Rationalizing $500 Bottles of Wine & EDLP

I kind of think this won't work. But time will tell, I suppose.

Wal-Mart Goes Upscale

Perfect is the Enemy of Very Good

An inspiring message from IDEO's Diego Rodriguez. Essentially, don't get too caught up in trying to figure everything out perfectly, instead just get in there and try some stuff.

metacool Thought of the Day

The 3rd Place

Starbucks extends its experience to an exhibition spanning music, literature and art. To be honest, I'm in favor of anything that combines Jonathan Lethem and DMC.

Starbucks Salon

And This Doesn't Even Count the Inevitable Ricky Bobby Sequel

Study: Product Placement to Surge 25% in '06

We Come Not to Bury ...

but to praise the mighty FSCI. Looks like it won't be leaving us anytime soon.

Clip and Save Holds Its Own Against Point and Click

First in a Series

Some packaging is on brief and meets objectives. Some packaging drives purchase. And some packaging is just cool. This is that: Izze. Tab Energy. Clearly Canadian.

Now It Can Be Revealed

Turns out men buy stuff. All different kinds of stuff. Who knew?

Anyway, BW gets to the bottom of this startling trend with an exposé that dares to suggest most men might actually fall somewhere on the spectrum between Gucci-wearing metrosexual and beer-bonging Neanderthall.

Secrets Of The Male Shopper

A Look — Literally — Inside Fahrenheit 212°

Creating a Work Space That Promotes a Brand
Registration Required

¡Vamos Pong!

In honor of the US Open beginning Monday, we bring you Roddick v. Pong. Did the Pong take Andy's mojo?

Finally, a School that Embraces Failure

It's more than a little interesting to see how design education is gaining prominence globally. Not only will this produce a slew of young, smart designers eager to create and innovate. Eventually it will also lead to more business leaders who will really understand the power of great design.

The Dyson School: Feel Free to Fail

While we're at it. Check out Stanford's d.school, because Tomorrow's B-School? It Might Be A D-School

Escape Greatly

Something about this H3 ad makes me want to watch AMC for about 5 hours. And the music just puts a pep in your step. I'm going to rig it so this music follows me around the office.

A Taste of Gourmet ... Every Day

Tempting the Traditional Coffee Drinker to Move Up

Staying Cool is Difficult Work

That major companies are 'outsourcing' their cool is presented as a revelation. Personally, I was more surprised that things didn't work out between LC and Jason. Who could have seen that coming?

A Craving for Cool

Summer Reading

Never too late to add to your summer reading list ... stock up for Labor Day weekend. Four suggestions here from Fast Company.

And two more of my own:
- The Paradox of Choice
- The Six Fundamentals of Success

Creating Competitive Advantages ... Again and again and again

BusinessWeek presents its Competition Issue. Most valuable is this article on how smart companies are able to create advantage over and over. Useful for case studies as well.

How to Hit a Moving Target

Coke Now Mandatory at all Client Meetings

So what would Grand Theft Auto look like if it was more Coke Side of Life rather than Crack Side of Life? See below.

bit problematic

John Kenney, who developed the original "beyond petroleum" campaign for BP, discusses the disappointment when one realizes the client cannot (or will not) live up to the brand promise. In a related note: Cognitive dissonance is a psychological phenomenon which refers to the discomfort felt at a discrepancy between what you already know or believe, and new information or interpretation.

Beyond Propaganda
Registration required. (Thanks for the link, Sue)

Like Pringle Prints, Only a Lot Cooler

One would think selling eggs was a pretty mature industry. But Lion Quality has found a way to innovate.

Hi-tech ink perfects egg boiling
(thanks for the link, Ximena)

No M&Ms for You

NY Times (registration required) look at some ethnography and participatory consumer research learning. Including Design Continuum and Moen.

Get Out of That Rut and Into the Shower

More than just long Frapp lines?

For the record, the Fresh Market paninis are worth every penny.

The Rising Cost of Living Well

Learning from W+K

Interesting insights from an account planner at W+K (apparently he is pretty famous ... as account planners go). I'm particularly struck by the idea behind #1.

Regarding your feedback, I have some feedback

The other day a colleague and I were discussing the nature of feedback. If you ask, everyone will give you some ... Usually a lot (lest one not be adding significant 'value'). And typically the asker is left to wade through a lot of useless comments just to pick out the couple of helpful ones. Well, reading this on How to Give Feedback could help us all out.

You Can Sleep When You Are Dead

A detailed run-down from AdWeek of some major brands moving $$ from :30 TV ads. Including the beloved Folgers and its Tolerate Mornings viral. If you haven't yet seen ... you have to click below. The Butterfly Guy is my personal favorite.

Ketchup of the People

Great promotion from Heinz capitalizing on the customization trend. Send one to your favorite PS worker saying: "It Can Be Done! ... TDC be Danmed"

We Roll Big (Ahem)

This thing has already gotten a lot of play other places. But it's a must-watch (even if it's through the fingers that desperately want to cover your eyes).

Dudes with untucked dress shirts? Check. Evidence of Living The Brand? Check. "Creative" brainstorming and good natured joking? Check. It's something to behold. Wow.

Innovation Overload

No less than Nathan has decreed: "Innovation" is the new "brand" is the New Black.

Top 100 Brands

From Interbrand and Business Week

It's probably the logo

I once thought 5 blades was was overkill too. So after two Super Bowl commercials, about a million print ads, and one FMOT love-fest at P&G training, I finally gave in this week. And the truth is ... it's AWESOME! It rips across my face like a jetski over a placid lake. Pure joy.

For / Against. 08.04.04

For: Fresh Market paninis. BB All-Stars. Neiman on Football. Neutrogena Shave Creme. Tina Fey, sitcom star.

Against: Girls wearing jackets when it's 96 degrees. My Fair Brady. People who walk into the elevator without giving you the chance to exit first. Nancy Grace.