May the fourth be with you...

 

CULTURE

 

• Wrapp brings social mobile gifting service to the U.S. via Tech Crunch.
• The iPad revolutionizes iconic Hotel Bel-Air's room service via USA Today.
• Hue-tastic: Big Apple's new taxis are 'apple green' via New York Post.

• Smart Commerce: Microsoft's Kinect could replace your tailor (No Pins Required) via Fast Company.
• Burberry vs. Aquascutum: Leveraging heritage w/ new, relevant & contemporary branding via Millward Brown.
• The luxury pricing problem via Financial Times.

• Feast your eyes on the Pretzelnator, the first crowdsourced burger at McDonald's via Ad Week.
• What's hot on food trucks: Portable, customizable, and innovative dishes via Nation's Restaurant News.
• Email rules social media, even for fans via Restaurant Hospitality.

 

 

Remember the Procter & Gamble virtual grocery store in Prague that we mentioned last November?

 

Tapping into two of the top 5 consumer trends for 2012, Glamour Magazine has created a similar installation devoted to beauty products across from the Standard Hotel in Manhattan's Meatpacking District, according to Advertising Age.

 

Customers simply scan barcodes with an app on their phone to buy real products for home delivery from the Glamour Apothecary Wall. Brands represented in the pop-up presentation include C.O. Bigelow, John Frieda, Elizabeth Arden, Clearasil and Versace.

 

While the concept of a virtual shopping wall may not be new, we are loving how Glamour Magazine is engaging with customers using innovation in unexpected spaces.

 

{source: AdAge.com}

Is it possible to trim the apparel cost structure and funnel profits into philanthropy? The team behind Monolith, a New York-based social shopping website, aims to do just that. 

 

 

Currently in development, the subscription-based online start-up plans to deliver designer-quality clothing to customers for $111 or less. Subscribers will have a chance to browse men’s and women’s apparel and accessories collections online and decide which pieces they want to buy, reported The Wall Street Journal.

 

Monolith will then produce the items every five weeks in factories scattered around the globe (U.S., Mexico, India and Asia). “Well-known luxury brands like Gucci, Fendi, Prada—they all use the same factories,” said Nick Ralph, 29, the company’s Chief Executive Officer and founder. “They’re making hundreds and in some cases thousands of dollars in profits on a single item. To us, it’s kind of ridiculous," he continued.

In addition to low priced designer goods from top-notch factories, the company will tap into conscientious consumerism with a “Buy One, Give One Program” — similar to the model employed by Toms Shoes. According to the Monolith website, the company will donate the same item purchased on the subscriber's behalf to children and adults in need so that they can secure better job opportunities, increase wages, and build confidence.

{source: Wall Street Journal}

 

Gone are the days when a color or single trend will make or break a year. Things move too fast for magic wands or fairy dust.

 

Understanding and executing on trends are key elements on creating an inspirational journey. In an ever changing market, it is more important than ever to know the triggers that will cause your customers to open their wallets. The development of products and services centered around the most viable trend must work in tandem with value, design, and quality to ride the wave of acquisition and adoption. People are willing to spend if you give them the right incentive at the right time.

 

This week we created forward-thinking intelligence for two firms focused on delivering value and quality in the digital arena. For Medium we created a 2012 Forecast outlining for key trends for building successful brands. Themes of the post include concepts like cultural consciousness, smart commerce and less-ism. You can access that content free of charge here.

 

Secondly, we shared some social media tips and tricks with the team at Pluggio.com. The interview outlines what drives consumer culture when building out a digital brand and is a must read for businesses dedicating more resources to new media in 2012. That interview is available online here.

 

This is just a snapshot of what we track and we understand that, for many of you, our free content is enough to keep you going in 2012. In addition to our subscription services, we'll be hitting the road to talk about how trends are shaping the changing future. If you want to connect with us IRL (In Real Life), drop us a line or check back for an updated listing of conferences and speaking engagements.