|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
||
|
Vending machines are already being used to sell shoes, prescription drugs and bicycle parts, and now we can add bathing suits to that list. Thanks to a new initiative from clothing company Quiksilver and hotelier André Balazs, guests at The Standard Hotels will soon be able to shop for swimwear while they're already at the pool. A specially designed, co-branded line of men's boardshorts and one women's bikini will soon be available not just online and in The Standard Hotels' gift shops but also in what just may be the world's first bathing suit vending machines, located poolside at the hotel's New York, Los Angeles, Hollywood and Miami locations. The first such vending machine will open in Los Angeles on August 8, according to a Luxist post. The Standard/Quiksilver women's black bikini is priced at USD 84; mens' boardshorts—available in four styles, each corresponding to one of the hotel's four locations—are USD 75 and come with a waterproof travel bag. Each pair of boardshorts also includes "a carefully curated list of addresses corresponding to unique groups of destinations near each of the 4 hotels," as the company puts it, "curated and scribbled out by legendary skateboarder and Quiksilver Creative Director Natas Kaupas." The theme for the Miami style suit is "Comida is Cuban"; for the LA pair, it's "Art is Undercover"; for the Hollywood suit it's "Music Musts"; and for the New York style, it's "Summer in the City." Next, we wouldn't be surprised to see hoteliers teaming up with Solar Energy Vending to give such poolside machines the added eco-allure of being off the grid. After all, where there are pools, there tends to be sun; serve up bathing suits and drinks from a solar-powered machine, and your own place in the sun will be all but assured! ;-) Website: www.shopthestandard.com |
|||
|
|||
|
|
||
|
Tokyo candlemakers Filt don't have to travel far to source their raw materials: they're located directly above Chubby, a cafe that's happy to hand over its used cooking oil to Filt, which carefully filters the oil to remove odors and sediment. After adding pigments and a vanilla scent, the filtered oil is poured into glass jars that the company collects from local recycling bins. The candles come in various sizes and—despite their humble origins—sell for artisanal prices of JPY 2,000–3,600 (USD 20–36) at local boutiques and at Chubby, which also uses the candles on its own tables. Bringing their recycling efforts full circle, Filt asks customers to keep their empty jars for storage, or to return them so that they can be made into new candles (no word on whether that entitles customers to a discount on their next purchase). As can be expected from savvy brand-builders, Filt offers a premium range of candles, too. Besides the basic jam jars, the company also sells candles in 'hard to find' antique glassware. Besides its eco appeal and extreme (still) made here approach—which is a great story to share—it's the branding that makes Filt stand out, giving those disparate, found items a uniform look and smell, and turning a craft project into a marketable product. Those of you with marketing smarts and time to spare: if you live near a restaurant and aren't afraid to get your hands dirty, this is a concept you could start tomorrow. (Related: Leather jackets remade into designer bags — Powering restaurants with kitchen grease — Mass-made to order, here.) Website: www.filt-made.com Spotted by: C-Scout Japan |
|||
|
|||
|
|
||
|
If billboards can be used to give out free samples of scarves, caps and gloves, why not a little sympvertising in the form of a branded dinghy? Which is just what Indian mobile provider Aircel recently did in Mumbai in the days leading up to this year's monsoons. Aircel's billboard, erected by outdoor agency Primesite near Mumbai's Milan Subway, bore a large, inflated dinghy along with the line, "In case of emergency, cut rope." And on July 15, such an emergency did indeed arise when monsoon floods made the Milan Subway virtually impassable. The rope was cut on Aircel's billboard, the boat was released, and stranded pedestrians were ferried to safety. The result? Near constant local media attention for Aircel, even including the headline, "Aircel did what [government agency] BMC did not." Reportedly, Aircel now plans to implement something similar in Delhi and Kolkata as well, according to afaqs. Beyond generating free publicity, of course—glowing as it was—Aircel's effort is also a prime example of the corporate generosity that's increasingly being expected by today's consumers—referred to by our sister site as Generation G. Whether it's helping wildfire victims find a bed for the night or generating support so financially strapped families can keep their homes, there are countless ways companies can show that they care. Help consumers, and you help yourself! ;-) Website: www.aircel.com/Mumbai_sails_through_aircel/ |
|||
|
|||
|
|
||
|
With all the pressures placed upon forests for the natural resources they contain, it was only a matter of time before someone used a crowdfunding model to protect and sustain them. Sure enough, at Wisconsin's Driftless Farm, members pay an annual contribution in exchange for the right to enjoy many of the experiences and products the forest has to offer. For an annual membership fee of USD 550, members of Driftless Farm's Community Supported Forest get access to the abundance of a 140-acre sustainable forest along with activities, services and workshops. Fresh spring water, herbs and the opportunity to hike, explore and scavenge firewood are all among the benefits to which members have unlimited access, while selective access is provided to sustainably milled lumber, wild mushrooms, garden plots, camping, hunting and delivery of both spring water and firewood. Workshops for members, meanwhile, include beer brewing using sustainably grown hops and barley, beekeeping, maple syrup tapping and the art of finding wild edibles. Launched a few months ago by Whole Trees Architecture and Construction—which uses small-diameter, un-milled timbers as a local, green structural building alternative—the Community Supported Forest had filled four of its 20 available membership spots by mid-July, according to a report in Worldchanging. We'd bet more will surely follow, given the concept's winning combination of status story-inspiring experiences along with eco credentials and (still) made here appeal. Just as the subscription model is being used to support local organic farms, a like-minded crowdfunding concept could just be what it takes to keep local forests thriving. One to emulate in wooded areas around the world! (Related: Trees felled to order — More homegrown veggies without the sweat.) Website: www.wholetreesarchitecture.com/CommunitySupportedForestry.html |
|||
|
|||
|
|
||
|
On a munchie mission? The Warm Cookie Radar at Specialty's Cafe & Bakery tells customers exactly where the nearest batch of just-baked cookies is. While supplying office workers with handmade sandwiches, pastries and baked goods since 1988, the Bay Area chain is mainly known for its cookies. The Warm Cookie Radar uses Google Maps to show customers where cookies have recently been baked. Customers can click on a location marker to find out when particular batches rolled out of the oven, or can use the 'find warmest cookie' to go straight to the freshest batch. Real cookie monsters can sign up to receive email alerts. Like twittering taco trucks and Albion's Baker Tweet, the Warm Cookie Radar is an online version of Krispy Kreme's familiar 'Hot Now' signs. Which, when it comes down to it, is just a more enticing way of saying 'Buy now!' For small businesses, it's a relatively simple marketing tool that could help boost revenues. One to try out! Website: www.specialtysdirect.com Spotted by: Brent Cohler |
|||
|
|||
|
|
||
|
Consumers spend some USD 65 billion on gift cards each year in the United States alone, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report; extrapolated globally, that adds up to a lot of plastic. While some retailers have begun recycling the PVC-based cards after they're used, the fact remains that most still end up in landfills. Enter the ecocard, a new line of eco-friendly alternatives. Suitable also for use as hotel key cards, ecocard's range includes four different cards with increasing levels of "greenness." First is the PETg card, made from non-PVC, food-grade plastic that can be widely recycled. Next on the green scale comes a recycled PVC card that's made from old, traditional gift cards along with waste from factories; flecks of colour give away its mixed heritage. Even more green is the Ingeo ecocard, made from a plant-based material that disappears when composted. (Retailers including L.L Bean, Apple iTunes, REI, Target and Toys “R” US are reportedly among the companies that have already begun offering cards made from Ingeo.) Finally, ecocard's flagship Bloomcard—the greenest on its eco-scale—is made from recycled paper and laden with wildflower seeds, so that it can be planted after use and "reborn as poppies, daisies and buttercups." The UK-based company also offers sustainable badge holders and card packaging. And for every order, it pledges to plant one tree. Perhaps just as important as the material underlying each ecocard is the fact that its composition and origins are proudly proclaimed on the back of the card, making the line not only eco-minded but also eco-iconic, as our sister site would say. Retailers, hoteliers, credit companies and all others using plastic cards: this one's for you! ;-) (Related: Service pays cash for unwanted gift cards.) Website: www.eco-card.co.uk |
|||
|
|||
|
|
||
|
Companies in need of graphic design can already crowdsource that work on sites including SitePoint, crowdSPRING and Inkd. Now customAdArt is bringing similar capabilities to the buying and selling of photographed images. Typically, advertisers in need of photos must browse through reams of them on stock photography sites, which may or may not have anything close to what they were hoping to find. Now in beta, customAdArt aims to turn that model on its head by allowing advertisers to post requests for specific shots and then have member photographers shoot and submit their best efforts to satisfy them. Advertisers begin by posting a job on the site, including a description of what they're looking for, a price (the minimum is USD 100), and a deadline; listing the job costs USD 50. For two weeks—or until a winner is selected—photographers can submit their best entries for the advertiser's consideration. When clients find a photo they like—they can provide feedback first, if necessary—they pay the artist directly. In return, they gain full rights to the purchased image. customAdArt has the potential to save advertisers the time and money they would have spent trying to find the perfect image; photographers, meanwhile, are spared the necessity of "blindly shooting and hoping that someone might be interested in their particular image," as the site puts it. Will crowdsourcing be as controversial in commercial photography as it has been in graphic design? Only time will tell. In the meantime, one to watch! Website: www.customadart.com Spotted by: Rob Gregory |
|||
|
|||
|
|
||
|
There are more than 75 million hourly workers in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and it's a safe bet that most of them need to juggle their shift schedules at least once in a while. Aiming to make that process easier, HaveMyShift offers a central place for workers and managers to post and find shifts that need to be filled. Operating under the slogan, "Work Flexibly; Live Happily," Chicago-based HaveMyShift was founded by a duo including a Starbucks barista seeking an easier way to manage his schedule. Workers and managers can both post shifts they need to fill, and Facebook-integrated HaveMyShift will send an email to other registered users in the same area, as determined by ZIP code and Google Maps. (Users can select how often they want to receive such emails, including options for once-a-day summaries or for notifications every time a new shift in their area gets posted.) Employees seeking extra shifts can also browse for opportunities on the site. Basic use of HaveMyShift is free; paid features include an "emergency shift" posting, which costs USD 5 for extra prominent placement and the inclusion of a personal note explaining why the poster urgently needs to get the shift covered. On an interesting side note, HaveMyShift apparently tapped crowdSPRING—a name already familiar to regular Springwise readers—for a graphic redesign, which hasn't yet been implemented. There are currently more than 4,000 employees registered on HaveMyShift, which has facilitated the exchange of more 21,000 shift hours to date, its founders say. One to bring to hourly employees in the rest of the hard-working world...? Website: www.havemyshift.com
|
|||
|
|||
|
|
||
|
A while back, we spotted Bizzyboard, which helps families keep track of what parents and kids are doing each week by means of a giant whiteboard. New to the calendar game is YearMadeForMe, enabling customers to create a personalized wall planner. Customers use YearMadeForMe’s simple website to select a title, colour and start date for their calendar. Special events, like birthdays or exam dates, can be added, and users can then preview the planner before they order. The customized chart displays a year in advance in 39x19 inch format, providing a helicopter view of twelve months. Each planner is USD 27 and ships in three days by standard US post. A simple product made interesting through personalization, YearMadeForMe could easily target niche (gift) audiences, such as first-year university students in need of motivation, families expecting a new member nine months down the road, or athletes preparing for a year of competitive sports. Website: www.yearmadeforme.com Spotted by: Jonathan |
|||
|
|||
|
|
||
|
New York's water-toting crowd has a convenient new way to be sustainable while staying hydrated, as a tap water refilling service officially launches in the city. TapIt is a community program that enables people to refill their water bottles at participating cafés, completely free of charge. TapIt aims to help people stay healthy and hydrated without relying on single-use plastic bottles. Any restaurant or café with a soda dispenser or tap that gives clean drinking water can sign up as a partner. Thirsty consumers can find taps online or via TapIt's iPhone app, and are provided with information on the type of water that's available, telling discerning customers whether the water's filtered or non-filtered, room temperature or chilled. TapIt is better for the environment, better for people's wallets, and helps businesses connect with new customers at almost zero cost. The initiative is currently only up and running in New York, where it now has over 100 locations after a year of soft-launching. But it intends to extend its bottle-less initiative further afield. In the meantime, there's no reason why councils or community organisations can't get inspired and help TapIt launch in their own town. Website: www.tapitwater.com Spotted by: Jonas Cords |
|||
|
|||
|
|
||
|
When we wrote about pingg a little over a year ago, we noted that it was aiming to provide the upper echelon of online invitations, with an ad-free approach and premium design capabilities. Proving once again that there's rarely a limit to such upgrade possibilities, Paperless Post has ratcheted up the category even more with a custom invitation service that aims to emulate the beauty and thoughtfulness of traditional cardstock. Now in beta, Paperless Post allows members to design, deliver and manage custom online invitations that strive to capture the care and formality of old-fashioned mailings from days gone by. Six categories of card styles are available for users to choose from, including both modern and classic options for formal, casual and holiday events. From there, members select a paper design—the site's e-papers closely mimic the texture and weight of real paper—a motif and the wording style. Invitations are delivered in personalized envelopes to guests' inboxes, where a simple click causes them to open. Ad-free Paperless Post allows members to monitor the invitations they send and track replies, as well as follow up with guests and manage events, both personal and ticketed. Past invitations—both sent and received—can even be archived in the manner of a virtual scrapbook. Pricing begins at USD 5 for "stamps" to send 60 invitations, and Paperless Post charges a commission on all ticketed events: 2.5 percent on tickets to for-profit events, or 2 percent on those for charity. Based in New York, Paperless Post has already handled 60,000 invitations since the beginning of this year, according to a report in the New York Times, and 150,000 since its launch last fall. Besides providing an interesting twist in the crowded online invitation market, it also gives us another welcome opportunity to repeat our very favourite refrain: everything can be upgraded! ;-) Website: www.paperlesspost.com |
|||
|
|||
|
|
||
|
Much the way consumers can solicit feedback on their own appearance through checkyourimage.com, marketers can now get early thoughts on new designs and concepts through a community of peers at Concept Feedback. Currently in beta, Concept Feedback is designed specifically for marketers, graphic designers and web developers to provide a simple tool for getting free, sincere feedback from like-minded professionals. Website designs, ads, logos, videos, presentations and more can all be uploaded to the site and submitted for review by other members; the person posting the material keeps all rights. Using a standard review template for consistency, professionals participating on the site can then offer their constructive advice, which gets automatically collected and archived for the submitting member. A system of reputation scores, meanwhile, keeps members honest and helps interpret their advice. The result, according to Concept Feedback, can be that any design problems are caught earlier, ensuring that only high-quality ideas make it into launch. Andrew Follett, the company's founder and CEO, explains: "Most small business marketers and freelancers lack the budget and resources it requires to obtain useful feedback on marketing concepts. A third-party point of view can be critical to launching a website, advertising campaign or concept that is clear, concise and effective." Two heads are better than one, as the saying goes, and in June Concept Feedback was already approaching 500 users. There's no doubt other professions could benefit from something similar--how about applying this to the industry of your choice? (Related: 'Open-mic nights' for business ideas — Professional feedback, instant and peer-to-peer.) Website: www.conceptfeedback.com |
|||
|
|||
|
|
||
|
When heading out to their local watering hole for a drink, some customers prefer to serve themselves. We've highlighted Amsterdam's Minibar and the table-top taps of Pilsen's Unique Bars. Offering a self-service system that can be retrofitted anywhere is the TableTender by TableTap. The TableTender system, available in Britain and the United States, is designed and built for each specific venue. There's a tap (or several) located at each table, which allows patrons to pour at their leisure—to a point. The system is designed to comply with drinking regulations, shutting off after dispensing around 11 pints of beer and only resuming once a waiter has checked the table. The amount dispensed is displayed on a meter at the table, as well as recorded on the proprietor’s database to monitor sales and consumption by hour, day, month and table. Like installation, pricing is bespoke, but for a ballpark figure: the first bar to install the system paid USD 110,000, excluding a monthly fee for maintenance and software licensing. While the upfront costs may be steep, ease of drinks purchase combined with lower costs for wait staff could make for a profitable addition to bars seeking to stand out from the competition. Website: www.tabletap.co.uk — www.thetabletap.com |
|||
|
|||
|
|
||
|
Remember the old proverb 'none of us is as smart as all of us'? It's something a small group of companies took to heart earlier this year, setting up GreenXchange for sharing of intellectual property for green product design. The initiative is hosted by Creative Commons, with Nike and Best Buy leading the way. With GreenXchange, companies can not only share research, innovation and design amongst themselves, but can also make patents available to the public. Each contributor to the exchange commits to a non-assertion pledge, which allows the patent to be used in other research for green product design. GreenXchange recognises that green innovations can be shared across a variety of industries, often with a different purpose, and will not necessarily pose a threat in terms of competition. If a company is concerned about sharing product design with competitors, they can opt to designate selected patents to be made available for sustainability uses. GreenXchange also aspires to use technologies that support networking and knowledge sharing to promote open innovation in the 'digital commons'. If it works, the concept could greatly accelerate the development of green innovation, helping some of the world's best brands work together toward the same goal, and start to think differently in terms of how they share ideas. (Related: Online library of green building materials.) Contact: science@creativecommons.org Spotted by: Jenny Lau |
|||
|
|||
|
| |||
 |
|||
|
|
|
|
