Should Amazon be selling private label products? No. Why not? While Amazon is an online retailer, I'll argue that the perception of their business and the relationship that the consumer has vs. a bricks-and-mortar retailer differs greatly. The tangible nature of a supermarket, electronics, or clothing chain supports the believability and value created by private label. While Amazon is a retailer, it is in fact a virtual one that has the perception and strength of being a neutral third party bringing the best choices in consumer products to their customer base. Supporting their own brand conflicts with this idea plain and simple.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Mobile growth to be fueled by new social UI...
If technology in development by the likes of Google (Android) and some of the top handset makers(Nokia, Motorola, LG) is any indication, social is about to get a lot more integrated into mobile. Forget that iPhone Facebook app, I'm talking about full integration of social as if the device were built to serve all of your streams and all apps/networks were able to talk to one another. As the lines between communication tools blur and we look to aggregation networks to help us distribute and collect all of our communications, these devices and their software are bound for yet another major milestone. While the iPhone and all of it's apps are a major step forward, the device itself - like many others, evolved from the phone with voice as the focal point. Fact is - we all talk less - type more. What if devices (both hardware and software) were designed for and by our new communication tools and networks of choice leaving the remnants of Ma Bell behind us? Another revolution may be afoot and you can bet it will be an open platform which may level the playing fied between Apple and everyone else.
Take a look at the following for current developments in the marketplace:
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Burning Man, Chaos Theory and the future of Digital Media...
Having returned from Burning Man about 2 weeks ago, I was struck by how much it taught me about the future of our fast evolving digital media industry. Chaos Theory came to mind. The enactment of seemingly random acts interconnecting to form a cohesive whole or interrelated structure. Overall a terrific reflection on the discourse surrounding media fragmentation over the last 10 years and how media leadership has struggled to catch up. (Media giants continue to align in their struggle to understand and contain the beast). So, what's this all mean? Confirmation of course that this will only get 'worse' or 'better' depending on your 'glass half full/half empty' POV. I go for the latter, but a stark reminder at how no-one-industry will ever be able to 'plan' or 'track' all media vehicles every again.
So how is this related to Burning Man and my experience there? For one, the event is a random gathering of folks from around the world with few rules, generous amounts of energy and creativity that are constantly rewarded by random acts of kindness. Sound familiar? As chaotic as it all seems, it all works - all the while continuously creating customized experiences for us in order to form deeper emotional connections as we continue to move away from the vanilla flavors we were forced to consume before. Keep in mind that as primitive and bohemian as this festival is, most participants are superbly socially and technologically connected. Not at the event of course (this is how we escape from it all), but off of the playa - this group are the thought leaders and pool of influencers that are in fact inventing much of the new media being developed today.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Credit card, solar powered parking meters!
Maybe I'm behind the times but why we don't have these in NY is beyond me. Maybe because the city is broke and they prefer to give out parking tickets?
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Saved by Ben & Jerry's at US Open
Saved by Ben & Jerry's (client) during a long wait between mens semi- finals at US Open!
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