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Whether distributed through dedicated stores or affixed to city billboards, free samples tend to be popular with consumers. A new variation on the theme? A vending machine designed specifically to give the goods away. Created by Belgian marketing and design agency Fosfor, the Boobox is a prototype for a stand-alone machine that distributes product samples. Consumers interested in getting one simply send a free SMS, in exchange for which they are given an activation code. That, in turn, gives them access to the sample. Unlike most vending machines, the Boobox is completely adjustable to samples with different sizes, weights and forms; it also includes an onboard refrigeration system for items such as dairy products and cooled beverages. The height of the machine's display and keyboard can even be adjusted for use alongside an accompanying poster advertisement, Fosfor says. The agency is currently refining the concept, with placement in Belgian train stations hopefully to follow later this year. Much like Kraft's use of samples inside heated Chicago bus stops, Fosfor's machine offers a way to reach consumers with a dose of tryvertising as they go about their lives. There's also the potential to throw in a pinch of sympvertising, of course, if the product is something that helps them get through the daily grind. Either way, you can bet the samples will capture a whole lot more attention—and goodwill—than a traditional ad. Where free love is involved, it's all good! ;-) Website: www.fosfor.be |
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It's no longer unusual for smart companies to involve their customers in the design of new products—that, after all, is how many of the benefits of crowdsourcing are realized. One we hadn't seen until recently, however, was a travel company that not only solicits past customers' input when it plans new trips, it actually invites them to come along and help refine them before it offers the trips to the public at large. Based in Madrid, YokmoK is an adventure travel company that leads expeditions of varying lengths, types and difficulty levels in Switzerland, France, Spain, Italy, Morocco and Nepal. Always planning new trips, the company has now begun actively involving past clients in their creation. Specifically, once the research has been completed for a planned new trip, YokmoK conducts what it calls an exploration trip with past customers to try it out collectively. As they travel, YokmoK's leaders and participants all take an active role in discussing possible itineraries, daily schedules and ways to make the trip more interesting, refining it as a group to create the best possible experience. In exchange for their effort and flexibility during the unpredictable bumps along the way, participants are offered a reduced price. The resulting trip itinerary, meanwhile, is what gets offered to the public the following year. YokmoK aims to conduct one exploration trip every 12 to 18 months; the next one, planned for this month, will explore the Swedish Lapland with a 7-day snowshoe trek through the wild terrain of the Kungsleden trail. YokmoK's exploration trips program is part of its "ambassador" system, through which it also gives repeat customers a 5 percent discount for each new customer they recruit. So, in addition to giving YokmoK early insight into new offerings and a better chance of success, the trips also serve as an extra perk for its ambassadors, offering them a few status stories and an exclusive experience. What incentives can your brand offer to keep customers spreading the word and coming back for more...? (Related: Consumers get paid for input on new products — Hotel perks for Mercedes drivers.) Website: www.yokmok.com/exploratory-trips.html Spotted by: Raul Vigas |
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March 4, 2009 |
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While we mostly run display ads, our advertising partner—Federated Media—recently contacted us to help create a Small Business Marketing Guide. The guide, which focuses on "DIY brand marketing strategies to help you grow your business" is sponsored by Hewlett-Packard, and features articles by bloggers like Duct Tape Marketing's John Jantsch, NOTCOT's Jean Aw and Guy Kawaski. It's an example of Federated Media's innovative approach to marketing in the blogosphere—helping advertisers engage people by working with authors to create fun and useful content. (Note that HP pays us for participating, but doesn't require us to promote their products. That's a big deal for us: we don't accept any type of compensation for writing about brands, products or services on Springwise.) Since a marketing guide seems like a helpful tool for all of our entrepreneurial readers—and those who'd like to start their own business—we're happy to contribute. Our first piece talks about using storytelling to build a brand, and upcoming posts will focus on hands-on topics like direct marketing and creating marketing materials. |
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While plenty of makeup studios offer lessons in applying cosmetics, language classes generally aren't part of the deal. Which is why the ESL Makeup Course at MikaOlivia caught our eye. Catering mainly to Japanese (aspiring) makeup professionals, the small Vancouver-based studio created three courses that help students improve both their makeup techniques and English language skills. MikaOlivia explains: "Through dialogue, demonstration and hands-on participation, you will advance your English language skills as well as your make-up artistry expertise." Owners Karen Mika Shoji and Oribu Olivia Yokota grew up in Canada, were educated in various parts of the world, and taught in schools in Vancouver and Tokyo. By turning their multilingual skills into an add-on service, they've created an additional stream of income, as well as cross-selling opportunities for their other offerings. The lesson for entrepreneurs? Tap into all of your talents! (Related: A being space for learning English.) Website: www.mikaolivia.com/school |
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From urban bike-sharing schemes to cargo bikes for business deliveries, there's no doubt bicycle use is on the rise. As with cars, however, parking bikes safely remains a challenge. That's where the Biceberg comes in, providing a protected and secure place for urban bicyclists to leave their bikes. Invented by Spanish ma-SISTEMAS, the Biceberg is a fully automated underground bike park that can securely hold 23, 46, 69 or 92 bikes—depending on its size—along with accessories like helmets and backpacks. The device works much like an oversized ATM as it collects bikes from, and then returns them back to, street level. Users of the Biceberg are equipped with a microchip card and PIN that they use to gain entry to the device any time they want to drop off or retrieve their bike. Upon entering their information, the Biceberg's bicycle-sized garage door opens to deliver or accept the bicycle into the park—either way, the process takes about 30 seconds, the company says. A video on the Biceberg site demonstrates the device in action. While bikes are stored there, the Biceberg even offers a 100% guarantee against robbery. Several Bicebergs are already installed in Spain—in Zaragoza, Huesca, Blanes, Vitoria and Barcelona—and the company hopes to begin its expansion into the rest of Europe soon. One to help bring to the bike paths, byways and crowded sidewalks near you...? Website: www.biceberg.es |
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A project from renowned London sculptors Wrightson & Platt, You Look Like a Million Dollars combines traditionally sculpted forms with elements that are cast from life to create what the company calls "astonishingly lifelike and innovative works of art." Drawing inspiration from the gold mask of Tutankhamun, the fabulous Fabergé eggs and the works of Gustav Klimt, sculptures are created in precious metals, bronze and glass. Surfaces are then embellished with precious gems and miniaturised objects used as tiny narrative devices. Each piece takes months to complete; commissions begin at about GBP 50,000, according to a report in Born Rich. Similar in many ways to Requiem for You, which we covered last year, You Look Like a Million Dollars sits high up in the ether where gravanity and uber-premium meet—a place where few mortals can afford to tread. Those who can, of course, can make it highly worthwhile for the entrepreneurs and artists that serve them. Recession... what recession? ;-) (Related: Cufflinked gravanity, for the shirt that has everything.) Website: www.youlooklikeamilliondollars.com Spotted by: Born Rich via Raymond Kollau |
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Loews Hotels—which operates hotels and resorts in 16 cities across North America—recently announced its 'Adopt-a-Farmer' initiative. The aim is to promote local farming while providing customers with food made from ingredients that are locally-sourced, organic and sustainable. For example, the Coronado Bay Resort in San Diego uses herbs and vegetables from its own garden, sourcing the rest of its ingredients from 12 local farming communities. The Miami Beach Hotel adds in local, farm-raised seafood. The company’s New York headquarters connected with the Old Chatham Sheepherding Company, procuring the only artesian sheep's milk made in the Hudson River Valley. Since many ingredients are seasonal, customers will have to wait until June for that strawberry tart, hopefully appreciating it all the more when it does arrive on the menu. Furthering the brand's still made here approach, Loews Coronado Bay Resort is introducing "Farmers, Foragers and Fishermen"—a seasonal series of dinners, each of which pairs the resort's chef with a local purveyor, who dines with the guests and tells them about his or her products and methods. Although many eco-minded independent businesses already operate similar programs, it’s more unusual to see an entire hospitality chain adopt local farming. Which goes to show: size doesn’t have to get in the way of sustainability. (Related: Vacations that give back — Restaurant to close and reopen every season.) Website: www.loewshotels.com Spotted by: Raymond Kollau
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Last fall we wrote about The Kitchen, which bills itself as a combination upscale takeaway and on-site cooking school. Suggesting that the concept could be catching on, a similar offering was recently launched by British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. Much like The Kitchen, Recipease is a retail store that offers consumers the opportunity to assemble ready-to-cook meals using ingredients that have been prepped ahead of time by on-site staff. Customers begin by booking a session online, and then choosing the recipe or recipes they'd like to make; the seasonal menu changes every two months. (Those interested in making pizza or curry, on the other hand, can drop in without an appointment.) When they arrive at the Recipease shop—the first is located in London's Clapham Junction in Battersea—they find all the ingredients they need, washed, chopped and prepared. All that's left for them to do is follow the step-by-step instructions for assembly—each recipe requires about 10 minutes on average, the site says, and trained chefs are available to help—and then bring their food home to cook and enjoy. Prices vary by the dish, but current entree selections begin at GBP 3.75 per serving. A variety of more elaborate cooking lessons are also available, as is the full range of dishes already assembled for easy takeaway. Traditional meal-prep services are all good and well, and we've covered several examples before. But adding a heaping helping of on-site instruction—with a side of boast-worthy status skills—transforms the concept beyond simply a convenience and into a pre-insperience experience, if you will. One to bring to a hungry market near you...? (Related: Family dinners, 24 at a time — Meal prep goes uptown — Ready-to-cook meals delivered to busy urbanites.) Website: www.jamieoliver.com/recipease |
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There's no doubt having a baby is a joyful experience, but most moms would likely agree that it would be a whole lot more joyful if one didn't have to start off so sore and tired. Aiming to transform the hospital stay into one of relaxation and rejuvenation, Go Home Gorgeous hopes to better equip new mothers for the sleepless times ahead. Minneapolis/St. Paul-based Go Home Gorgeous offers a variety of in-room spa services for new mothers designed to help them go home from the hospital feeling better than they did when they arrived. Available services include a "foot thanking" treatment for USD 45; scalp, neck and shoulder massage for USD 60; traditional body massage for USD 85; and a postnatal body therapy package for USD 139. Gentle massage, aromatherapy and soothing music are used to transform the hospital room into what the company calls a "Spa-Spital" room, where eucalyptus-infused steam towels, for example, decrease water retention, deepen breathing and increase circulation. After mom and baby are home, meanwhile, the company's in-home "Sleep Relief " offerings include night nanny, baby nurse and postpartum doula services—night nannies even arrive fully self-sufficient with their own cot, pillow, blanket, reading light and water bottle. Hourly rates vary from USD 20 to USD 35 per hour, with a USD 45 setup fee. Sleep massage packages, pregnancy massages and errand-running services are also available. Go Home Gorgeous donates 3 percent of its profits to organizations that help women in need. Currently serving just Minnesota, Go Home Gorgeous plans to bring its sanity-saving services to the moms of Chicago, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Boston later this year. One to get in on early...? (Related: For new moms, by a new mompreneur — Members' clubs for moms — Concierge service for busy moms.) Website: www.gohomegorgeous.com |
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We've already written about several retail spots around the globe that offer shelf space to minipreneurs, and recently we learned of a like-minded effort that gives budding entrepreneurs a short-term way to try out their concepts in a traditional retail setting. Last fall Urban Retail's Oakland Mall in Troy, Mich., began offering small startups and minipreneurs special leasing rates that make it easier for them to test the waters among shoppers at the mall without entering into a long-term contract. Specifically, 12 kiosks have been placed throughout the mall and can be leased for as little as USD 300 for a two-day weekend special. The flexible leasing terms are part of an ongoing program that aims to help entrepreneurs with seasonal offerings or who want to test out a new product or trend, according to Deborah Beattie, the mall's specialty leasing representative. "Our program will continue to offer the flexible terms to attract everyone from the local 'Mom & Pop' operations just starting out in business, to the national tenants who want to test-market a product or capture seasonal sales," she explains. Five of the mall's 72-foot kiosks—which include display cases, counters and shelves—had been leased by early February, according to a report in the Detroit News. The Oakland Mall clearly stands to benefit from such an effort by attracting new businesses and shoppers even as the economy struggles, but it's also a sort of silver lining for startups and minipreneurs. As the big boys struggle, conditions are beginning to favour the little guys—in some ways, it's never been a better time to be an entrepreneur! ;-) (Related: Retail space helps brands collaborate.) Website: www.oaklandmall.com Spotted by: Judy McRae |
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No medicine can do its job if it's not taken on the right schedule, yet only about half of people with chronic diseases adhere faithfully to their dosing regimen, according to the World Health Organization. Aimed at improving that statistic, GlowCaps are a line of electronic pill caps that use multiple means to ensure patients take their medicine when they should. GlowCaps, which are from Cambridge, Mass.-based Vitality, fit on standard 20 dram medication vials and feature a small computer that illuminates the pill cap and plays a melody at medication time. To set up the basic GlowCap Solo, now available through Amazon for USD 29.95, users simply insert the included watch batteries at their daily dose time (the GlowCap Solo is designed just for once-a-day medications). Then, every day thereafter at that time, the GlowCap flashes a visual reminder to attract the user's attention. If the bottle is not opened within an hour, the device periodically plays a short melody for another hour after that. What's even more interesting, however, is the next version of the line—still forthcoming—dubbed GlowCaps Connect. Designed specifically for managing chronic diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes and depression, where daily medications are critical, GlowCaps Connect goes beyond just using light and sound to include internet connectivity as well for a range of new reminder mechanisms. A reminder schedule can be set up for more than one dose or medication per day, and when patients forget to take one—after the reminder melody has been played—the caps can be set to trigger a phone call to remind them. GlowCaps Connect can also be programmed to send weekly updates to a friend, family member or caregiver, and each month the service sends a report to the patient's doctor, thereby increasing accountability and rewarding good performance with coupons and incentives. Finally, GlowCaps Connect will also coordinate with the patient's pharmacy for automatic prescription refills. No word yet on when GlowCaps Connect will be released. Not coincidentally, Vitality is led by David Rose, who was formerly founder and CEO at Ambient Devices, the maker of internet-embedded products we mentioned in a story last year about home energy monitors. It's all about bridging the gap between the physical and digital worlds—which just so happens to be the topic of our sister site's OFF=ON briefing. Read up, plug in, and start forging some connections! (Related: Mir:ror gives physical objects digital meaning — Home security with an energy-monitoring twist.) Website: www.rxvitality.com Spotted by: Jochem Donkers |
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As if phones didn't already do enough, one of the latest mobile apps transforms iPhones and iPod Touches into portable charge card terminals. ProcessAway plugs into Authorize.net's payment processing platform, allowing entrepreneurs to accept credit card payments anywhere they can access the internet. After downloading the app and (separately) setting up a merchant account with Authorize.net, clients can use ProcessAway like a traditional charge card terminal: enter the amount, input the card number, expiry date and verification code, and process. There's even a tip option for service businesses. Customers receive an email receipt for each transaction, and merchants can view transactions and process refunds on the fly. Aware that consumers might be weary of having their credit card details punched into a phone, ProcessAway stresses that's a secure application: information is never stored in the phone and the program won't connect to anything other than the terminal. If it can gain trust and acceptance, ProcessAway could be particularly useful for those who need to process and authorise payments on-the-go, like on-site consultants or handymen. It's also useful at venues that don't have fixed terminals: antique shows, market stalls and music merchandise stands. ProcessAway is available from Apple's App Store for USD 19.99, and Authorize.net collects its usual transaction fees. ProcessAway isn't the only one playing this field: Innerfence released its slightly more basic Credit Card Terminal app late last year. Although both programs are currently only available in the US, they could be a valuable tool for minipreneurs in other parts of the world. Website: www.processaway.net Spotted by: Susanna Haynie |
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