system trickery - the world economy blew up. We are on the same path now - and I believe it's because we have people trying to hedge large currency plays - they don't care if it's factional gains or losses - it's about keeping their "money in motion".

Buying and selling contracts on the commodities market is just good business when you need to to move huge sums of money. Unless you are actually a "buyer" of the raw material [crude or gasoline]. Your goal it to match and balance three things - your raw materials, your production and your inventory. Buy too much and you loose money - but too little and you miss out on revenue and profits. Those are real business concerns. And they have a huge impact on the lives of millions of people in the country.

Our law makers need to actually do something - quit having meeting, quit taking money from the power brokers, and actually think through what is in the best interest of this country, rather than their own best interest - or their next re-election campaign.

I may not be simple - but it can be done.

Dissenting Opinion | Why Cloud Computing is a Distraction

noreply@blogger.com (amckinnis) — Thu, 26 May 2011 22:33:00 +0000

First of all, I'm a 20 or 30 something - so there are going to be lots of things that I don't get. Like why putting all your personal information on Facebook and Twitter is such a good thing. That having 5M "friends" on Twitter is impressive. Or why Angry Birds is so popular.

So, when I say that Cloud Computer [and all it's variations and as a Service terms] is just a distraction for CIOs - there's probably something I'm not getting. But here's my reasoning...

The paradigm shift is about services - not technology. Cloud Computing is obscuring that fact. CIOs need to be thinking about how to "manage and integrate" services - and stop thinking about how to manage and integrate technology. Because the darlings of the "cloud" world are mostly technology plays [like compute and storage].
Cloud is about a shift in risk because the "cost of IT" is basically a zero sum game. Regardless of who pays for what - the full market for IT balances to Zero. Who bears the risk of the consumption model? Is it the service provider or the customer? For cloud - it's the service providers and they are usually hedging their bets and are over subscribed - just like that airline flight overbooking seats for the most popular routes. There have been recent headlines about "cloud" providers going down or losing service. That's going to happen - with the cost model only works for the service provider if they over subscribe for capacity. If they bet wrong - then systems go down.
CIOs have to figure out how to "get their own house in order" before being forced by business units to provide a certain service from a certain vendor. Sure it sounds like a really good idea for the EVP of Sales to go out and buy Salesforce.com for the 200 person sales department - but who actually has to support those 200 "users"? Not the EVP of Sales - it's the CIO. But that's just one example of hundreds - how about the Shipping department or Account department or Marketing department - there are "cloud" services for all of them. The functional business units need to work with the CIO - because if they don't - then the chaos just gets worse.
Finally - CIOs have to figure out how to "market" themselves better. Go out and find a professional Product Marketing person to help "package" services. The reason the EVP of Sales purchased Salesforce.com without your input - was because you've been distracted about keeping the lights on. Caught up in your world of operations and technology. Start to package your services, create user directed "messages" to users, directly sell to them - quit being passive - your career depends it.
Well - I don't think Cloud Computing is the answer or the problem. It's just another way for technology people to not have to really deal with their lack of understanding. Users want their lives to be easier - they don't care how it's "delivered" or where information is stored. Most don't understand the what a ritualized server and storage infrastructure looks like - nor do they care.

So CIOs - quit with the technology and start with the services. Sit down and listen, figure out what your users really want - then figure out how to "integrate" all these new and cool technologies and services to make it happen.

What is passion?

noreply@blogger.com (amckinnis) — Thu, 26 May 2011 21:48:00 +0000

We've all heard the saying "Do what you love and the money will follow." I kinda believe that statement - but it's not a hard and fast rule in life. There are plenty of people that are doing what they love - and have no real money to show for it. Probably a better statement would be "Do what you love and happiness will follow [and sometimes money tag along."

So how do you determine "what you love"? Well, one of the best ways to figure that out is to look at those ideas that just won't leave you alone. Maybe you've had these ideas for years and you have not really done anything with them. These hopes, dreams, thoughts, goals, and possibilities consume you - when your mind and life are quiet, you think about them. When asked "if you had a $1M, what would you do...?" - this is the thing that pops into your mind.

Now, it's easy for someone writing a blog post, or a book, or speaking at a conference to tell you "Just follow these passions. Don't listen to the skeptics and naysayers. They are just trying to keep you in the herd, they don't want to you have courage, because they don't." That's easy. Hearing and doing are two different things. Getting all jazzed about "following your heart" is great until the rent comes due or your kids want to enjoy another activity. It's a hard place to be - wanting to follow a dream, and dealing with the realities of life. [like the fact that Walmart does not a heightened sense of passion at the cash register]

I don't really have any answers. I believe most people just allow their lives to unfold in front of them most of the time. The few times in life they took the reigns - they had a sense of what it is to be fully alive - but that feeling is not for everyone. Everything has it's time and place. But that does not mean we should give up dreaming - give up on having some lust for life.

Keep going and keep dreaming.

Passions are those ideas that don't leave you alone. They are the hopes, dreams and possibilities that consume your thoughts. Follow those passions despite skeptics and naysayers, who do not have the courage to follow their dreams.

I still don't quite get it....

noreply@blogger.com (amckinnis) — Sat, 14 May 2011 01:40:00 +0000

The whole thing about "cloud" computing. I mean I understand how delivery is different - take music as an example. When I was in high school - it was about having a kick-ass stereo in your room with speakers that made the walls shake. Now music is bit more personal and instead of stacks of records, there's a thing that fits in your pocket with ear phones.

So is music different or just the delivery and store? Radio is another adjunct to that music "ecosystem" - I'm listening to Pandora right now, and they are serving me music (like radio did when I was in high school) - but it's different. But I still like radio - with technology, I can listen to my favorite radio station in the world - KBCO in Boulder. I couldn't do that a few years ago.

So it Cloud the new thing - or just another step along the path? It is a technology thing or a tech delivery thing? Like I said - I don't necessarily get it, mostly because I saw this coming a few years ago, when Amazon decided to start selling their extra capacity so they could pay their bills a bit easier between holiday selling seasons.

Manifestos for Life | ChangeThis: Issue 82

noreply@blogger.com (amckinnis) — Sat, 14 May 2011 01:31:00 +0000

ChangeThis: Issue 82

Little Bets: Think Differently by Peter Sims

"Our education system places great emphasis on teaching us about facts that are already known, such as historical information or scientific tables, and then testing us in order to measure how much we've retained about that body of knowledge. Those skills work perfectly well for many situations, but not when doing something new. Or creative. Or original. They certainly won't help us invent the future.

As education and creativity researcher and author Sir Ken Robinson puts it, 'We are educating people out of their creativity.' But it's still there. And unleashing our creativity, however deeply it's hidden, begins with little bets."

Don't Let the Sidewalk End: How To Create a Revolution by Patrick J. Howie

"This manifesto is about creating revolutions. Not big political revolutions, although it could help there too, but revolutions of any size and in any field or industry. It is also about innovating, and how to be better at it and how innovations, properly nourished, are the catalysts of revolutions."

To start with, we should all recognize that innovation is a process, not an event. When the process results in dramatic change, it is called a revolution."

Happiness Advocacy, Or, How Positive Psychology Will Save Us From Zombies by Annie Passanisi

"Happiness. That feeling you get from StuffOnMyCat.com or Skyping with a far away friend. Side effects include: joy, contentment, glee, elation, and surges of confidence, hope, and gratitude. That happiness. If you're ready to throw in the towel (or this in the garbage), kindly allow me to clarify something. This ain't yo' momma's (or for that matter my momma's*) self-help book so don't get all judgmental. If MacGyver can stop a bomb with a toothpick, we can save the world with happiness. 'Fiction!' you say? It's even been scientifically proven. You see, it's all in the technique, my friends."

The Four Strands: Creating Companies Aligned With Human DNA by Henry Cloud, Ph.D

"There are universal developmental issues and milestones in the construction of all people, which like gravity, must be obeyed. They are like the laws of physics, non-negotiable. Break these laws and dysfunction occurs. But, obey these laws and people thrive. They will be what we call "healthy."

So, when a company is designed and operates in ways that are aligned with how people are constructed, it will be like an airplane aligned with the laws of physics that govern force or torque."

How to Sharpen Your Sales Strengths by Tony Rutigliano & Brian Brim

"There is no single right way to sell. In fact, we believe there are as many ways to sell as there are salespeople.

Does that feel liberating? We hope so. If you enjoy sales, if you're good at it, and if you're finding some of the success you want, you possess a rare ability—and you should celebrate it. You're someone who can do this job. And if you're trying to follow a method or emulating a sales hero and it's not working, it might not be your fault. Who you are is who you should be. You'll be most successful at sales if you make the most of who you are."

Make It Happen: Turning Good Ideas Into Great Results by Peter Sheahan

"The world is not short of ideas. It's not. It is short of people who can execute on them. It is short of people who know how to take their aspirations and make a real impact on the world with them.

What differentiates the great ideas that end up on the cutting room floor from those that wind up changing the world? There are five steps, or rather five competencies you can build that separate the haves from the have-nots, the doers from the talkers … They are not a mantra for meditation, they are not positive affirmations that you chant to yourself in the mirror, they are actions."

Being Real as Opposed to Getting Real

noreply@blogger.com (amckinnis) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 18:42:00 +0000

I got an email today from one of the many email newsletters I subscribe to - nothing really new and existing about that. But what was new - was the tone of this email. The Author apologized for having a great year last year - and probably getting off the track - in the name of building business.

He then when on to state who [and why] he wanted to do business with. He clearly stated in the email that if you don't fit please feel free to unsubscribe - no harm no foul. I find that blunt honesty refreshing.

He decided he didn't want to be everything to everybody - he wanted to be a somebody to a few people - that he could really help and educate. No excuses. If you don't fit - that's fine - because he's not really there to help you. If you don't understand - he's not there to help you.

We all should be that honest in your business and personal lives.

Springwise | Trends and Ideas from Around the World

noreply@blogger.com (amckinnis) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 17:07:00 +0000

It appears the whole world is turning Mobile. And that is the growth in the market right now. Hardware it's all about being mobile. Storage it's all about the "cloud" and sharing files or backing them up. Applications it's all about mobile access through browers or your phone. So - what becomes important? Having a mobile platform [believe the OS will continue to be unimportant to anyone by those that develop the OS and developers choosing what platforms to develop for] and your location.

So Mobile and Location is the big trend right now in technology. Products and services in those areas are key. Enjoy!

Your weekly fix of entrepreneurial inspiration! (View this message in a browser)

Here are the new business ideas that caught our attention this week:

App enables live video direction across multiple mobile devices
	The ability to direct a live video shoot across multiple cameras in real time has historically been a luxury reserved for professionally equipped directors. However, once again, app-based technology has turned a well-established norm on its head. Offering the same capability to anyone in possession of a smartphone or tablet, we recently came across CollabraCam. READ MORE...

Portraits created from Twitter users' tweets
	Regular readers of Springwise may remember Social Print Studio, the service that created posters from collections of Facebook friends or Twitter followers. In a similar vein, we recently came across Netherlands-based Kunst Buzz, who are upping the personalization ante by creating users' images out of a Twitter user's tweets. READ MORE...

In India, mobile water tracking system updates local residents
	The reliability of water supply is a major issue for millions of households in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Although water is meant to be delivered to communities via a piped supply on a rotational schedule, the water often isn't being piped when it should be — leaving families waiting indefinitely for supplies. Hoping to provide a solution, we recently came across NextDrop. READ MORE...

Easter chicks for rent from Michigan farm
	We've seen try-before-you-buy urban chicken farming and we've seen household pets offered up for rent. Combining a bit of each, Michigan-based J&M Farm is now offering "Easter chicks" for two-week rentals, giving kids and families a short-term taste of what it's like to raise the real thing. READ MORE...

In Japan, real-world gifts sent via Twitter
	It's been several years since we first saw the emergence of real-world gifting capabilities for online friends, and it appears the trend is still going strong. After beginning in the Facebook realm, though, we're now seeing the gift-minded offerings move to Twitter as well — now with Japanese Giftee. READ MORE...

Gourmet airline food served for free from roving New York truck
	We've seen food trucks experience a surge in popularity over recent years, usually using Twitter or Facebook to keep potential diners updated on their whereabouts. Just recently we saw the Roving Mammoth putting an alpine twist on the concept, and now we've discovered Air France putting another new spin on the food truck: free food! READ MORE...

Whiskey and espresso for shoppers at Sydney shirt store
	If consumers can drink coffee or eat pizza while they shop for books, then why not let them sip whiskey or java while they contemplate a rack of shirts? That, indeed, is much the premise behind Shirt Bar, an Australian venture that offers an assortment of dark spirits and fresh espresso drinks for the pleasure of its visiting customers. READ MORE...

Cross-platform digital magazine adapts to the reader's device

We've seen numerous innovations in the word of online publishing, from a magazine that detects and adapts to users' reading interests, to digital books focusing on reader immersion through interaction. The latest spotting? The Toronto Standard is a newly relaunched web-based magazine that's been designed from the ground up to span digital platforms, adapting automatically to the reader's viewing device. READ MORE...

Giant sticky notes feature templates for web & mobile design
	Necessity is the mother of invention, as the old saying goes, and we'd be hard-pressed to find a better example than UX stickynotes. Targeting designers of web pages and mobile apps, the self-adhesive sheets of paper feature pre-printed browser and iPhone templates, making it easy to visualize and explain new interface designs. READ MORE...

Local networking platform offers community and care for pets
	The cost of caring for pets can often be a burden for owners, and we've already seen initiatives such as Coupawz stepping in to offer a helping hand. Now, hoping to relieve the financial pressures associated with pet care, we recently came across US-based Pet It Forward. READ MORE...

Brandable sleeves help consumers mark their bottle of beer
	Evenings spent at a busy party or bar can often cause drinkers to lose track of their beverages. Wine drinkers already have wine charms to identify their glasses, and now — thanks to BeerTag — there's an equivalent for beer drinkers too. READ MORE...

Combined deliveries from small, local grocers
	It was just a few short months ago that we covered the UK's Beelocal grocery delivery service, and already we have occasion to cover yet another like-minded venture. Also in the UK, London-based Hubbub lets customers place online grocery orders with multiple local shops and receive a single, aggregated delivery to the door. READ MORE...

In London, public transport travel gets gamified
	We've already noted the rise of gaming as a way to create engagement among consumers, but we didn't expect to see it applied so soon to something as seemingly mundane as public transport. Sure enough, though, Chromaroma is a new application from UK-based Mudlark that turns Tube travel in London into a rewarding game. READ MORE...

Urban farming expands onto school grounds

Community-supported agriculture is not an unfamiliar concept for regular Springwise readers, nor are the often-associated add-ons of bicycle-based produce delivery and compost services. Canadian Fresh Roots Urban Farm offers all of these; what sets it apart, however, is a series of partnerships it's formed with local schools in the Vancouver area to create urban farms on school land. READ MORE...

Brazilian video rental service distributes using USB drives
	Just as the music industry is struggling against the popularity of illegal downloads, so too the film industry is being badly affected by movie piracy. But just as DATAROCK have turned to USB pens to fight back, we recently discovered Brazil-based 100% Video adopting USB pen drives to widen the circulation of legal movie rentals. READ MORE...

Connecting buyers and sellers of agricultural goods & services

We've featured countless online exchanges over the years that connect buyers and sellers of a wide variety of goods. Zeroing in on the agricultural domain there's been Eggzy, for example, targeting home chicken farmers, as well as Veggie Trader and Local Dirt, to name just a few. The latest spotting — Farmbook — however, is an international agricultural marketplace based in Russia that aims to help both companies and individuals around the world market their agricultural goods. READ MORE...

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Springwise for March 30, 2011 | This week's best new business ideas

noreply@blogger.com (amckinnis) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:55:00 +0000

Your weekly fix of entrepreneurial inspiration! (View this message in a browser)

Denmark's new digital postage stamps
	The inevitable replacement of 'snail mail' by free, instant online communication has seen postal operators around the world struggling to maintain relevance. However, in Denmark at least, the post office is not giving up without a fight, with hopes that digitizing their stamp system and enabling mobile payment will modernize the service. READ MORE...

Pop-up store helps launch new software platform
	Pop-up retail is a trend we've been covering for years, but it wasn't until recently that we had seen it put to work for software. Sure enough though, part of Danish software firm Podio's strategy for publicly launching its online work platform last week was a pop-up store on the streets of San Francisco. READ MORE...

Butler rental service provides catered picnics in Amsterdam
	We've covered numerous innovations designed to enliven and re-imagine the picnic experience, from balloon delivered pizza picnics to picnics on snow covered mountain slopes. Now, however, Butler For Hire is aiming to make the traditional picnic altogether less stressful. READ MORE...

Butterflies raised sustainably for release at special events
	Celebrants at outdoor events can already enjoy Sky Orbs as a relatively eco-friendly demonstration of exuberance, but recently we came across another — and perhaps even eco-friendlier — alternative: Butterflies, raised sustainably by Spanish Mariposeando specifically to add an element of natural beauty to special occasions large and small. READ MORE...

Designer lets users create their own dresses from scratch
	Regular readers of Springwise may remember our article on Typeface, the personalized font creator designed by Mary Huang. Now we've discovered Huang's latest efforts have lead her away from typography and into the world of fashion, though still with an emphasis on personalization. Continuum is her new fashion label of "computational couture", based entirely on user-generated design. READ MORE...

Online platform helps couples with relationship management
	Couples in troubled relationships can already turn to the crowds for help resolving their disputes, as we noted a few years ago. A newer option, however, is to use technology to help prevent such disagreements from ever arising. That's the premise behind Tokii, which bills itself as the world's first relationship management platform. READ MORE...

New building block design serves multiple purposes

Sustainable and reclaimed building materials have been featured on our virtual pages numerous times in recent years, but never before have we had occasion to write about something so seemingly esoteric from the architectural world as a "space truss geometry." Until now, that is. Israeli designer Dror Benshetrit recently unveiled a new design for just such a thing, with the potential to change the way buildings, bridges, furniture and even emergency shelters are built. READ MORE...

Yale Law Library loans therapy dog to stressed students

Student care has been a high priority for many Universities for some time now, with increasing importance placed upon personal tutors and campus counselors to care for overall well-being. It goes without saying that traditionally such services have been provided by humans. That is, until now. Yale Law School's library will today be making the library terrier Monty available to take out on loan, in an effort to reduce students' stress levels. READ MORE...

Free mobile banking network launched in South Africa

In South Africa, an estimated 13 million people — 27% of the population — are currently without bank accounts. Simultaneously, 94% of the adult population possess a cell phone. Just as M-PESA realized the potential for mobile technology to bring banking to the masses at low costs, the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship and Forus Financial Transaction Services will similarly be launching the Mahala Free Banking Platform in May 2011. READ MORE...

Mobile app enables in-seat concession ordering at sports events

It's not unheard of for sports fans to be able to order concessions from the comfort of their seats for delivery during a game — those in special seating areas at San Francisco Giants games, for example, can reportedly do so using a paper-based ordering system. A new mobile app just rolled out by the neighboring San Jose Earthquakes soccer team, however, brings such capabilities to all game attendees with Apple or Android phones. READ MORE...

Online marketplace showcases African artists and their stories
	Regular Springwise readers are already well-acquainted with the power of a good product life story, a big part of which can derive from the person or company behind it. Much the way Crop to Cup, Naked Wines and Shokay all highlight the people who make the products they sell, so African Cartel aims to do something similar for African street artists. READ MORE...

Bracelet features built-in GPS and security alarm system
	As we saw with Hollaback, the mobile app blowing the whistle on street harassment, technology is increasingly coming to the aid of women's wellbeing and security. In a similar vein, we recently came across PFO, a new line of bracelets with built-in GPS defense systems. READ MORE...

App facilitates communication for users unable to speak
	Regular readers of Springwise may remember our article on the LookTel Money Reader app, which can announce the value of paper currency to blind users. In another example of app-based technology coming to the aid of disabled users, we recently came across Verbally, an iPad app which speaks typed sentences and words for users who are unable to talk. READ MORE...

Image tagging service pays users to connect with brands
	Having enough cut-through to get brands noticed by the masses can be tough, which means it's all the more important to make a brand clearly identifiable when it's on show. Enter EmmaActive, an image tagging service that pays users to act as advertisers for brands and products. READ MORE...

Airport perfumes capture cities' scents as travel mementos
	For many travelers, sharing the memory of their trip is as pleasurable as the experience itself. However, while photos, food, music and art can give a flavor of foreign climes, capturing the smell of a city has remained somewhat more problematic. Enter Scent of Departure, a new perfume sold in airport duty-free shops that aims to capture a city's fragrance in a bottle. READ MORE...

Tesco recruits children for new advisory board
	It was less than a year ago that we featured Tesco's experiments with drive-through delivery, but recently we came across a reason to feature the UK grocery retailer again. The innovation this time? The Tesco for Schools & Clubs program, which is now recruiting UK kids to serve on a brand-new advisory board. READ MORE...

Springwise Worldwide Trends | This week's ideas: from boxed holidays to food traceability

noreply@blogger.com (amckinnis) — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 23:03:00 +0000

Welcome to the holiday edition of Springwise Trends...Enjoy!

Your weekly fix of entrepreneurial inspiration! View this message in a browser.

Our latest issue is now online. Here's a quick run-down of the new products and services
that caught our attention this week:

Indian tour operator offers pre-paid holidays in a box
Tourism & travel / Retail

Box Holidays are prepackaged travel offerings that can be purchased
online or off the shelf in participating retail stores. The key details are
displayed on the outside of the box. Users just call to schedule dates.

Reflector strips make strollers more visible at night
Transportation / Style & design

Wagalum is a German maker of high-visibility, self-adhesive strips
designed to keep young children safe while they're being
transported in strollers. A set of eight strips costs EUR 9.90.

A second chance for promising but unprofitable drugs
Non-profit, social cause

Promising new drugs are sometimes abandoned because they're not
likely to be profitable. Cinderella Therapeutics is a Dutch not-for-profit
enterprise that selects from such therapies and continues testing them.

Secret cocktail events in Paris, blue attire required
Food & beverage / Marketing & advertising

There's no explicit mention so far of any corporate sponsors behind
Les Terrasses Bleues, but we've heard it suggested that French
beer brand Kronenbourg 1664 is involved.

Digital 'passport' for online transactions
Financial services / Life hacks

Many types of online transaction require separate brick-and-mortar
visits to verify one's identity. UK-based miiCard aims to simplify
things with a pre-verified sign-on for use at participating sites.

Web-based email client targets senior citizens
Life hacks

Red Stamp Mail is a web-based email client that works with
existing email accounts. Using large, readable fonts and high-
contrast colours, it was designed to be simple and accessible.

Crowdsourced programmers guaranteed $35 per hour
Media & publishing

CanYouCode aims to match skilled coders with companies in need
of programming help. Both programmers and clients are vetted;
once accepted, coders are guaranteed at least USD 35 per hour.

Online book ambassadors create pre-release buzz
Media & publishing / Marketing & advertising

The Underground Book Club generates pre-release buzz for
new books by engaging marketing firm Attack's network of online
brand ambassadors. Selected ambassadors get advance copies.

Wine-maker uses grape extracts in new cosmetics line
Fashion & beauty / Eco & sustainability

Spanish wine-maker Group Matarromera has launched a cosmetics
line that makes use of the antioxidant-rich grape skins that are left
over by the wine-making process, plus other natural ingredients.

Outsourcing beta invitations for software testing
Media & publishing

Clients of Prefinery can launch a beta invite programme in seconds.
The software will be promoted on social media sites, and applicant
details collected. Approved testers are sent a unique invitation code.

Ten brands dishing up details on food origins
Food & beverage / Marketing & advertising

Increased transparency about the sources of ingredients from Iglo,
Stone-Buhr, Coca-Cola, Dole Organic, Askinosie, Chippindale
Foods, Frito-Lay, Fresh Express, Crop to Cup and Domino's Pizza.

In Paris, public fountain serves up sparkling water
Eco & sustainability / Food & beverage / Government

Part of efforts to improve the image of the city's tap water, Eau de
Paris injects city tap water with carbon dioxide and then chills
it to a pleasing temperature. Still water is also available.

Music site offers 'cure' for songs stuck in your head
Life hacks / Entertainment

Ostensibly to help people rid themselves of tunes stuck in their
heads, the Unhearit site offers 'equally catchy songs' ... plus
music streaming, download and purchase capabilities.

Glass of water app to help drivers reduce emissions
Automotive / Eco & sustainability / Telecom & mobile

Toyota's free iOS app A Glass of Water is based on the idea that if
everyone drove with a glass of water on their dashboard -- and
tried not to spill it -- driving would be gentler and more economical.

Trendwatching | Now live: 11 Crucial Consumer Trends for 2011

noreply@blogger.com (amckinnis) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 19:37:00 +0000

2011 is rapidly approaching; our end of year of Trend Briefing is now live, and details 11 Consumer Trends for 2011 that need to be on your radar. Go straight to the Briefing, or quickly scan the 11consumer trends below:

1. RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

In 2011, there will be no excuses left not to be kind as a brand. Here's why... Read more »

2. URBANOMICS

Are you ready for hundreds of millions of more daring, more experienced consumers? And that's just one side effect of rapid global urbanization... Read more »

3. PRICING PANDEMONIUM

Flash sales, group buying, GPS-driven deals: in 2011 pricing will never be the same... Read more »

4. MADE FOR CHINA (IF NOT BRIC)

In 2011, expect an increasing number of 'Western' brands to launch new products or even new brands dedicated (if not paying proper respect) to consumers in emerging markets... Read more »

5. ONLINE STATUS SYMBOLS

In 2011, you can't go wrong supplying your (online-loving) customers with any kind of symbol, virtual or 'real world', that helps them display to peers their online contributions, creations or popularity... Read more »

6. WELLTHY

As good health is now as important to some consumers as having the biggest, newest or shiniest status symbols, growing numbers of consumers will expect health products and services in 2011 to prevent misery (if not improve their quality of life), rather than merely treating illnesses and ailments... Read more »

7. SOCIAL-LITES AND TWINSUMERS

SOCIAL-LITES are all about discovery, as consumers become curators; actively broadcasting, remixing, compiling, commenting, sharing and recommending content, products, purchases, experiences to both their friends and wider audiences... Read more »

8. EMERGING GENEROSITY

In 2011, brands and wealthy individuals from emerging markets (yes, especially China) will increasingly be expected to give, donate, care and sympathize versus just sell and take. And not just in their home countries, but on a global scale... Read more »

9. PLANNED SPONTANEITY

With lifestyles having become fragmented, with dense urban environments offering consumers any number of instantly available options, and with cell/smartphones having created a generation who have little experience of making (or sticking to) rigid plans, 2011 will see full-on PLANNED SPONTANEITY... Read more »

10. ECO SUPERIOR

When it comes to 'green consumption' in 2011, expect a rise in ECO-SUPERIOR products: products that are not only eco-friendly, but superior to polluting incumbents in every possible way... Read more »

11. OWNER-LESS

2011 could be the year when sharing and renting really tips into mainstream consumer consciousness... Read more »

We're confident that applying the above to your business will bring you at least one profitable, zeitgeist-compatible innovation in 2011!

Good luck,

Reinier Evers
founder, trendwatching.com
reinier@trendwatching.com

Springwise Trends | This week's most generous new business ideas

noreply@blogger.com (amckinnis) — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 00:32:00 +0000

Here you go another edition of the trends from Springwise...Enjoy!

Your weekly fix of entrepreneurial inspiration! View this message in a browser.

7 coffee blends, 7 charitable causes
Non-profit, social cause / Food & beverage

Texas-based Project7's coffees are from small farms that are certified
Fair Trade and USDA Organic. Sold through coffee-of-the-month
subscriptions, each coffee blend is attached to a specific cause.

iPhone app lets citizens help monitor local waterways
Eco & sustainability / Telecom & mobile

Creek Watch will let people participate in maintaining the quality of
their local waterways. Site reports made using the app will be
aggregated into maps and tables and shared with water boards.

Personal library kit for kids
Lifestyle & leisure / Media & publishing

The Little Librarian kit lets a child create their own library using
file folders, book pockets, book and library cards, reading awards,
bookmarks, overdue slips and a reading journal. Just add books.

More bike-delivered farm produce, now in Minnesota
Food & beverage / Eco & sustainability

VeloVeggies will home-deliver boxes of veggies produced by
community agriculture projects, and pick up compostable waste
for delivery to compost processors and community gardens.

Rice cracker brand's cafes serve free drinks & snacks
Food & beverage / Marketing / Non-profit, social cause

Harimaya Honten's Free Cafes serve up coffee and teas for no charge,
along with the traditional rice snacks for which the company is known.
Patrons are merely asked to behave with courtesy and mutual respect.

Coaching service helps singles with online dating
Lifestyle & leisure

New York-based eFlirt Expert is a company that strives to help singles
market themselves well online and then successfully navigate the
transition into the real world.

New York officials test-drive car-sharing with Zipcar
Government / Transportation

New York City Department of Transportation employees will share 25
Zipcar vehicles by day for official business. Outside of working hours
the cars will be made available to the general public through Zipcar.

Artisan lip balms by monthly subscription
Fashion & beauty / Retail

For GBP 5 per month, UK-based Bonbon sends customers a
variety of attractively packaged lip balms made using only natural
and, where possible, organic and fair-trade ingredients.

Helping brands crowdsource sustainable solutions
Eco & sustainability

Myoo Create aims to help organisations put the crowds to work
solving environmental and social challenges. Prizes are offered
for the solution chosen by judges and for the most popular idea.

Bringing cupcake style to the homely meatloaf
Food & beverage

Chicago's Meatloaf Bakery is adding visual appeal to one of
America's favourite comfort foods. Meatloaf 'cupcakes', 'pastries' and
bite-size 'loafies' are prepared as beautifully as a high-end dessert.

Curated guide to creative events
Media & publishing

Creative Everyone uses an international network of editors to post
what they think are the most worthwhile events in their areas of
interest and region. Several cities in the UK and US are covered.

Matching industrial waste with firms that can reuse it
Eco & sustainability

Houston-based RecycleMatch helps companies with unwanted waste
find others that could reuse it. Owners can list items on the site for
free; fees are charged for successful matches or for 'wanted' listings.

Our contact details
Springwise BV, a 53rd Floor BV company
Address: Rhijnvis Feithstraat 17-I, 1054 TV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Web address: www.springwise.com
Email address: info@springwise.com

Hype or Fact | Is there really an explosion in Cloud Computing?

noreply@blogger.com (amckinnis) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 20:06:00 +0000

I read something today that made me wonder about the "explosion" of cloud services. Is that real or is it just someone saying it. We all know that Cloud is the new buzz word - and if you sell IT services, and you don't sell "cloud" services - well, you might as well close your business today and accept defeat.

But is that really true? If you sell billions of dollars in IT services today, but decide for some reason or another to not create and sell you're own cloud services [potentially partnering with someone else] - does that mean you'll be out of business in very near future?

The answer I keep coming up with is..."I don't think so". I've done enough research into the IT Services business to understand that most cloud offers are not really cloud offerings. They are "subscription" services, but not necessary "On Demand". In the world of hardware, we used to call these types of "contracts" IDIQ [indefinite demand indefinite quantity] - Cloud Services are just IDIQ for "services" - primarily compute and storage - potentially you could wrap some specialty applications in the mix - but let's not go there.

So, even if the biggest Cloud provider today [which is most the likely Amazon - but they don't provide separate financials for AWS] sold $1 billion worth of cloud services this year [which they won't] it is still just drop in the overall IT Services bucket. Most market watchers say that cloud will only make up between 10% to 20% within 5 years. That's great, and of course that means there is 90% to 80% that is not cloud services.

If I decided to write anything else about Cloud - I may decided to discuss how having thousands of individual companies using your infrastructure could become a real strain for your cloud services company.

Springwise | This week's most convenient new business ideas

noreply@blogger.com (amckinnis) — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:49:00 +0000

Professionals found for nonprofits that need their help
Non-profit, social cause

Catchafire takes into account the skills, cause interests and
availability of those wishing to volunteer when finding a match with
nonprofits and social enterprises that need professional assistance.

Dine, dance, drink and play, 50m above the ground
Entertainment / Food & beverage

Dinner in the Sky's latest eating experience features eight lighted
tables situated around a central bar, and seats similar to those on
an aircraft -- appropriately enough for a venue suspended in mid-air.

Retailer & Red Cross reward consumers for recycling
Non-profit, social cause / Fashion & beauty / Retail

New Zealand consumers who include a gently used Country Road
garment in donations to participating Red Cross shops will receive
a voucher for use towards future purchases at Country Road stores.

Healthy meals for kids, now in the frozen aisle
Food & beverage

Packed with hidden vegetables but free of artificial flavours, colours,
and preservatives, Kidfresh organic and natural meals for kids are
now available frozen in US supermarkets.

One tree planted for each wooden watch sold
Style & design / Eco & sustainability

Los Angeles-based WeWood crafts wooden watches that are
free of artificial and toxic materials. The company plants a
new tree for every watch it sells.

Controlled crowdsourcing, by invite only
Marketing & advertising

Edge Amsterdam recruits talent via art schools and other
connections to form a network, guided and coached by experienced
professionals, working on product and brand innovations.

Five concepts combining fashion and technology
Fashion & beauty

Shape-shifting robotic mannequins in virtual fitting rooms, customer
body scans to create onscreen models, Facebook in fitting rooms,
and apps to estimate bra sizes and get feedback on outfit ideas.

Flexible travel search tool uses natural language
Tourism & travel

Adioso's travel search engine can handle searches containing
flexible dates and destinations. Examples: "San Francisco to NYC
late October" or "Austin to anywhere under $200 next week".

Captcha-style tool uses adverts for user verification
Marketing & advertising

In place of nonsensical text in website user authentification tools,
Solve Media has come up with a tool that displays a small ad and
requires users to prove they're not robots by typing in the ad slogan.

Open video project aims to spur independent TV
Media & publishing / Entertainment

The Novacut project's free video editor can be used to make TV
programmes using regular HDSLR cameras. They're working on
a video player for fans to find, watch and support the results.

Cleaning products in refill packets for dilution at home
Eco & sustainability

A packet of DropShot's concentrated cleaning solution mixed with
regular tap water and given a good shake will yield a full bottle of
commercial-strength household cleaner.

Tool removes past flames from one's social networks
Life hacks / Media & publishing

Tell Block Your Ex someone's name along with his or her Twitter
identity, Facebook page and blog URL, and the tool will wipe that
person right out of your online life. The first five exes are free.

Medical comic books for kids explain serious diseases
Media & publishing / Education

New Zealand-based Kidzcomics has launched series of comic books
designed to help children understand serious diseases and medical
conditions, and the treatments required to fight them.

Solar-powered pest control
Eco & sustainability

Powered by built-in solar panels and pollution-free, the Solar Trap
uses a near-ultraviolet lamp to attract mosquitoes, moths and other
bugs, and then propel them by fan into an inescapable netting.

IT Infrastructure...does it really matter anymore

noreply@blogger.com (amckinnis) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 21:15:00 +0000

The other day, a co-worker and I got into a debate around the importance of "infrastructure" [you know all the "stuff" that make technology work - networks, servers, operation systems, firewalls, etc.] to most users of technology.

Now first of all, we all use technology in one way or another - the cable TV box that brings our entertainment to us is a high tech gadget and so is your mobile phone - but really, how much do we really think about it any more. I would say that most users don't give it a second thought - just like "thinking" about electricity or running water - it's just there and it works.

But that wasn't the case just a few years ago - to get computers and networks to work - someone had to think about it. And we as users were reminded about how difficult it was to keep all this "infrastructure" running smoothly.

But not today - it has become a utility just like electricity and water - it comes into our homes and businesses, we use it when we need it and don't really think about. In fact, we expect it to work and we are very upset when it doesn't. We expect our phone to be able to read email [from any email account we have]; we expect our printers to print out photos; we expect our newly shot videos to be easily uploaded to the internet; we expect to be able to pay our bills over the web; we expect all these things and don't give a hoot about the infrastructure used to get it done.

So the debate was - does infrastructure matter? And the answer is dependent upon which side you're sitting on - if you're a user the answer is no and if you'rr a provider the answer is yes.

So how important is infrastructure to you?

Everything Evolves

noreply@blogger.com (amckinnis) — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 00:38:00 +0000

I was thinking today about how the industry that I have chosen for a career [High Tech] has evolved since I moved to Denver and started working for a small software company called JD Edwards and Company [that become a big company and was gobbled up by Oracle].

I started working before the internet was something that could be used by normal people - and the concept of things like personal computers, mobile phones, DVDs, game consoles and just about everything we take for granted within tech today was broadly used [or even invented]. And I don't think I'm really that old - my kids stretch from elementary to high school - and I still have potentially a couple decades left in my professional career.

And now, within the IT Services world - it's all about Cloud Computing and "as a Service" service offerings. I read something today about how Outsourcing will be gone in 5 years and everything will be provided with a subscription model. That might happen, it might not - there are people that have 10 year old computers, use Lotus 123, and don't own mobile phones. Mainframes have not died yet and big Nortel phone switches still rule out there in corporate America.

Predictions are just opinions. No one has a crystal ball - the future is very hazy. And for every right prediction, there are hundreds that are wrong. But here's my prediction - tomorrow will be different from today - and next year will be dramatically different from last year.

Springwise | This week's most convenient new business ideas

noreply@blogger.com (amckinnis) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:12:00 +0000

Top ideas from around the world - available in very small bit-sized pieces. Enjoy!

Hi Arnie,

Our latest issue is now online. Here's a quick run-down of the new products and services
that caught our attention this week:

For GBP 3.89, expert evaluation of an item's worth
Life hacks

Customers upload photos and descriptions of their antiques and
Value My Stuff Now responds with a valuation within 48 hours.
Items evaluated include furniture, jewellery, memorabilia & stamps.

Service for sports fans aims to rub in the team rivalry
Entertainment / Telecom & mobile

Using a combination of live or automated phone calls and emails,
RivalGrams will contact a friend who supports the wrong team
and taunt them with songs and plaudits about the right team.

Fair-trade lemonade supports grassroots projects
Food & beverage / Non-profit, social cause

LemonAid is a bottled drink made entirely of a few organic, fair-trade
ingredients. A major share of yearly revenue goes to support
small, locally based grassroots projects in the developing world.

Phone support for seniors, by seniors
Telecom & mobile / Life hacks

Tree Rings provides telephone-based customer service, technical
support, order and claims processing, data entry and other services,
and has offices close to large retirement communities across the US.

Recyclable picnic box with compostable utensils
Food & beverage / Eco & sustainability

Boxsal is an eco-minded spin on the age-old picnic basket. Boxes
cost USD 24.99, are made from recycled materials and contain
compostable trays, bowls, cups, utensils, napkins and a trash bag.

Card rewards consumers for buying locally in Portland
Marketing & advertising / Retail

Supportland has developed a rewards card that works at
50 different Portland-area businesses, all of which are locally
owned. Points earn discounts from any participating store.

Device ionizes tap water for chemical-free cleaning
Eco & sustainability

The Activeion Ionator uses electrolysis and electroporation to help
lift dirt like a magnet, enabling it to be wiped away. Plus it kills more
than 99.9 percent of harmful germs without leaving any residue.

Custom travel guides designed for sharing
Media & publishing / Tourism & travel

Norwegian Stay.com is a social platform where users can create and
share their own custom travel guides using material sourced from
a range of online sources including TripAdvisor and OpenTable.

Post-breakup gifts & support for newly single women
Lifestyle & leisure / Retail

Texas-based Pink Kisses offers heartbroken consumers a selection
of restorative packages that include chocolates, flowers, texts,
emails, virtual gifts, life coaching sessions and photo shoots.

1,500 board games on hand at wifi-free cafe
Food & beverage / Entertainment

Aiming to recreate the offline interaction of days gone by, Toronto's
Snakes & Lattes serves up not just coffee but also 1,500 board
games. The baristas offer instructions and tips to customers.

Bikes built for heavier riders
Transportation / Lifestyle & leisure

Super Sized Cycles make bicycles, electric bikes and tricycles
capable of supporting up to 550 pounds thanks to their steel
frames, wider tires, broad pedals and strong rims and spokes.

Location-based disaster alerts using mobile app
Telecom & mobile / Government

CiviGuard is a mobile app service designed to help governments
deliver emergency information to civilians in an affected area, by
contacting users whose phones are linked to nearby phone towers.

Site helps friends meet up spontaneously
Lifestyle & leisure

Users of San Francisco-based Poig can create and view "pings" with
activity suggestions. Pings can be restricted to Facebook friends,
posted on Facebook and Twitter, and filtered by geographical area.

Shimano kit converts regular bikes into e-bikes
Transportation

The STEPS kit for bicycles is designed to preserve the feeling of a
traditional bike, while adding a 250W electric motor and a
regenerative braking system to help recharge the removable battery.

Online donation platform mimics real-world equivalent
Non-profit, social cause

Nadanu provides graphical interfaces for raising money on websites,
mobile devices and social networks. Donors fill virtual receptacles
with 'coins' and make a single payment on reaching a specified sum.

From Trendwatching...Trends you deleted when things were too hectic

noreply@blogger.com (amckinnis) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 20:14:00 +0000

Just in case you didn't see these...Enjoy!

Dear Arnie,

Instead of ambushing you with yet another Big New Trend this month, we decided to make life easier for all of us and send you an overview of the trends we've covered so far in 2010. And yes, that includes the ones you deleted from your inbox when things were just too crazy ;-)

February 2010 FUNCTIONALL »

FUNCTIONALL highlights a new breed of products and services designed for low(er)-income consumers in emerging markets, but with crossover appeal to consumers in mature consumer societies... Includes 37 examples. (Read online or download as a PDF)

March 2010 6 TREND VIDEOS »

Instead of our usual text-based briefings, our March edition consisted of a light-hearted yet insight-heavy video edition, featuring consumers from all over the world speaking their minds on a variety of trend topics... (View online)

April 2010 BRAND BUTLERS »

Why serving is the new selling. With pragmatic, convenience-loving consumers enjoying instant access to an ever-growing number of supporting services and tools (both offline and online), brands urgently need to hone their 'butlering' skills. Includes 59 examples… (Read online or download as a PDF)

May 2010 STATUSPHERE »

What constitutes status in consumer societies is fragmenting rapidly, with consumers starting to bestow recognition on fellow consumers who stray off the beaten consuming-more-than-thou-path... (Read online or download as a PDF)

June/July 2010 MASS MINGLING »

Long gone are the days when 'online' was synonymous with social isolation and loneliness. In fact, technology is now driving people to connect and meet up en masse with others, in the 'real world'. Includes 33 examples... (Read online or download as a PDF)

August 2010 INNOVATION INSANITY »

With the entire world now engaged in creative destruction, the amount of talent, of creativity, of innovations, is staggering. Case in point: the 67 smart, global innovations we rounded up for this briefing… (Read online or download as a PDF)

IT's a Cloudy Picture

noreply@blogger.com (amckinnis) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:12:00 +0000

How many other people are tired of here how "Cloud Computing" [and all it's various forms of "as a Service"] are changing the landscape of IT - and only those companies that embrace it right now and 100% will survive.

Well, I don't buy it. I do believe there is a change, it's been happening over the past 60 or so years - it's called computing. And with computing, just like everything, it changes over time. In college, we fed punch cards into the computer for our programming class [I didn't do well - one typo or card out of order and you were hosed]. Most people today don't even know what DOS stands for, let alone how to use it.

Computing changes, and the rate of change is getting faster and faster. How many people trust a research report from last year? Or a business plan that hasn't been updated in over 18 months? Data gets old fast. And the only way to stay in front of that curves is to continuously refresh your data - who has time to worry about the underlying "code" or application?

Enter the world of "software as a service" or "infrastructure as a service" - where the companies don't worry about making sure the application or server or storage or network is updated, they just worry about their "data". Which is where we begin to look at risk...

Who bears the risk of the application being available, or having something process properly? That's the service provider. The client worries about having the right data, not whether they have the latest version of the software or all the patches for the server operating system or any number of "infrastructure" related items - the service provider bears that risk - not the client.

So, Cloud Computing is more about shifting RISK from the Client to the Service Provider...

The RISK of having enough [computing power, storage, network capacity, etc.]
The RISK of having the most current applications version, or operating system, or security, or drivers, etc.
The RISK of having purchased too much of something, because you're buying for Peak usage, instead of normal usage.
The RISK of having having your budget blown before you even start the new year

But by shifting these risks, you just create new ones [that you controlled before]...

The RISK of not purchasing the "enhanced" service level, just to save a buck or two
The RISK of having a service provider "over subscribe" their services, because now they have to measure and plan capacity better
The RISK of having a service provider be sold, acquired, go out business, etc.
The RISK of being held hostage by your Service Provider - and what was a great rate three years ago, keeps going up and up - and there is no way to "replace" them now

This shifting of risk from one person/company to another is just the inevitable ebb and flow of our computing cycle. Ask Twitter. They were a cloud computing poster child - using AWS for compute and storage. That's how the got their start and it worked until they became wildly popular - then AWS couldn't keep up and Twitter had little capacity on their own. Now, they are building their own data center - taking back their control - taking on a different kind of RISK.

This is not new, it's just different.

Top Business Ideas | Springwise trends that always satisfy....

noreply@blogger.com (amckinnis) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 22:33:00 +0000

When you don't have any new ideas - you can still find inspiration on the internet. If you love looking at trends, you found the right post - Springwise is premium roast coffe for your business caffine needs [how about that for allegory?]. Enjoy!!

Collaborative photo books help groups tell stories
Media & publishing / Lifestyle & leisure

A new photo book service allows groups to pool their photographs
and collaborate online to merge their memories and create multi-
faceted, story-telling books.

Bicycle-powered stand serves up coffee hot and cold
Food & beverage / Eco & sustainability

Brooklyn-based Kickstand Coffee uses two bicycles, a fold-up stand
and a hand-cranked grinder to serve up sustainable hot and cold
coffee at events around the city.

Project marketplace connects businesses and
MBA students
Education

31Projects helps connect graduate students with companies and
organizations in need of business expertise.

Online tool helps families begin planning funeral
Life hacks

Aiming to prepare families and make the process easier, death-care
provider Stewart Enterprises has launched an online tool called the
Virtual Arrangement Conference.

Paperless mobile ticketing, no scanners required
Telecom & mobile / Life hacks

Mobile ticketing may offer myriad benefits for both event managers
and consumers, but most options still require specialized scanning
hardware to read the ticket from the user's device. Not so Twicketer.

With every box of dog food, a meal for a homeless pet
Non-profit, social cause / Marketing & advertising

Attached to every Darford box of treats and food is an extra meal of
the company's Zero/G dog food intended specifically for donation to
a dog in need.

Location-based app for sharing social plans
Telecom & mobile / Life hacks

Just as Foursquare allows consumers to keep tabs on each other's
current activities, so Plancast lets them track what their friends are
planning to do in the future.

PDX installs bike assembly station for travellers
Tourism & travel / Transportation

Located on the airport's lower terminal roadway, the bike assembly
station will enable people travelling with bicycles to more easily
assemble and disassemble their bikes before and after flights.

App lets consumers open and pay a bar tab by phone
Telecom & mobile / Food & beverage

Similar to the way RideCharge lets consumers book a taxi and pay
their fare by phone, TabbedOut lets them open a tab at their favourite
bar and then close it out by phone when they're ready to go.

iPad app turns social content into personal mag
Media & publishing

Flipboard bills itself as "a social magazine that brings to life the
stories, photos, news and updates being shared across Twitter
and Facebook.

Our contact details
Springwise BV, a 53rd Floor BV company
Address: Laurierstraat 71, 1016 PJ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Web address: http://www.springwise.com/
Email address: info@springwise.com

When Good Charts Go Bad...

noreply@blogger.com (amckinnis) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 21:44:00 +0000

What happens when good data makes for bad charts and graphics? You really want to impress your boss and your peers, you have collected data upon data upon data - you have everything in-line for your presentation - but for the "love of Pete" - you can't make the data stand out.

Well - I found this little graphic and the web site it came from. And let me just say WOW!! There is more information than you can soak in about taking Excel data and making charts / graphs / dashboards to get your point across.

So what makes a Good Chart?? According to Chandoo.org - you need 5 things...

Keep it Simple - the best way to represent your data is in the most "readable" and "understandable" way possible. Don't complicate things - use what works - and you can do some amazing things within Excel to create your charts. But simple is aways better.
Sort Your Data - once again, make your data pop but sorting it the way that makes sense - if you want to present an idea of growth - make sure you data supports that picture and go from small to big - left to right.
Use Colors that Connect - most of us are not "color coordinated" and the cool combo today may be quickly out of style tomorrow. So use a site like http://www.colorcombos.com/ to get your colors right - or if your company has a authorized color chart - use it and stay within their "branding" guidelines.
Make It Easy to Compare - if you are using data that needs to be compared with other data - your charts should be up to that task. Don't use bar charts in one and then a pie chart in another - that's too confusing for your audience. Once again, keep it simple to follow, which means make it look and feel the same for comparisons.
Make It Personal - your audience wants to know something - they are seeking knowledge of some type or another. So allow them to ability to quickly get to "your point" - if you have to drag them along, then either your message is wrong or your audience is wrong. If you can't make it personal to them - then don't bother making the presentation.

So that's it. And check out the cool stuff at http://www.chandoo.org/ he is giving away at least a Masters Degree in Excel Charting. Enjoy!

Copyright Office says, "It's your phone, screw it up!"

noreply@blogger.com (amckinnis) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:46:00 +0000

The US Federal Government [well at least the Copyright Office] believes you should have the right to "jailbreak or root" you phone - regardless of your ability to deal with the consequences. The ruling today takes some legal wind out of Apple's sails, because they previous had the ability to "stop" developers and users from using unauthorized applications on the iPhone. Now in Apple's defense, they like to have 100% control of the hardware, operation environment and software - "for the good of the user".

Regardless of the reason, the Copyright office said that it is not illegal to jailbreak an iPhone - but that help if you screw something up and you want Apple to fix it under the warranty. You Breaky, You Fixy....

Copyright Office says jailbreaking your iPhone no longer violates copyright law
If users want software not in the App Store, they need to jailbreak their phone
But Apple could pursue breach of contract [based upon Terms of Use - but every unlikely] against individuals that jailbreak their phone
BTW, it's already legal to unlock your used iPhone for use with another mobile carrier

So go ahead and exercise your freedoms and get to Jailbreaking!!

Car + Plane + 20 Hours + $200K = Fun in the Sun!

noreply@blogger.com (amckinnis) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:21:00 +0000

OK - a bit dramatic on the title, but this is one of those really cool things. The Terrafugia Transition has received approval by FAA to fly [and assuming the NTSB to drive on the streets]. It is a hybrid Car+Plane [actually they call it a "drivable aircraft"]- that is classified as a "light sport aircraft" and only requires a sport pilot license [and of course a regular driver's license for road use]. They mention that you could be flying with about 20 hours of training - not bad for a flying car [I mean a drivable aircraft].

Now you can reserve one today for $10K and the delivered price is expected to be about $200K. But you won't get it until sometime in 2012 - so don't expect to get one for your vacation this summer.

There are other cool features [as if a flying car was not enough] and I would imagine these are still "estimates" because the plan is still in testing and really commercially available...

Uses standard unleaded gas [just fill up on your way home]
Airspeed is approximately 120 mph - fuel burn 5 gallons per hour
Land speed up to 65 mph and 30 mpg
Range is 450 miles [assume that's flying]
Store in your garage
Cargo area can hold skis, fishing poles, golf clubs [see a pattern here?]
Emergency parachute [this is a really good idea]

What ever you may think about this Flying Car / Drivable Plane - you have to admit it's really cool that it works and is approved to be sold. This is a much better idea than the Car/Boat thingy.

1st eBook from ChangeThis | Tough Love by John Moore

noreply@blogger.com (amckinnis) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:14:00 +0000

OK - I like ChangeThis and CEORead - and here is an announcement of their first eBook - "Tough Love" by John Moore. You can get it for the pultry price of $9.99 - and read it immediately. More info an link below. Enjoy!

We're very excited to offer our first full-length eBook, and honored to have had the incomparable John Moore author it.

It is the story of a coffee shop that has changed the world of coffee, but allowed its growth to change the culture that made the company so special to its customers and employees in the first place. By following the drama of the company's leaders and long-time employees as they struggle, in tough economic times, to right the ship, you'll learn valuable business lessons.

Head on over to the ChangeThis store to get your copy today.

Springwise for June 23rd | This week's most smile-worthy new business ideas

noreply@blogger.com (amckinnis) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:34:00 +0000

Well - there are always good ideas out there, and Springwise helps bring those ideas to us. Check these ideas out and see if any would fit for your business. Or take two or three of them and combine them for a fresh look. Remember, innovation is not about original thinking, it's about original integration. Enjoy!

Digital mirrors let customers try on cosmetics
Fashion & beauty / Marketing & advertising

Customers snap a digital self-portrait using the mirror's camera.
They can then scan a product's barcode to see it 'applied' to their
self-portait, using a touchscreen interface to select different colours.

Social networking from any basic phone
Telecom & mobile / Media & publishing

There's no need to upgrade a phone or establish an internet
connection; rather, Sibesonke works using SMS and a standard
text-based browsing protocol.

Tipping cards for travellers enable cashless gratuities
Life hacks / Tourism & travel

Where's My Tip cards can be dished out to service providers such as
doormen. The recipient then goes online and makes a tip request to
the giver, who can pay them electronically by credit card or PayPal.

Ice cream vending machine activated by a smile
Marketing & advertising / Food & beverage

Share Happy machines use facial recognition technology to discern a
person's age, gender and emotion. A big smile is rewarded with a free
ice cream. An image of the consumer can be uploaded to Facebook.

Vocabulary tool uses Twitter for social learning
Education / Media & publishing

Berlitz's Vocabu helps people build vocabulary when learning a
language by featuring examples from Twitter and Flickr. Users can
set and share their weekly goals and form groups to learn together.

Themed restaurant will sell seating by the ticket
Food & beverage

Next Restaurant will select its menus 'from great moments in culinary
history'. Bookings will be taken via online ticketing, like for a theatre
or sporting event, rather than by conventional table reservations.

Duvet suits & boots for cold-weather lounging
Lifestyle & leisure / Fashion & beauty

Australian Lazypatch has created the Duvet Suit and other lounging
gear aimed at keeping consumers warm while they reduce their
energy usage at night. There's a choice of polyester or down fill.

Airport's four-storey slide rewards duty-free spending
Tourism & travel / Marketing & advertising

Singapore's Changi Airport has installed a giant 12m high slide, plus
a smaller version for less intrepid riders. Travellers who spend money
at airport shops receive tokens allowing them to ride the slides.

Compost service for businesses sells the soil it creates
Eco & sustainability

Utah-based Eco Scraps collects leftover food from grocery stores
and restaurants and turns it into valuable organic soil conditioner
for sale at local nurseries and gardening retailers.

Pop-up container clinic boosts health care in Haiti
Non-profit, social cause

Containers to Clinics is converting shipping containers into frontline
health centres. The first will soon open in Port-au-Prince and provide
treatment, vaccinations, and infectious disease testing.

Reflective lace combines style and safety for cyclists
Fashion & beauty / Transportation

Reflective Lace, also known as 'LFLECT', can be sewn into or worn
over regular clothing - or even used as a hairband - by cyclists
wishing to enhance their visibility with an unusual decoration.

Selling products for the price of a tweet
Marketing & advertising / Media & publishing

Pay with a Tweet is a platform that lets content owners 'sell'
content such as books or audio in exchange for a single promotional
tweet to the downloader's social network rather than for cash.