Woot!, the 'one day, one deal' online retailer we reported on in March, has sprouted a new vine. Sidling up to regular Woot, which offers great bargains mainly on electronics and gadgets, Wine Woot focuses solely on fermented grape juice.

Taking it slower at 'one week, one wine', Wine Woot came about by popular demand. After offering a Rinfrescante wine for sale, regular Woot was deluged with requests for more wine offerings. Which didn't seem at all a bad idea. So Woot partnered up with Wine Country Connect, and a new sales channel for discounted wine was born.

As Woot explains, wine isn't all that different from electronic gadgets: "Gadgeteers and oenophiles alike have strong opinions, so we let them sound off in our community forums. And because winemakers make marketing predictions far in advance of product release – just like electronics manufacturers – wine inventory is equally subject to overstock, excess, and end-of-life opportunities." Makes sense! What's next?

Website: http://wine.woot.com
Contact: purchasing@woot.com / media@woot.com

Like Nudo and Tribe Wanted, which we recently covered, Ladybank Distilleries is attracting consumers by making them feel highly involved with its product. In this case: Scotch single malt whisky.

While the whisky market is dominated by large breweries and a small number of well-known brands, a counter-movement is (inevitably) taking place. Ladybank, based in Fife, Scotland, is one of a handful of new, artisanal distilleries, and is completely structured around the concept of consumer involvement. The Ladybank Company of Distillers Club, as the full name goes, plans to start distilling by the end of 2007, which means the first dram of malt won't have matured before 2017.

The private club will have no more than 1,250 members. Memberships are becoming available in small releases; UK memberships currently on offer are priced at GBP 3,250 (USD 6,020/EUR 4,760), and fees are lower for overseas members. For that one-off fee, members of the Ladybank Club are entitled to the equivalent of six bottles a year during the first 50 years of production. They're also welcome to visit the distillery, which is closed to the general public, and may invite guests. Furthermore, members have full voting rights on key issues.

Distilling days will allow members to get hands-on, and a Whisky School will offer a total understanding of whisky production, 'from grain to oak cask'. Yearly production will be in the region of 25,000 litres per year.

Since Ladybank whisky won't be available for general sale, exclusivity is a big draw. However, according to the company's founder James Thomson, the core appeal is involvement. Which shouldn't come as a surprise to those of you who've been tracking trendwatching.com's customer-made trend. Check out the briefing for more examples of how companies are involving consumers.

Website:http://www.whisky.co.uk
Contact: james@whisky.co.uk (James Thomson, Club Founder)

Made in Hungary, the Kenguru is a small vehicle that drivers can roll into without leaving their wheelchairs.

Designed by Zsolt Varga, Kenguru is small, stylish and cheerful vehicle whose contours are similar to those of a Smart car. But the resemblance stops there. Made to hold one passenger in a manual wheelchair, the Kenguru doesn't have doors or seats. To get in, the driver opens the extra large back hatch and rolls inside while remaining seated in his wheelchair, which automatically locks into place inside the car. A joystick instead of a steering wheel means that drivers with limited arm mobility can comfortably control the vehicle. (Source: Index.)

Kengurus are electrically powered, have a range of 40-60 km, and reach speeds of 35-40 km/hour, making them best suited to relatively short commutes. Listed price is HUF 2,790,000 (EUR 10,250 / USD 12,920 / GBP 6,980).

The vehicle within a vehicle approach is simple and clever. Offering wheelchair-bound consumers greater freedom and independence, Kenguru should sell well around the world. Time to organize distribution rights for your market!

Website: http://www.rehabrt.hu
Contact: info@rehabrt.hu

Yet another fashion/lifestyle brand has discovered the promise of virtual worlds and virtual retail, in this case dressing virtual inhabitants: American Apparel (the sweat-shop free apparel phenomenon) will open its virtual doors tomorrow (Saturday, 17 June 2006).

The store, set on a private island within Second Life, was designed by Aimee Weber, a Second Life resident and designer, in conjunction with American Apparel's own architect. The store will sell 20 familiar American Apparel items for avatars, including the women's jersey polo dress. The company will charge a token sum of about USD 1 per item. It's (surprisingly!) the first 'real world' retailer to set up shop in Second Life.

Want more? Our sister site trendwatching.com will cover a myriad of new branding and ecommerce initiatives in virtual worlds in its upcoming 'YOUNIVERSAL BRANDING' briefing, but in the meantime, start exploring new opportunities for yourself: signing up for secondlife.com would be a logical first step. Oh, and you don't have to be in fashion for this one: avatars need banking, cars, homes, furniture and everything else you're already selling in meat-space. Have fun!

Website: http://secondlife.com/businesspartners
Contact: contact@lindenlab.com

Igglo combines large amounts of real estate information into a customer friendly package that could alter how the housing market operates, by letting potential buyers 'pre-order' houses that aren't yet for sale.

The Finnish company has photographed every building in Helsinki, with more towns to follow, and combines these photographs with satellite images and maps. Every property is listed, not just those that are currently on the market. (Their tagline is: "Your house is already on Igglo.")

Potential buyers can earmark a building, street or neighbourhood they're interested in, and post offers online. This lets potential sellers find out how desirable their property is, even if they weren't actively considering selling. Buyers also receive an alert when a property in their earmarked building or area comes up for sale.

If demand and supply meet, Igglo handles the transaction for a lower fee than is charged by regular real estate agents (less than 2%). Lower fees are made possible by the fact the Igglo agents don't get involved until buyers and sellers have found each other. The company is looking to expand the service to other big cities.

Interesting way of turning the real estate market upside down, letting demand nudge supply in the right direction, and moving the market from push to pull. One to watch!

Website: http://www.igglo.fi
Contact: asiakaspalvelu@igglo.fi