The back-end, programming folks have done their bit. Now we just need a couple of hundred (or ten thousand) out of the box thinkers to launch some fabulously unique ways to reinvent online shopping!
Archive for October, 2006
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October 6th, 2006 by Chief Nut
If It Only Smelled Like Potpourri
October 6th, 2006 by Chief NutVotive candle meets a, soon to be discarded, 9 volt battery. Kinda cool … light up!
Say Hello to the Google Killer
October 6th, 2006 by Chief NutWhen Google emerged on the scene with a whole new view of organic search priorities (putting visible content ahead of hidden content and placing value on “popularity”), they forever changed the face of the Internet, and the world. BUT, is their algorithm the “do all, end all” of search. I think not (as much as I love Google). Raise your hand if you remember WebCrawler.com … thank you … the two of you can put your hand down now.
What if a search engine could intelligently put value on the actual context of the phrase you’re typing instead of just seeing what pages have all of those individual words. For example the phrase “wacky brand guy” (without the quotes) will likely return a mish-mash of results in google. Whereas, if they clued in on what I meant, the results would lead to dramatically improved results. The folks at PowerSet may have found the way …. according to the waggers at ValleyWag.com. Tune in at a later date to see what the future holds.
Use the “B” button …. for Burger
October 4th, 2006 by Chief NutThere are two things I need to regularly pull back the reigns on with my pre-teen boys. The desire for fast food and the insatiable need for their daily video game fix. Although I think it’s a brilliant co-branding collision, the combined marketing efforts of Burger King and XBox 360 is just downright scary for me as a parent. YIKES!
Believe Everything You Get By Email
October 4th, 2006 by Chief NutI’ll admit that I have NOT substantiated everything on this list (which I did get as an email from a friend). And NO, I don’t believe everything that I get by email. BUT, most of these “facts” seem credible and, if even half of them are true, it drives home the point that we’ve really come a long way in just a couple of generations. What does the next generation have to look forward to? … and, how will you be involved in the creation of that future?
Statistics From 1906 …€“ just 100 short years ago:
- The average life expectancy in the US was 47 years.
- Only 14 percent of the homes in the US had a bathtub.
- Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
- A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost eleven dollars.
- There were only 8,000 cars in the US, and only 144 miles of paved roads.
- The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
- Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee were each more heavily populated than California.
- With a mere 1.4 million people, California was only the 21st most populous state in the Union.
- The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!
- The average wage in the US was 22 cents per hour.
- The average US worker made between $200 and $400 per year.
- A competent accountant could expect to earn $2,000 per year, a dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
- More than 95 percent of all births in the US took place at home.
- Ninety percent of all US doctors had no college education. Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press and by the government as “substandard.”
- Sugar cost four cents a pound. Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen. Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
- Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
- Five leading causes of death in the US were: 1) Pneumonia and influenza, 2) Tuberculosis, 3) Diarrhea, 4) Heart disease, 5) Stroke
- The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was only 30!
- Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea hadn’t been invented yet.
- There was no Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.
- Two out of every 10 US adults couldn’t read or write.
- Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.
- There were about 230 reported murders in the entire U.S.
Ti-i-i-ime, Is On My Side
October 4th, 2006 by Chief NutDoes it seem like the Internet amplifies how we see the world? I think this applies especially to how we see those people who are making things and writing things that demonstrate that they (at first glance) have WAY too much time on their hands. For example:
* How to make a PB&J sandwich
or
* The DVD rewinder
Is there any value in this kind of sophomorosity (Is that a word?)??? Take a look at the comments in the DVD rewinder thingy and tell me that the manufacturers aren’t going to make a lot of money (a la the pet rock). Self depricating humor … attention to the ignorance of the masses …. just plain old silliness. These are the things that’ll make this item hot …€” maybe.
The peanut butter sandwich tutorial? Check out the “tips” section. It’s informative, gives good suggestions on variations and enlightens about some health issues. Although I haven’t personally needed this kind of tutorial for about 40 years, I do have some kindergartners that I can forward this along to. (BTW, my favorite is peanut butter and mayonaise! … HEY, don’t knock until you’ve tried it!!! Seriously!)
We should all be so fearless! Question: How often have you stopped yourself from doing something in business right after you utter the words “oh, that’s just stupid” … or “nobody would buy that“. If you ever catch yourself saying those things again, stop for just a moment to think outside the box.
Props to the “PC” Guys
October 2nd, 2006 by Chief NutYou gotta give ‘em points for being passionate! … and funny too!
The Mystery Demographic
October 1st, 2006 by Chief NutPOP QUIZ! What demographic has the following attributes:
- They only watch 1 to 2 hours of TV per week
- The little television they do watch is Tivo’d so they can skip the commercials
- Their browsers have popup blockers and ad blockers installed
- They rarely use landline telephones
- They all IM to some degree and each only gets 5 to 10 emails per day
Give up? If this doesn’t describe you, then you must be an old fogee like me. The demographic is 15 to 24 year olds. Watch a very interesting one hour panel discussion lead by Guy Kawasaki called “Next Generation Insights“.
Why is this important, you ask? Think about how your company is going to market to these young people within the next 5-10 years as they become the leading, post-boomer consumers! They watch very little TV with virtually zero ad exposure. Spam email won’t work because they favor their phones to communicate. Even their surfing is set up to avoid any kind of advertising! What about ad placement in all those darn video games they’re playing? …. nope. They claim it doesn’t really influence them.
Times, they are a changin’ folks. Advertising and marketing will need to be HEAVILY focused on relationship building, not on more constant bombarding of one-way ad messages..
Marts …€” Both “Wal” and “K”
October 1st, 2006 by Chief NutPersonal observation: If I had to go shopping for some low-priced commodities (sporting goods, toilet paper, shampoo, etc.), and there was a WalMart smack dab next to a KMart, I’d first walk into the WalMart. But WHY?
We could talk all day long about pricing strategies, advertising market penetration, national business development strategies, blah, blah, yadda, yadda. My decision (personally) comes down to brand. “WHAT THE …” you say? OK, not the corporate brand management strategies tweaked by each in their corporate offices, or the nature of their commercials. No, what I’m talking about is how I “feel” when I’m in each store.
After putting some thought into what makes a difference to me, I was able to make a list of personal observations:
- WalMart seems like it’s always a bit cleaner
- WalMart’s aisles seem like they’re a smidge wider
- The cashiers at KMart seem like they’re, on average, a little grumpier
- The stocking at KMart isn’t quite as well managed … prices missing, products regularly under-stocked or (gasp) out of stock
- WalMart doesn’t have nearly as many carnival mid-way games and rides
- And, my favorite, KMart doesn’t have an old person greeting you at the door. I ADMIT IT! … I LIKE THAT!
I’m sure I could go on and on and on with some more thought. The point? … In my mind, KMart’s Brand is suffering from a lack of attention to detail. It’s not about pricing (for the most part) and it’s not about the commercials. It’s about ME, ME, ME (the consumer).
Feeeed Meee
