New Persuasion

Plastic Bags are a Waste

Inhabitat had a great post this morning about declining plastic bag usage in Ireland...

Ireland plastic bag usage drops dramatically after plastic bag taxes are instated!

With all the recent bans on plastic bags around the world, it’s natural to wonder just how effective all the bag banning will be. Instead of simply enacting laws to phase out plastic bags - which seems like a wishy-washy attempt at most, Ireland has implemented a tax-based incentive to cut plastic bag useage — and it seems to be working wonders. Between the government tax on bags, an effective advertising campaign, and public support, plastic bag usage has dropped 94% in a matter of weeks.

I am so glad to see some of the new things being done to decrease the use of plastic bags around the world!  I know what a huge problem they have caused and continue to cause to our environment, and can't wait to see the types of things we will do in the U.S. to make a difference for ourselves.

Filter for Good

While doing some research this morning I came across a website representing a campaign called "Filter for Good."  According to the website,

Brita and Nalgene have partnered to present FilterForGood. Take the pledge to make a small change in your life that could be part of a big change nationwide.

If you're ready, take the pledge. Still not convinced? Learn the facts about why reducing bottled water waste is so important.

And, if you purchase a FilterForGood refillable bottle, you'll also be supporting the Blue Planet Run Foundation, a nonprofit organization working to provide safe drinking water to 200 million people for the rest of their lives by 2027. For every FilterForGood refillable bottle purchased between August 10th and December 31st, 2007, a donation of $4, up to a maximum of $25,000, will be made to the Blue Planet Run Foundation.

This site offers some really great statistics about why bottled water waste is a concern and what we can do as individuals to help the big picture.  This shows that our society is aware of the environmental issues gaining media attention as well as ways in which we can make a difference.  I think that emphasis on the environment is only going to become more and more important over the upcoming decades-- especially because of the continuous coverage of the impact humans have on global warming.  It is good to know that companies are teaming up to give us options as consumers without taking away the convenience element that we love.

Creative Ideas for Advertising

Gareth Kay over at Brand New pointed me to this article from Campaign magazine about how today's advertising folk are missing the point on new ideas:

As Mother's Dylan Williams puts it: "Most of the stuff that inhabits popular culture starts from audience response and works back to an idea. We in advertising tend to start with our message and work outward. We are spending too much time on what we want to say, rather than what people want to hear. Maybe we should flip the traditional planning process. From message-out planning to audience-back strategy. Dispense with propositions and focus on more thoroughly understanding what people are into. Spielberg said he wanted to make everyone in a cinema feel joy. Then worked back to ET. What would we make if our development process worked this way around?"

The Chairman of Fallon London, Laurence Green, wrote the article.  He thinks that even when advertising is not for the Internet, it should be conceived as if it were:

And even when there is no strategic or executional online element to our
campaigns, we can still benefit from "thinking digital". Most simply by
asking: how can the consumer - or other parties - interact with, engage
with, or use our idea? Have we invited participation somehow, even if
our invite goes unanswered?

Advertising should start with the customer - not the product. 

The Green Umbrella Part 1 - Trends in Green

Green.  Sustainability.  Philanthropic.  Environmental.  Clean.  Natural.  Healthy.   Organic.  Conscious Capitalism.  Ethical Consumerism.  All these words define the movement of both consumers and companies to become socially responsible for their actions and their products or services.  The very heart of a business is changing – making a profit and striving for a healthier planet with healthier people are now bundled together.

Inc. magazine reported:

“…something seems different about our current green awakening. This time, the action is being driven as much by markets as morality. High oil prices, global warming, the sense that chemicals cause real harm and the earth's resources are indeed finite--these are not so much charitable causes to embrace as they are problems that entrepreneurs can solve.”

So how can I say with certainty that we’re on the brink of what Fast Company called Business 3.0?  Here are some trends to help small business owners decide how to incorporate “greenness” into their work.

1.  Customers are increasingly aware of environmental issues.

• The 2007 Cone Consumer Environmental Survey found “one-third of Americans (32%) report heightened interest in the environment compared to a year ago. In addition, they are overwhelmingly looking to companies to act: 93% of Americans believe companies have a responsibility to help preserve the environment. … Most Americans report they are also making efforts in their personal lives to intentionally reduce their impact on the environment, including:  Conserving energy- 93%, Recycling- 89%, Conserving water- 86%, Telling family/friends about environmental issues- 70%.”
• The 2007 ImagePower® Green Brands Survey indicated a “shift in the U.S.'s collective consciousness -- green is no longer an issue marginalized to fanatical environmentalists; nearly all Americans display green attitudes and behaviors versus a year ago…When asked what their perceptions were of green brands, respondents said they are often seen as better quality, though at a higher cost. This perception of green equating premium is one that makes good business sense for anyone considering entering the space. The good news for Whole Foods, Toyota and Sub-Zero (ranked among the greenest of the green) is that even non-users are more likely to use green brands and consider them the next time they make a purchase.”
• A national survey by GfK Custom Research North America showed that “…individual Americans view U.S. citizens and corporations as behind the rest of the world when it comes to taking action to protect the environment…” Kathy Sheehan, Senior vice-President for Gfk Roper Consulting said, "This reflects the overall 'consumer awakening' trend we are seeing today, in which action is historically preceded by acknowledgement of an issue resulting in a need for change" 
• About half of employed adults (52%) think their company should do more to be environmentally friendly. (Adecco Survey, 4/10/07)

2.  Customers are increasingly drawn to businesses/products/services that are green, organic, natural, clean, sustainable – you get the idea.

“The fact is that in today's society all business functions must understand social and environmental impacts and work towards reducing or improving them.
Diana Verde Nieto, “Marketing and CSR”, psfk, 11/27/06

• According to a recent Priceline.com survey, “…an overwhelming majority (72%) of travelers want rental car companies to offer economical, environmentally friendly hybrid vehicles powered by both gasoline and electricity. A similar majority (71%) of the 764 priceline.com customers who answered the survey said they would rent a hybrid and almost half (48%) said they would be willing to pay a premium for their "green" rental.
• “If a thrifty 99-cent four-pack of store-brand bars represents one end of the spectrum, the Zum Bar represents the other: it sells itself on far more than a banal promise of getting you clean. The Lemongrass variety, for example, aims to please the eye (yellow with swirls of green), nose (''bright, fresh, tangy and herby'') and skin (especially oily skin, in this case). And like all the Zum varieties, it pledges ingredient correctness: no synthetics, just natural stuff like goat's milk, glycerin and vegetable oils. There are apparently plenty of buyers who demand all this from a soap and will pay more than $5 a bar to get it: Indigo Wild, which makes Zum, now distributes its soaps and other aromatherapy products in 2,000 stores, including Whole Foods. Ten years ago, the founder, Emily Voth, was selling at a Kansas City farmer's market; now she has a 25,000-square-foot facility and dozens of employees.”  (The New York Times Sunday Magazine, 12/3/06)
• The Organic Trade Association says that organic retail sales in the United States have grown between 20% and 24% each year since 1990.  U.S. organic food sales totaled nearly $17 billion in 2006, representing approximately 3 percent of all retail sales of food and beverages…Organic foods’ share of total food sales is up from 1.9 percent in 2003 and approximately 2.5 percent in 2005. According to survey results, sales of organic foods grew by 22.1 percent in 2006 to reach $16.9 billion. Sales in 2005 were $13.831 billion.
• Green building is forecast to grow from a $7.4 billion market last year to $38 billion in 2010, according to the National Association of Home Builders. (Business Week Small Biz, Summer 2006)
• According to research from ACNielsen's LabelTrends™, [In 2006] products with antioxidants, fiber, no preservatives and organic claims all grew by 10% or more versus last year. Other characteristics with solid growth in the 5% and 10% range include lactose-free, gluten-free, whole grain, natural, and omega content.
• MediaPost reported that the $20 million organic chocolate category grew 57% last year, compared to a decline of 0.1% for convention chocolates.
• Water [considered a healthy drink], together with other nonfizzy drinks, accounted for 90 percent of the growth of the entire beverage industry between 2002 and 2005. By the end of the decade, they are expected to outsell soda.  (The New York Times, 5/27/07)
• General Electric Co. Chairman and Chief Executive Jeffrey Immelt said his "green" ecomagination unit is on track to "blow away" its 2010 sales target of $20 billion as demand for environmental products and services surges. After two years in operation, ecomagination has a backlog of orders worth $50 billion for products like wind turbines, aircraft engines and energy conservation technology. Last year, it had sales of $12 billion. (Reuters, 5/25/07)
• Organic-cotton production in the U.S. increased by 8%—and was up 7% in China, 25% in India, and 40% in Turkey—between 2004 and 2005, according to an April, 2006, Organic Exchange report that lists the top four producers. But demand for organic-cotton fibers by clothing makers increased 93% in the same period.  (Business Week, 9/27/06)
• Hybrid car sales soared to more than 200,000 in 2005, up from roughly 9,000 in 2002.  (hybridcars.com)
  • U.S. sales of organic sheets and towels rose 38% to $20 million in 2005, while sales of organic mattresses and pillows increased 32% to $2 million. (Financial Times, 9/3/06)
• Membership in the environmentally-base Sierra Club us up by roughly 33% in four years to almost 800,000 according to Newsweek.
• In the 1980’s some 50,000 manual lawnmowers were sold in the U.S.  In 2002, that number had increased to 250,000, and last year that number was up to 350,000.  (Estimates from American Lawn Mower Co., Associated Press, 5/28/07)

3.  Local Governments are forcing green issues all over the country:

• Plastic Bags - For the first time, non-biodegradable plastic bags are banned in large grocery stores by a local ordinance in San Francisco.  (San Francisco Chronicle, 3/28/07)
• Trans Fat - In 2007, New York became the first municipality to officially ban trans fats.  (MediaPost’s Marketing Daily, 1/3/07)  Philadelphia and Montgomery County, Maryland have also banned trans fat.  The only state to enact legislation is New Jersey, whose bill requires school cafeterias to reduce the purchase and consumption of foods containing trans fats.  (Washington Post, 5/16/07)
• The Incandescent Light Bulb – from Ban the Bulb blog : “South Carolina is attempting to follow the lead of Australia and the European Union by enforcing the use of compact fluorescent light bulbs…Other U.S. states are also considering similar legislation. In New Jersey, there's a bill to replace all the bulbs in government buildings, and similar proposals have been introduced in California, Connecticut, North Carolina and Rhode Island.”
• The Bottle in Bottled Water – This year, Americans will drink more than 30 billion single-serving bottles of water (The New York Times Sunday Magazine, 5/27/07).  According to The Container Recycling Institute -  California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Oregon,  and Vermont all have existing bottle deposit laws.  But some of these states (Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York) did not anticipate the phenomenal growth of bottled water and are now attempting to update their legislation.  And many additional states (Arkansas, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia)  are considering similar laws.

4.  Personal and Professional Investors are Going Green

One sure way to know that clean or sustainable or environmental or just plain green businesses are here to stay is to see where both professional and personal investors are putting their money.

Venture Capital

One venture capitalist told Entrepreneur magazine:

“We look at all kinds of energy and environmental technologies…But it's different than the '70s and '80s boom in environmental cleanup technologies: Today, these are proactive technologies, not reactive.”
Venture Capitalist David Kirkpatrick, Managing Director, SJF Ventures, Durham, NC

• Venture capitalists invested $1.2 billion in green businesses in 2006. That’s twice as much as they invested in 2005… (Venture Capitalist John Doerr, Speech, Stanford Graduate School of Business, 4/5/07)
• Venture capital firms invested $958 million in renewable energy companies in the first half of 2006 alone. (Inc., 11/06)
• Sharp growth in the number of VC firms specializing in seeding green businesses or adding a green component to their funds:  Global Environment Fund, SJF Ventures, Rockport Capital Partners, SAIL Venture Partners, Cleantech Venture Network, Nth Power, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, 3i, Draper Fisher Jurvetson

Socially Responsible Investments

“There is a dramatic increase in the number of investment managers looking at their investments in a different way than they have previously,”
Mark Tulay, Director, Institutional Shareholder Services, Rockville, MD

• Socially responsible investing options have exploded the last few years:  Nearly $2.3 trillion was held in socially responsible accounts used by individuals and institutions at the end of 2005, up from $639 billion in 1995 and outpacing growth in total assets invested.  (The Washington Post, 5/13/07)
• Socially Responsible Investment Firms have multiplied too –  Al Gore’s Generation Investment Management (with some 110 green mutual funds and more),  Social Investment Forum, Social Funds, Calvert, Domini Social Investments, Pax World Funds, Citizens Funds, CalPERS, Ceres, Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, Sierra Club Mutual Funds
• Even some mainstream financial institutions have factored in environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues into their investment processes – UBS, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, Smith Barney, JP Morgan Chase (Value., "Mainstreaming Socially Responsible Investment,"Feb/Mar 2006)

5.  The Green Business Infrastructure is Growing
Education, Entrepreneurial Communities and Conferences have all been affected by our environmental awakening. 

“MBA courses on topics such as social entrepreneurship have exploded in the past few years”
Rich Leimsider, Senior Associate, Aspen Institute Business and Society Program 

Green MBAs:

• Student interest in sustainability issues is skyrocketing… five years ago, [The Aspen Institute Business and Society Program] site received a few hundred visits a month from prospective MBA students researching social-emphasis courses at various schools. Now there are 15,000 to 20,000 visits a month.  (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 3/5/07)
• New College of California – offers a Socially Responsible and Ecologically Sustainable MBA Program
• Dominican University of California – has a Green MBA program
• The Bainbridge Graduate Institute, Washington State – from website:  BGI's pioneering MBA and Certificate programs prepare diverse leaders to build enterprises that are economically successful, socially responsible and environmentally sustainable.
• Presidio School of Management, Presidio World College, San Francisco -  has an MBA program in Sustainable Management
• Green Mountain College, Vermont -  “…charged into the world of online education with two innovative master's programs, both catering to the needs of working professionals. One is an MBA in sustainable business. The other is a Master of Science in Environmental Studies…” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 3/5/07)
• Case Western Reserve, Northwestern, Stanford, the University of Michigan and George Washington University all have concentrations in sustainable enterprise. Yale School of Management has offered a joint degree -- an M.B.A. and Master of Environmental Management -- in conjunction with the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies for more than 25 years.”  (The New York Times, 1/8/06)
• "The Stanford Graduate School of Business, ranked No. 1 in the 2005 Aspen report, introduced a joint degree program for MBA students in environment and resources in April. Another initiative teams the business and engineering school for a course in which students use concepts from both disciplines to solve problems. This year, one project involved developing a safe, cheap and easy-to-power LED light for people who don't have electricity, an alternative to dangerous and relatively expensive kerosene lamps."  (Associated Press, 9/23/07)

Entrepreneur Communities that focus on Green Issues and Social Responsibility:

• Center for Sustainable Innovation 
• Center for Small Business and the Environment 
• E2: Environmental Entrepreneurs 
• Entrepreneurs for Sustainability 
• Business for Social Responsibility
• Small Business Majority
• Ashoka
• New Voice of Business
• Global Environment and Technology Foundation

Green Conferences:

• Co-op America’s Green Business Conference – from website:  “Roll up your sleeves and get ready to bite into the green business revolution at this hands-on conference.  Learn from your peers in this value-packed three-day event as you discuss the many ways to build your business and a prosperous sustainable economy ...”
• National Association of Home Builders, National Green Building Conference - 'Greening the American Dream' 
• Green Power Conferences – from website:  “Green Power Conferences was established in 2003 by a team of professional, environmentally aware event experts. We have since welcomed over 4000 delegates from 76 countries, built a global database of 110,000+ contacts and gained an unparalleled reputation in the industry.”
• The Green Power Network’s (Dept. of Energy) National Renewable Energy Marketing Conference – “The purpose of the National Renewable Energy Marketing Conference is to review the status of green power marketing in electricity markets and to explore strategies to increase the development of renewable energy resources through customer choice. Conference organizers include the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Center for Resource Solutions.”
• EPA’s one stop shop for planning a green conference – This is a bit different from a conference about green business - this site can help you plan any kind of meeting while minimizing negative impacts on the environment.

Resources/Further Reading

Joel Makower on “Ten Reasons why the Greening of Business will be an issue for years to come”

Greenbiz.com - From energy-saving basics to in-depth analysis on green business in exporting and manufacturing, this Web site aims to bring environmentally-friendly practices to main-stream small businesses.

National Association of Home Builders -  Green Building

U.S. EPA site - Energy Star/Small Business – free support for small facility energy saving

National Small Business Association – Going Green tips

A shorter version of this post first appeared in August on Anita Campbell's Small Business Trends Blog

Next week:  Part 2 - Green Business Opportunities

Luxury in the Dorm

This past weekend I had the occasion to visit a dorm at George Washington University.  I hadn't been in a dorm in years and was shocked at how nice it was.  Each room in this particular dorm had its own kitchenette and bathroom.  Some rooms have their own washer and dryer.  Apparently, this is the norm.  When I was in college we were crammed into tiny rooms with no amenities and  sharing a bathroom with 6 other girls was the norm.  We shared the laundry room with the entire dorm. 

Apparently, today's college students have grown up with certain standards and aren't going to lower them just because they are in college and away from the comforts of home.  In fact, they expect those comforts to follow them there.  When deciding where to go to college, dorms and dining halls play as much a part as do the classes and football team.

A recent article in the LA Times studied this trend:

Back-to-school shoppers will spend $5.4 billion this year, a figure that has nearly doubled since 2003, according to the National Retail Federation. On average, about $1,500 of that will come from each freshman gearing up for life in a residence hall that is nicer than most parents  ever imagined.

The trend toward the four-star dorm is a convergence of several factors: a generation of
students who have grown up sharing neither the bedroom nor the bathroom with siblings, parents who are accustomed to high tuition costs and don't object to paying a few hundred more per month for better accommodations, and universities competing for enrollment and using posh new residence halls as marketing tools.

Callaway Villas, in College Station next to Texas A&M, is a gated ACC complex of three-story town houses plus a 16,000-square-foot clubhouse, a resort-style pool, basketball courts, a sand volleyball court and shuffleboard. Living units have faux-hardwood floors, ceiling fans and, for those light sleepers, white-noise generators.

Another trend that I find amazing is that more and more schools are furnishing dorms with
double beds!  An article in today's Washington Post explains:

University officials hoping to keep students on campus and compete with off-campus housing are trying new room designs and all manner of amenities to appeal to the millennial generation, especially those seeking the comforts of home while in school. Some have given single rooms to students not used to sharing. Others have offered maid service and microwaves. Now they're giving them a larger space on which to lay their heads.
At AU, the move toward double beds came after complaints by students that the twins were too small and too childish, said Rick Treter, director of residence life. When a dorm designed with suites of larger single bedrooms was built, the double beds were the ticket.

I think this is just another trend showing that luxury really is everywhere in society.  Gen Y
students have grown up expecting certain things and living quarters are no exception. They are not willing to compromise and expect college dorms to be no different than what they are used to.  Colleges have taken notice and in order to attract the best students, have outfitted dorms accordingly.  I can only imagine what they will think of next.

No Car Day

Yesterday I found myself sitting in traffic wondering what the road would look like without cars on it.  This morning I found this article which made me think that maybe I am a tiny bit psychic after all.

On September 22nd, the first annual "No Car Day" will debut in over 100 cities in China as traffic is reduced and the number of private vehicles on the road shrinks.  Residents will have to find new ways to get around-- especially in Shanghai where one-third of the city's cars will be off the roads. 

The fact that the cost of driving in China continues to go up but people are still finding ways to afford vehicles tells us a lot about society.  The above article mentioned that the practice of auctioning license plates was initiated to limit the number of vehicles in Shanghai, but that the number of cars on the road keeps increasing.  I could never imagine paying $6,200 for a license plate.  People are becoming so accustomed to driving long distances for small things that it becomes a complete inconvenience to go without a car for even a few days in today's world.  I live in an area that has so much to offer locally but still find myself behind the wheel each day.

China has been in the news so much lately and is at the top of the charts for poor air quality and pollution problems.  The emphasis on our environment and on global warming has created awareness and makes events like the No Car Day possible.  I think this is great but I'm wondering how much of a difference one day will make.  It's definitely better than nothing and I'm a fan of baby steps.

Supporting the competition

It is very rare that a company encourages a customer to support a competitor.  However, upon reading this recent email in my inbox, I found Yahoo Photos to be doing just that.

"Dear Yahoo! Photos user,

"For some time now, we've supported two great photo sharing services: Yahoo! Photos and Flickr. But even good things come to an end, and we've decided to close Yahoo! Photos to focus all our efforts on Flickr — the award-winning photo sharing community that TIME Magazine has called "completely addictive."

Until then, we are offering you the opportunity to move to another photo sharing service (Flickr, KODAK Gallery, Shutterfly, Snapfish, or Photobucket). We're making the transfer real simple, and with a couple clicks we'll automatically move your photos to Flickr or wherever you want them. You can also download your original-resolution photos back to your computer, or buy an archive CD from our featured partner (for users of the New Yahoo! Photos only). All you need to do is tell us what to do with your photos before we close, after which any photos remaining on Yahoo! Photos will be deleted and no longer accessible.

I am a Snapfish user and had actually forgotten I had old photos in my Yahoo Photos account.   My first reaction was dread.  I assumed Yahoo would make transferring to Flickr easier since they also own them but transferring anywhere else would be a hassle, time-consuming and difficult.  I put the transfer off for a few days and then transferred them to Snapfish.  And, guess what? It was easy and really did only take a few clicks of the mouse to transfer everything.  What a novel idea- a company putting a consumer's time and interests above their own product and bottom line.

Yahoo got it.  When they decided to shut down their Photos section, they probably knew they would lose customers but to them it was better to concentrate on one product (Flickr) and do it right, rather than be spread too thin and lessen the quality of the products.  So even though I don't use Flickr, I still support Yahoo and their efforts.  And who knows, I may even give Flickr a try sometime.

You're Renting What?

Springwise had an interesting post today about a type of rental service that I've never heard of before.  It just seems to make sense. 

"German Lütte-Leihen came up with a solution [to the costly adventure of newborns growing out of their clothes every few months]: a layette rental service for a fixed fee per month. Parents can choose from different sets of onesies, pajamas and outerwear. The clothes are delivered by post (or by hand to Hamburg and its suburbs). Once babies grow out of a size, the set can be exchanged for the next size up, free of charge. Like NetFlix for baby clothes."

"Lütte-Leihen's 9 – 11 piece sets come in a limited range of neutral colors and patterns, and include everything from bodysuits and pajamas to socks and hats. Pricing ranges from EUR 17 – 26 per month, depending on which set is selected. The clothing may be used, but it’s in great condition; the items are only used for short while by each baby, and there's not much wear and tear in the first six months. Moreover, most of the clothing provided Lütte-Leihen is made from 100% organic cotton."

This seems like a service that so many people have needed at one point or another.  There are plenty of families that are not thrilled about spending money every few months to replace entire wardrobes for their babies, and this seems like the perfect way to always have the right size clothes on hand.  The trend of renting things-- from homes to pets to cars to clothes, is something that is more popular now than ever.  The practical aspect of services like this is something we have grown to appreciate.

Is She a Barbie Girl?

There are some things that we as Americans love, and there are some things we just seem uninterested in.  It's normal for product popularity to fluctuate over time.  We change our minds often and love when products are created just for us.  It's interesting to compare the way people in other countries spend their money with the trends in America and the types of things we like to buy.

One thing we know for sure is that parents are spending a lot of money on their children these days.  According to an estimate by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average cost of raising a child from infancy to college entrance ranges from $143,790 to $289,380-- depending, of course, on outside factors like family income and lifestyle.  Along with educational spending and the cost of things like food and clothing, every child enjoys getting a new toy-- families are buying them up often all around the world.

An article from The Wall Street Journal that focuses on the rise and fall of toy maker Mattel Inc.'s products was pointed out to me today-- and I think there is a larger meaning behind the changing numbers.  According to the article, Mattel's second quarter profit rose 15% because of the huge international interest in Fisher-Price and Hot Wheels toys.  According to the article, "International sales jumped 18%, helped by foreign-currency translations and gains in Brazil and other Latin American market."  Toy sales in the United States actually were down 3% this year.

Sales of Barbie rose 6% internationally, but fell by 5% in America.  Apparently the Bratz dolls by MGA Entertainment Inc. have been in competition with Barbie's fans.  Mattel is trying to fight back with things like www.thebarbiegirls.com, an interactive online site which allows girls to create a virtual character, play games, chat, and shop online. 

With the rise in technology and the new types of activities young girls are interested in today, it's not surprising to me that Barbie isn't as popular today as it was when I was a little girl.  Now there are so many options of how a young girl can occupy her free time, so sitting and playing with a doll may not seem as appealing as watching a DVD or playing a game online.  Interactive entertainment has become a trend of today and it's very interesting to note that Mattel Inc. is doing all it can to break into the online market and target these groups of new technology-savvy kids.

Want to Know about the Fish You're eating? Ask the U.S. Government

When I eat seafood, I don't normally think about the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA).  But the good folks at Resource Shelf recently pointed me to a new service from NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service - FishWatch.

Seafood lovers can find out the latest information on some 30 species of fish - with more on the way.  There is information about the sustainability of different species and the health hazards and health benefits of eating seafood. 

This is a great example of transparency and information sharing that could not have been done before the Internet.  Certainly the timeliness of the information and data they collect would not have been available so quickly.  It's also a wonderful illustration of how scientific information can be presented in a way that feels helpful and not overwhelming.  It's what using the Internet is all about. 

The new normal

Hallmark is not usually a company associated with things that are hip and edgy.  They are more likely known for birthday cards you send your elderly aunt and graduation cards for your niece.
However, they seem to be trying to update their image a bit.  They have realized that there is a new "normal" in life.  Hallmark has a relatively new line of cards that are for:

Real people dealing with...and talking about...real stuff.  That's life in the "new normal".
It's maybe not what our mothers thought normal would look like.  But it's the way life really is today.

These cards cover topics such as having cancer, staying sober, being on a diet, getting divorced, being stressed, not being able to have children, and caring for aging parents.

Hallmark gets that life happens and isn't predictable.  These days life milestones are more than birthdays, graduations, births and marriages.  And good for Hallmark for recognizing "the new normal." 

Does This Diet Make my Footprint Look Smaller??

As an overachiever, I'm always looking for ways to make myself better.  I am constantly trying to plan for the future, figure out how to do the best I can in the moment, save money, take care of myself, be a good person, take care of others, and stay happy.  Sometimes this is a tough thing to accomplish without becoming stressed-- which can make me act like a different person.  It's like a vicious circle.

I think a lot of other people feel the same way I do.  We are all so busy and we feel that we have capabilities to fill roles that we couldn't fill in the past and are trying to take full advantage.  Technology has changed our lives and has made a lot of things easier-- but this doesn't mean we want to do less.  We always want more.  We want to accomplish more during our days but we also want more sleep.  We want to save money but we still want to spend it on luxury items we may not necessarily be able to afford.  We want to be successful at work but we still want family time.  We want huge homes but we don't get to spend time in them because we have to work so hard to be able to pay our mortgages.  Basically, we want everything. 

Because the environment has been a topic that has gotten lots of attention lately, and global warming is on a lot of our minds, the concept of carbon offsets has become big news to a lot of people.  When I think of carbon offsets I immediately think of travel by plane and the option of paying for carbon offsets from our flights-- that sort of thing.  Apparently, I need to think outside the box.  The Washington Times published a short piece on a unique diet coined by Laura Stec, a chef from San Francisco, who has created "The Global Warming Diet."

She realizes that food choice has a big effect on climate change and wrote a 250-page  book packed with vegetarian items, scientific claims from the United Nations and the Union of Concerned Scientists, as well as guides for "discussion" parties.  She says, "One of the most positive effects you can have on the environment begins on your dinner plate."

Here are some shocking statistics from the article:

• It takes 10 times more fossil fuel to produce a calorie of meat than a calorie of plant protein.
• Flatulent cows and methane-producing manure piles contribute to 18% of all greenhouse gases-- the equivalent of 33 million cars on the nation's roadways.
• 11 pounds of grain and 2,500 gallons of water go into making a hamburger.
• The average meal travels 1,500 miles to get to your dinner plate.
• Americans consume more than 1 billion pounds-- and 1 trillion calories of food each day.

The fact that our idea of a "diet" may not just revolve around losing weight, but also focus on the good of the environment is a good sign.  Cutting out meat altogether seems like an extreme move to me, but I would be willing to buy locally and make vegetarian meals every now and then.  We will probably see more of this type of thing in the future as more attention is paid to our world and the impact we have on our environment.  Making a few small changes is definitely doable, but I can't see myself hosting a "discussion party" anytime soon.

Information Therapy - User Generated Wellness

Managed Care. Magazine recently ran an article about Information Therapy. What is information therapy?

"... the practice of providing more and better information to patients so they can contribute more to their healing...the term information therapy applies to a wide range of uses and situations. For some providers, information therapy is literally a physician-written prescription telling a patient to read specific information, learn it, and apply it. For others, information therapy is used to help a patient make treatment decisions, such as whether to continue chemotherapy."

There's even The Center for Information Therapy - a non-profit which gives support to both doctors and patients. 

This is personalization at its best.  One doctor said, "The greatest untapped capacity in health care is the patient.  Engagement of the patient is powerful and allows for outcomes that aren't available with any other approach."

It sounds a lot like user-generated content - or in this case - user generated wellness.

Thanks to Resource Shelf for the link.

Flickr photo by Anti-Social Butterfly

Loyalty, Nascar style

Nascar racing fans are a breed like no other, especially when it comes to supporting the sponsors of their favorite drivers.  Nascar drivers are much more dependent and loyal to their sponsors than other athletes are to their sponsors.

If Tiger Woods were to lose a sponsor, his golf game probably wouldn't be affected very much.  However, if a NASCAR driver loses his sponsor, there is the very real possibility he won’t be racing until a new sponsor steps in.

After a big victory, a Nascar driver will immediately thank his sponsor, whereas Tiger would probably thank friends and family first.

And because fans feel so connected to their favorite drivers, they want to support what he supports.

A recent article states:

Fans feel they owe the sponsor something for providing them with the sport they love.  "It's the same mechanism as if someone buys you a  beer at the bar.  There's also the impulse, you're going to buy one back."
There are sponsors emblazoned on every car, jersey and piece of equipment. Everything from the gasoline the drivers put into their tanks to the memorabilia sold in the stores has a sponsor's branding.Corporate sponsorship in NASCAR will reach $2.9 billion this year, a 5.5 percent increase over 2005, according to the Associated Press. Companies continue to see value in the sport, largely because fans keep flocking to the sponsors.

Outside the races, the companies cross-promote with other NASCAR sponsors in order to increase fan appeal. Home Depot teamed with fellow NASCAR sponsor Coca-Cola to create an orange Powerade flavor in honor of Stewart.

Another study showed that:

89% of NASCAR fans believe, “When I see a NASCAR logo on something, I know it will be a quality product.”  And fans are three times as likely to try and purchase NASCAR sponsors’ products and services than a non-fan.

Sponsors of other sports would love to have this fan base and this much support.  Even though athletes are paid millions of dollars in endorsements, very few seem to create the buzz that Nascar sponsors do.  Why do you think that is?

Did you Drink you Nutrients Today?

I don't think the American public will ever get sick of hearing about anything health-related.  We spend hours worrying about dying of cancer and getting mercury poisoning, and we often buy things that we hope will make us live longer and look younger.  Sometimes our priorities are completely off-kilter.

I was really interested when I saw that The Wall Street Journal had an article about getting your daily vitamins through drinking liquids like Propel Fitness Water, Vitaminwater or the new Coke Plus soda.  I feel that we as a nation are always interested in stuffing vitamins anywhere we can, and don't even flinch when we hear that consumers are willing to pay about $2.00 for a drink that may not even be as good for you as it wants you to think it is.

The article points out, "For example, each 8-ounce serving of passion-fruit-and-citrus-flavored SoBe Life Water has 10% of four types of B vitamins, considered essential to helping cells make and use energy.  But a bowl of breakfast cereal or a couple of slices of bread typically offer even more than that amount."

Drinks containing nutrients have more than tripled in volume growth in the United States-- compared with a growth rate of only 5% for the entire beverage industry.  It is important to note also that popular drinks like Life Water and Vitaminwater have about 125 calories per bottle, whereas sodas generally have over 150 calories per can or bottle.  Obviously drinking something with some nutritional value (instead of having a regular soda) is likely better for you, but so is taking a multivitamin with a tall glass of water.

The relief people get from doing something that makes them feel better about their choices is likely to be a driving force behind the popularity of vitamin drinks.  People know about healthy choices and could just as easily make small diet adjustments, but enjoy feeling trendy and doing something that is new and "healthy" without having to change their lifestyle.  I can see why parents would prefer to buy nutrient-fortified products for their children in lieu of soda or other sugary drinks, but I can't see why anyone (like CC Brunk-- mentioned in The Wall Street Journal article) would want to spend money to drink three bottles of Vitaminwater per day. 

I think this trend tells us that we are interested in taking care of ourselves and in being healthy.  It's definitely on our minds-- but obesity rates are definitely up.  We have good intentions, but, unfortunately, good health benefits usually don't come without a little bit more effort.  A part of me believes that if products like these had hit the shelves in the 70s or 80s, very few people would have considered spending money on them.  I guess timing is the key.

Straight from the Tap

We are bombarded with advertisements every single day.  We see ads when we walk around outside, when we read the newspaper, and when we watch TV.  It's a challenge now for advertisers to create ad campaigns we really notice that stand out in the crowd of thousands we are exposed to on a daily basis.

One ad campaign I found out about in Brandweek really surprised me: the new "Get your fill" campaign-- gloriously paid for by the taxpayers of New York City-- promotes tap water to residents and tourists.  Apparently, New York is one of only five U.S. cities that has a federal filtering waiver, yet, many children and adults have the preconceived notion that the city's water is not drinkable.  This may be partially due to the overexposure of people walking around with bottled water (which is still proving to be a very profitable business).  No matter what the cause, Mayor Bloomberg has taken notice and is doing all he can to change viewpoints.

The campaign will spend $700,000 and will post ads throughout the subway system, check-cashing stations and bus kiosks in hopes that use of city water will increase along with awareness. 

I know I have blogged a lot about water (especially bottled water or negative effects on the environment) and I most likely will continue to post articles or information in the future because water is so important.  Water is something that we as a nation often waste and take for granted, and I think the ad campaigns are a little obvious, yet, interesting.  I'm not sure that all taxpayers would agree that this is a good use of $700,000-- but the long-term effects could be worth it.  I think the fact Mayor Bloomberg even feels it's important to advertise tap water shows the way our societal viewpoint is shifting.  We are taking notice of the types of things we should focus more on as unit and are trying to come up with ways to get the word out.  We have realized that togetherness can pay off and that our environment is something that should be on the top of our priority list.

Sweaters that tell us everything

One thing that we as consumers are beginning to appreciate is the concept of transparency.  We like to feel as if we can find out as much as possible about the products or services we chose to have in our lives, and we love when companies go out of their way to make this possible.

A great example of this is a Springwise post I found about "full provenance sweaters" from the Netherlands.  A company called Flocks by designer Christien Meindertsma gives out specific details to customers about the animal who provided wool for the products purchased.  Each item is tagged with an animal ID number as well as a certificate and picture.  You can even find out about the weight, breed, and birthplace of the sheep that made your sweater possible. 

Our priorities are changing and we are willing to pay a little bit more if we feel more in control of what we buy.  Technology is making it easier for us to feel connected and for us to understand the details that make products unique.  It will be interesting to see if this trend continues to maintain similar levels of popularity in the years to come.  While price seems to play the largest role in overall product selection, transparency often is a little detail that can make a big difference.

Customer Service Surprises

In the world of customer service, this seemed to be my weekend of extremes.  It seems that everywhere I went I had either a very positive or very negative experience.  And I was surprised at the places where the experience was positive and vice versa.  Usually, I tend to think that bigger places where I make larger purchases or spend more money will result in better service.  After this weekend, I've decided the opposite is often true.

My positive experiences:
     1. Getting a quick salad for lunch at Potbelly's Sandwich Works. I expected an indifferent experience.  Instead, what I found were employees who were friendly, knowledgeable, and got my order right (which, unfortunately, is saying a lot about my expectations.)  The restrooms were clean and the food was cheap and delicious. 

     2. Going with my husband to get his car washed at Flagship Car Wash.  I really didn't have any concrete expectations other than a cleaner car at the end.  Surprisingly, the employees were friendly, the place was efficient and organized, the wash was quick and my husband even got a coupon for his next visit.  For those worried about the environment, there were signs explaining the process and how they clean cars.  And, yes, the car got clean.

     3. Grocery shopping at Trader Joe's.  This one was no surprise.  Along with everyone I know who has ever been to Trader Joe's, I love this place.  Employees are personable and friendly, and the products are quality and inexpensive. 

    4. Dinner at Acadiana Restaurant.  Our waiter accidently spilled red wine on my white pants.  This could have been a completely disastrous experience.  However, the waiter was completely apologetic and the restaurant immediately offered to pay for my dry cleaning bill or a new pair of pants.  We will return.

Now, onto my negative experiences:

     1. Returning several items to Macy's.  It seems that Macy's doesn't train new employees on their return policies.  No question I asked resulted in a sufficient answer.  Employees were neither friendly nor helpful.  I left completely frustrated and baffled at how such a large deparment store could have such incompetent employees.

    2. Picking up pre-ordered items at Home Depot.  We ordered some tile a couple weeks ago and went to pick it up.  What should have been a quick and easy transaction took almost an hour and resulted in lots of frustration and lost patience.

    3. Trying to get a new phone at Cingular.  Ok, this one shouldn't have surprised me.  Phone companies are known for not having stellar customer service.

My initial takeaways from these experiences is that smaller, more local establishments provide for a better customer experience.  Larger chain stores seems to lose vision of the customer in their quest for bigger profits.  The customer is not seen as an individual but as a number and specific needs are not met.  However, the smaller stores do seem to care about the customer as an actual person.  The smallest details are not forgotten and every person who walks in the doors is treated as they should be- a human being.  Our expectations are generally so low at this  point that a little common courtesy really goes a long way.  All I want is to be treated with respect by knowledgeable and friendly employees and get a quality product in return.   What surprises have you had lately in the world of customer service?

Too much of too much

If you asked Americans to describe their daily life in a single word, you would probably get answers such as “busy”, “stressful”, “rushed” or “saturated.” We are a nation of busy people who are constantly on the go and multi-tasking. We are inundated with more information and more choices than ever before. We are recipients of more types of media and media messages than ever before. In a typical day we text friends, email colleagues, surf the web, watch 100+ channels on our TV, listen to our iPod, watch TV on our iPod, plan our next vacation, choose among 30+ flavors of soda, sign our kids up for summer camp and Spanish lessons, compare bank rates online, and then realize we have no time to sleep or prepare dinner.

• A recent analysis of newspaper articles shows that this saturation is apparent every day in everything we do.
• We encounter traffic on our drive to work. New York City is attempting to reduce congestion by enacting legislation that would charge commuters into the city a fee. Suburban sprawl in India results in trains so crowded that 13 people die every day from getting hit by commuter trains.
• We go to the book store to buy a new book. How do we choose among the thousands of titles?
• Our children are involved in more after-school activities than ever. Three year olds are taking Chinese and newborns are on waiting lists for preschool. However, recent studies show that kids need more time for free play and family togetherness. How can we stop the madness and let kids be kids?
• DirectTV now lets you access 185 channels on your CAR’s video system. Do we need to be tuned in at all times?
• An email is no longer just a few quick sentences to confirm meeting plans. Emails now include large digital video clips, photos, PowerPoint presentations and spreadsheets. Yahoo now offers unlimited storage space for its users. Essentially, you never have to delete email ever again. Yet, these innovations are just too much for many people. They can’t keep up with all the email. Adding spam to the mix makes it that much worse. Some people have declared “email bankruptcy” in which they have deleted their entire inboxes and are discouraging friends and colleagues from emailing them.
• Coke and Pepsi together offer about 100 different carbonated beverages.
• 43% of working people claim they’d rather have an extra hour of sleep than an extra hour of free time. Only 26% of adults get the recommended 8 hours of sleep a night.

What does all of this mean for today’s society?

We have too much and too many choices. There is no escaping saturation and there is starting to be a backlash. People yearn for a simpler time and a simpler life. They want their kids to go outside and play in the backyard without worrying that Johnny won’t get into college because he played hide and seek one afternoon. We used to think we wanted it all and more. However, like the old adage “be careful what you wish for”, we’ve gotten it all and now want to get rid of it. There has been a large increase in activities reminiscent of a simpler time. We used to pay people to make our sweaters and now we want to knit them ourselves. We enjoy turning off the lights and eating dinner by candlelight. People daydream about going on vacation somewhere where their Blackberry and cell phone don’t work. With so much information out there to sort through, we are tired. We feel pressured to sort through all the options and make the best decision at all times. We feel we have to weigh all our options, make a decision and then keep searching for more. Satisfaction is no longer an option. Yet, now that we’ve seen all the options, it is hard to go back. We are instead filtering out irrelevant information and trying to focus on just what is important to us and our families and our everyday lives. That is still more than enough.

Personalize Everything for Us Please

The population mark in the United States recently topped 300 million. There are so many of us sharing similar goals and buying similar products. We commute to and from work and see other people with the exact same cars and the same routines we have each day. Sometimes we get tired of this and go to great lengths to make what we have different from what everyone else has. We love finding ways to make things our own and bring our unique styles to the forefront and enjoy standing out. We crave personalization in America.

From custom stamps to clothing to video games and popular websites which are based on the concept of customization like MySpace and Facebook, being able to create a space that is all your own is definitely catching on. And this isn’t something that just kids enjoy—adults are even more obsessed with personalization than kids are in some respects. Companies like Google, which created “iGoogle,” a personalized search homepage that has become the fastest-growing product by a number of new users have realized the importance of this trend. Apparently, about 9,000 iGoogle pages are created each day.

Advancements in technology have made it possible to bring the “make-it-yourself” trend to anyone with a computer and with time to spend. Lucasfilm posted 250 sections of “Star Wars” clips from 6 movies to the Internet for people to edit and rearrange in any order they like best. Fans can then add to or cut the clips and decide if they would like to post them to MySpace or a similar social-networking site. This gives everyone a chance to take their favorite clips and create something that is all their own. Everyone wins.

People who rely on us as customers have also started to take notice of our feelings about personalization. Comedian Jim Gaffigan promised to stay at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center after his stand-up performance until he met everyone who was interested in meeting him. He has kept this same promise every evening after each of his shows on his 30-city concert tour. His connection with his fans on a personal level creates an environment that everyone is happy to be in.

Consumers and businesses see the appeal of personalized products and services and are doing what they can to keep up with competition and create new and innovative ideas that will surprise us. We love anything that will make our lives easier, create shortcuts for tasks and responsibilities that we already have, and represent us as individuals.