It's not unusual for an art gallery to sell rare or limited edition pieces, but a new, online gallery based in London is banking on exclusivity to set it apart by offering just a single, limited-edition creation from each of a handful of select artists.

The Few Gallery commissions limited-edition art prints exclusively for its shop from a set of hand-picked graphic artists and illustrators from around the globe. Each artist makes only one design for the gallery, which prints each of 30 editions of it individually using the Gicleé process for high resolution and life spans of at least 100 years. Prices begin at EUR 300 for each 60-by-80-cm print. In exchange, owners get a hand-numbered certificate of authenticity to go with it, along with the knowledge that 10 percent of the price is donated to a select set of charities, including Survival, Concern Worldwide, Save the Children and the World Wildlife Fund. Perhaps more importantly, once the design is sold out, it will never be printed again. The Few Gallery was founded by Hannes Unt, who is also the creative director and founder of Estonian design agency LOOVVOOL, specializing in high-end brands.

The economy may be a shambles, but that doesn't mean status and exclusivity are going by the wayside. Nothing like a little planned scarcity to keep the massclusive wolves at bay and make a consumer feel truly unique! (Related: Luxury etailer focuses on planned scarcity — Limited edition lingerie.)

Website: www.thefewgallery.com
Contact: contact@thefewgallery.com

Spotted by: Alar Ojastu

The first few days and weeks of any new year are notorious for testing—and too often defeating—the resolve of resolution-makers around the world. Similar to Pfizer's recent Times Square effort aimed at those trying to quit smoking, a new site out of Estonia uses financial incentives and a social approach to help make consumers' resolutions stick.

Tallinn-based Pledgehammer gives people a way to make their resolutions public, whether it's stopping smoking, losing 20 lbs. or—to take an example from the more than 100 on the site—taking better care of one's tractor. When they make their pledge, users are asked to choose a deadline—say, by a year from today—as well as some amount of money to give to charity should they fail to keep their promise. Members of the site can create profiles and then post updates of their progress toward their goal over time, as well as cheering other people's efforts. They can also edit or delete their vow if they get cold feet. Otherwise, when their deadline arrives, Pledgehammer sends users an e-mail asking if they kept to their vow. If they admit that they didn't, it directs them to the websites of its charity partners, where they can make their donation—a small part of which gets paid back to Pledgehammer, the site says. Participating charities currently include ChildLine, PDSA and the World Land Trust.

The site explains: "This way your unsuccessful pledge may help to save the rainforest or support families in third world countries, making it not all that unsuccessful after all."

Similar in some ways also to WeightNags, which we covered last year, Pledgehammer promises to transform consumers' persistent challenges into a win-win-win that benefits those in need as well. Were the site broken down by resolution type—a section for those who want to quit smoking, say, and another for those aiming to exercise or lose weight—it seems to us the community and advertising possibilities would multiply. One to emulate in the niche of your choice....?

Website: www.pledgehammer.com
Contact: info@pledgehammer.com

Spotted by: Judy McRae