Artists and entrepreneurs are foregoing traditional advertising and PR in favor of shelf rentals in established retail stores, mini-boutiques and warehouse type buildings with independent stalls. In New York, young designers are lining up for a space in EMERGE*nyc. Available on a month to month basis, the spaces, sized from 50 to 150 square ft, go for USD 1,400 to USD 2,500 a month. With such high demand for a space in this part of downtown New York, owners of EMERGE*nyc carefully select designers that fit the profile and aesthetic of the entire space. Springwise gives a more detailed report on this growing trend.
In these times of bombast and braggadocio, where everyone feels entitled to his/her fifteen minutes in the spotlight, it is now obvious that the art of listening has been leeched from the American character.
In the media, TV pundits, of the O'Reilly and Hannity type engage in the homicidal pastime of death-by-decibel. Any gaggle of politicians gathered together soon results in oxygen starvation for those unfortunate enough to be assembled in the same room. This drive to be heard, to foist one's opinion upon the other, is nothing more than the equivalent of barging in line, of breaking into the queue. The behavior is probably symptomatic of a need to be heard and acknowledged, perhaps even loved. Explanations are best left to the sociologists.
For the business practitioner, the failure to listen ultimately results in business loss or failure. It's one of the primary reasons why, in a nation where the practice of business generally provides the "best practices" for the rest of the world, the consumer is still exposed to inferior customer service, and brand fatality is not uncommon.
The "hows" of listening
The rules of good listening are based on a platform of courtesy, good manners and common sense. It doesn't require the experience and training of a business ethicist or management guru to appreciate the need and value of the "do unto others" philosophy that drives good listening behavior. Read More
Doom sayer predictions for this year's Black Friday had Joe Consumer in-debt, over-spent and un-willing to pull out his wallet for the annual after Thanksgiving shopping work out. Preliminary numbers are proving our skeptic financial friends to be wrong. Depending on what you're reading, retail sales look to be down 1 percent from last year. The bigger picture is unfolding in the world of online consumerism, with initial reports showing a 28 percent increase in online buying over the same time period last year. Solid sales figures for the weekend after Thanksgiving have traditionally predicted strong holiday sales through the New Year, but much is yet to unfold, and retailers are pursuing agressive price cutting strategies to get our attention.
A Russian mother-daughter team is suing the Viacom subsidiary for "emotional distress" allegedly caused by a case of miscommunication on the popular reality show Date My Mom. Apparently, a mishap in translation has a mother speaking about her daughter's ass instead of her heart. Much more than a cultural competency issue, if accurate, the issue of translation can be applied to many entertainment mediums where the dollar far out weighs a call for objectivity or clear communication. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/gossip/story/355652p-303074c.html
Clean out your closets, sell your "stuff" on eBay, and donate the proceeds to The American Cancer Society--everybody wins.
In addition to, "one man's junk being another man's treasure", your junk can now actually help fund cancer research. MissionFish, a nonprofit organization specializing in online charitable auctions developed Giving Works for eBay. Giving Works items are marked with a charity ribbon icon so buyers know they are supporting a good cause. Giving Works items appear in three categories for the price of one: the category you select, the eBay Giving Works category and on the American Cancer Society MissionFish homepage.
You can donate from 10 to 100 percent of the final sale to support the American Cancer Society’s programs of research, education, advocacy, and service. This service is FREE and is a simple way to make a contribution. Your gifts may be considered tax-deductible in accordance with IRS rules.
Marketing expert, Steve Arbeit, has written an excellent opinion piece on the death of brands or as he terms it, "Brandicide". My recent disheartening experiences with once great consumer names such as General Motors, McDonald's, Macy's, any of the major domestic airlines or "three color" car rental companies would confirm his observations. Read Steve's full article in the current edition of The Alf Report