Amanda Ghassaei developed a more accessable way of fabricating records with a laser cutter, permitting to cut audio on wood, acrylic, and paper.
Video:
Louis Vuitton Soho In-Store Atelier
Louis Vuitton opens the first in-store atelier in North America in its Soho location. The space adjoining the store’s unique travel room will become home to a workshop entirely dedicated to craftsmanship. Each day Soho guests can experience the House’s renowned savoir-faire first hand. One of Louis Vuitton’s specialized artisans will be personalizing the House’s iconic trunks with hand painting, and leathergoods with hot stamping in addition to performing repairs highlighting the expert techniques and exceptional materials employed at Louis Vuitton’s European ateliers.
http://www.ilvoelv.com/2013/06/louis-vuitton-soho-in-store-atelier.html
APP MAKES FRIENDS’ PURCHASE ADVICE A SIMPLE CHOICE
The A/B app by David Chu was developed for Target’s Retail App Accelerator program and lets your friends input their opinions on your purchases.
We’ve all had a shopping crisis: should I buy the Mr. Coffee coffee maker or the Cuisinart one? Should I get this red dress or that pink one? And it seems impossible to personally ask every single friend and then utilize all of their feedback to make an informed decision. But the A/B app makes it easy to connect with your friends and aggregate a good deal of shopping advice.
http://www.psfk.com/2013/06/ab-app-social-shopping-feedback.html
GUCCI Chime for Change
“There is a marketing goal ultimately,” said Patrizio di Marco, president/CEO of Gucci. “Definitely the long-term goal, given our continuous and consistent commitment to responsibly, will enhance the brand reputation and, as such, the brand will have more meaning of craftsmanship.
“That’s for the long term, but right now we are doing what we are doing because it’s the right thing to do.”
Kering-owned Gucci’s CEO shared the brand’s philanthropic strategy that includes environmental, cultural and human rights initiatives.
Gucci is taking a stance on women’s right to education, health and justice by establishing the new campaign with creative director Frida Giannini, actress Salma Hayek Pinault and singer-songwriter Beyoncé Knowles-Carter at the helm.
Read more: http://www.luxurydaily.com/gucci-ceo-philanthropy-gives-meaning-to-luxury-products/
Rapid Growth From New Flavor Extensions
Fusions and dessert-inspired flavor profiles are two key trends continuing to make noise in the flavored beverage/spirit world.
Since kicking its innovation efforts into high gear in recent years, Pernod Ricard’s Malibu rum has recorded strong U.S. growth, rising by 7.2% last year to reach 1.87 million cases.The brand has been bolstered in part by the success of its Malibu Black and Malibu Red extensions, rolled out in 2011 and 2012, respectively. In their relatively brief time on the market, both offerings have surpassed the 100,000-case mark, according to Malibu brand director Lisa McCann. “Younger consumers are looking for something new and unique….”
NYTimes.com: Weaned on CDs, They’re Reaching for Vinyl
Vinyl is growing out of its niche.
There were always record collectors who disdained the compact disc, arguing that an LP’s grooves yielded warmth and depth that the CD’s digital code could not match.
But the market largely ignored them. Record labels shuttered their LP pressing plants, except for a few that pressed mostly dance music, since vinyl remained the medium of choice for D. J.s.
As it turned out, that early resistance was not futile, thanks largely to an audience of record collectors, many born after CDs were introduced in the 1980s.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/10/arts/music/vinyl-records-are-making-a-comeback.html?hp&_r=0
MEMES WITH MEANING: WHY WE CREATE AND SHARE CAT VIDEOS AND WHY IT MATTERS TO PEOPLE AND BRANDS
Google’s Abigail Posner explains why those screaming goat videos aren’t just a mindless distraction; they reflect a real human need to elevate the everyday, make connections, and exchange energy. Here, she outlines how brands can participate meaningfully….
Nestlé Adds Premium Brand in Still Water Arena
DRINKING tap water is essentially free, but even during the economic downturn, consumers have sprung for bottled water, with sales in the United States increasing 6.7 percent in 2012, to $11.8 billion, according to the International Bottled Water Association. Americans on average drank 30.8 gallons of bottled water, 5.3 percent more than in 2011.
Now Nestlé Waters North America, the top producer with about a third of the domestic bottled water market, hopes to make a splash with a new brand it is introducing nationally, Resource….
Make the Psychological Connection
Why are Apple and Nike such beloved brands in the eyes of the masses? Researchers prove that consumers need more than functional benefits and explain the ways to make your buyers fall in love.
http://www.fastcocreate.com/1683024/researchers-explain-how-brands-make-you-fall-in-love
If You Are Addicted to Candy and Facebook, You Are Not Alone…
It all starts with a level you can beat within seconds. You slide three of the same color candy together and they burst. As those disappear you move on to find four more matches. It seems trivial, even boring or banal at first, but if you’re not sucked in you’re an anomaly.
Why Scrolling Is Now Our New Friend
Why parallax scrolling is the next “it” thing in website design:
http://www.aweber.com/blog/email-marketing/scrolling-longer-emails-better.htm
Samsung’s new technology puts more heat on Apple
Samsung has combined the gesture-capture breakthrough of Nintendo’s Wii with the new voice-recognition search technologies used by both Apple and Google in the latest versions of software for tablets and smartphones.
The eye-popping combination creates a powerful home media experience, with many options accessed easily.
Domino’s Uses a Drone to Deliver a Pizza
How would you like to have your pizza delivered by a drone? The idea is far from impossible, as proven by Domino’s UK franchise, which posted a YouTube video showing a pizza being delivered by an unmanned flying vehicle — the DomiCopter.
In the video, the DomiCopter — created and operated by a drone company called AeroSight— appears to safely deliver a pizza over a large distance. Though it all may seem like a publicity stunt, the UK branch of Domino’s seems quite serious about it. In a press release, the company talks about launching a Domino’s Flight Academy “should the DomiCopter delivery service take off.”
Read more at: http://mashable.com/2013/06/05/dominos-drone/
Apple Said to Shift Ad Focus to Support New Music Service
What does this mean to Pandora, Spotify and the like? Early adopter advertising opportunity for brands willing to take the leap with Apple.
Apple Inc. (AAPL), planning to unveil a music-streaming service next week, is revamping how it sells mobile advertising to cater to businesses eager to reach customers as they listen to songs, people familiar with the changes said.
Engineers and sales staff in Apple (AAPL)’s iAd business have been charged with supporting the new digital-radio service, which the company plans to debut as early as June 10 at its annual developers conference, said the people, who asked not to be named because the moves aren’t public. The music service won’t be publicly available until later this year, when Apple’s iOS 7 mobile-operating system is released, one person said….
…Companies that agree to advertise at the start of the new radio service will be doing so in part to be an initial partner of Apple’s, similar to how companies such as AT&T Inc. and Best Buy Co (BBY). were among the first iAd participants in 2010, said a person involved in those first deals. Apple and the advertising brands won’t know how popular the new music offering will be with customers — or by extension, how much reach the ads will have — until it’s on the market for a while.
By Adam Satariano - Jun 4, 2013 8:11 AM PT
Ben & Jerry’s “City Churned” Campaign
Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream turns to the masses to create custom flavors for 5 lucky cites. The brand takes an interesting look at crowd sourcing as well as encourages online participation.
Microsite: http://www.citychurned.benjerry.com/
