Marketing

Chocolate By Design

by Toby

Of course, design is not limited to architecture or interiors or hi-tech.... Design is not limited at all. And to prove it, some very well known interior and product designers are getting into chocolate design. How would your valentine enjoy geting one of these chocolates made by the famous French Chocolat Factory for 5.5 Designers?

Potato Chip Chocolate - Sweet, Salty and Sinfully Good

by Steve Levenstein

Chocolate chips, yum... wait a sec, they're not what you think. Forget about cookies, Royce's Potato Chip Chocolate are less about dough and more about DOH!

4 comments

Ford Opens the 2010 Taurus to the Public

by George Delozier

The 2010 Ford Taurus marks the first model year of the sixth generation of Ford's mid-sized sedan and the third year since being reintroduced after a short pause in production. The new Taurus was (literally) opened to the public at this year's North American International Auto Show to give everyone an inside look at all the features and comforts.

Scion Introduces 2009 Special Edition xB

by George Delozier

The Scion xB, originally introduced in 2004, has undergone relatively few changes in the last half a decade. It still retains its semi-boxy shape and high fuel mileage, as well as its long list of options. As with the previous 5 years, Scion is offering a special edition of their xB model that brings even more such features to the table.

1 comment

As the Algo Turns- 7 Predictions for Search Engine Marketing in 2009

by Ron Callari

Did you ever wonder what the Google algorithm looks like and why it keeps changing? When Google emerged in late 1997, it entered a market that was fully saturated by steep competition; the likes of which included Altavista, HotBot, Excite, Infoseek, Lycos and others. However, while all jockeyed for position, Google was able to take the biggest bite of market share! And they accomplished that feat in less than a decade. Its success was based on developing an algorithm formula that continuously customizes search engine page results (SERPS) in accordance with the behavioral patterns of you and I, the users! In essence, WE are the reason the Algo turns!

15 comments

TapTop Wins London On Tap Competition!

by Toby

Several carafe designs made the short list, but it was TapTop by industrial designer Neil Barron that took top prize -- a drip-free, inverted rocket shaped carafe with a "tap top" that functions to prevent ice from flowing out with the water.

It Takes A Country: The 2008 Design Competitive Countries

by Toby

Finding: Korea has many designers, but not very many resources from the state or major companies.

Finding : The United States supports design, but has very few designers.

A new evaluation tool for design competitiveness, shows that it takes a country to support its native designers, and it ranks the countries now leading in design competitiveness for 2008. Guess which country is number one....

Gitchers.com Creates Walking Billboards With Their Free T-Shirt Directory

by Beth Graddon-Hodgson

At a glance, Gitchers.com may seem like an inane business idea, but its model is really aimed at connecting businesses looking to expand their marketing perspective towards a target audience, to individuals who like to wear free stuff. Want a free t-shirt? Read on!

Breath-A-Licious Has Free Bone For A Kissable Companion

by Lady Bee

Dancing Paws is offering to send you a free Breath-A-Licious bone so you can have a "kissable companion." But I'm pretty sure it intends for you to give the Breath-A-Licious to your dog, not your husband.

Copycat “Shanzhai” Culture Becomes Innovation in China

by M Dee Dubroff

Now innovation in China has taken on a new and strange dimension that depends upon imitation in order to flourish. If you are about to argue that this is a contradiction in terms, suffice it to say that you are right. Read on anyway, for the fickle finger of marketing and fate points to a very interesting phenomenon.

2 comments

Russian Pays For Trademark Emoticon: What Will He Buy Next?

by M Dee Dubroff

Would you buy an emoticon? One Russian businessman did, and he has trademarked that combination of punctuation marks used to convey a wink in text messages and email. The question is… why did he do it? Read on even though the answer still may not be clear.

2 comments

Chinese Innovations in Foreign Countries Thwarted by Red Tape

by M Dee Dubroff

A draft amendment to China’s patent law is hindering the creativity of Chinese inventors living abroad by making it difficult to legalize the idea without much red tape. Read on and… keep your ideas to yourself.

10 Quirky Pencils, Pens, And Funky Sharpeners To Entertain You

by Must Love Gadgets

For all the sophisticated gadgets I write about, I am most delighted by simple things. I have a favorite Big Red pen, a bunch of number two pencils, a Magic Rub eraser and a few manual pencil sharpeners I got at Disneyland. These are my writing, drawing, and book keeping staples and I delight when I can escape from my computer and use them.

'Lady Guard', a Pill to Prevent Peeing

by Steve Levenstein

Troubled too often by the need to "go"? Try Lady Guard, a new OTC pill that calms hyperactive bladders and postpones the urinary urge to when it's more convenient.

This Christmas, Give the Gift of... Snow?

Bringing Winter to Warmer Climes with Stuffed Styrofoam Snowmen

by Steve Levenstein

Since 1986, the northern Japanese town of Hayakita has sent over 65,000 snow-filled styrofoam snowmen to those whose winters are without the white stuff.

Russian Dogs Lend Helping Paws to Financial Crisis

by M Dee Dubroff

In Siberia, man’s best friend is doing his and her part to help with family expenses by becoming walking billboards for specific products. Read all about the city of Novosibirsk’s innovative Promo Dog Agency and…arf!

4 comments

Pepperfruits Gum Packs Heat in Every Bite

Sweet & Spicy Pepperfruits Gum - Heat You Can Eat

by Steve Levenstein

Snacks are big business in Japan, and not a day goes by without some new gum, candy or other sweet confection hitting store shelves. Pepperfruits, the new gum from Kracie, just might be "crazy" enough to make a lasting impression.

1 comment

Support Sustainable Tibetan Culture - Put Yak on your Back

by Steve Levenstein

Shokay offers a huge variety of clothing and accessories made of natural Yak and bamboo fiber, made by indigenous peoples in Tibet who are able to maintain their traditional lifestyles.

2 comments

Plug & Play, Lots Of Storage, Clever Name: "CurrenKey"

by Must Love Gadgets

French designer 5.5 has created a few new international coins! Well, they're not exactly coins, but they are international. They are really coin casings for LaCie's flash drives, and they're very cool.

Is 5.5 launching a new trend by actually putting something useful in a USB port? I don't know, but the CurrenKey is a good start and it's got a short catchy name too!

1 comment

Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Lovers is Music to Shoppers' Ears

Harajuku Lovers - Gwen Stefani Gets in Tune with Japanese Chic

by Steve Levenstein

Gwen Stefani has branched out from fronting hit band No Doubt to become a master marketer and stylish trendsetter. Now with her Harajuku Lovers brand of apparel & accessories, Stefani channels chic Japanese fashion culture from Tokyo streets to America's avenues.

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