first we saw it with tattoo parlor applications, now college prep courses are using QR codes to weed out students that may not be suited for the class.

check it out

http://www.springwise.com/israel-qr-code-application-form-scannable-students-high-iqs/

hopefully this will speed up the process of scanning, buying products without the grocery stores needing to buy new scanner / readers.

check out the details here  http://bit.ly/ZRBXRk

40 years ago yestserday, (April 3, 1973), the first cell phone call was made by Martin Cooper (motorola employee)

take a look at the infographic to see how far we've come with our cell phone technology!

Walmart.com has introduced a “trending now” capaibility to help shoppers browse its assortment based on what’s popular.  The trend types include filtering items by:
New Pin in the social media site Pinterest
Best rated
Just sold on Walmart.com
Best seller on the website
Just reviewed
Top searched
Users may also filter by departments, including auto & DIY, baby & kids, movies/music/books, toys & video games, home/furniture, and electronices & office

ShopRite is currently testing new store layouts to help engage cusotmers the way they want to buy.

They're not adding extra space, just rearranging and making better use of what they have.

The pet department tripled in sales due to this.

http://bit.ly/VQQf2J

Here's a retailer calendar of what's going on in 2013

let me know if you have questions!

Facebook has announced a new "graph search" as a hope to erode some share (eventually) from Google.

http://bit.ly/UQDNj8

The Barcode's co-inventor, N. Joseph Woodland, has passed away.

For those of you who sat in on my IRI Data 101 meeting, you may already know this trivia piece. The first product sold using a UPC scan was a 67-cent package of Wrigley's chewing gum at a supermarket in Troy, Ohio, in June 1974

Click on the link to learn a little bit more about barcodes and how the pattent was filed in 1949 but the tehcnology wasm't accepted until decades later.... something about needing lasers ;)

http://bit.ly/SXjdQg

then sign up for Hukkster

While shopping online, users would click the “hukk it” button to start tracking items that they covet but only want to buy at a lower price. The service would automatically track changes in pricing for those marked items and send email notifications when the item’s price dropped by at least 25%.

http://on.wsj.com/O3Ae6R

Not sure what the algorithm is to make this work, but it's a pretty interesting concept. Based on your pinning behavior, Zappos is picking out products for you (clothes, shoes, bags, etc).

http://bit.ly/PPdZlG

they're wiling to try with a test of Same Day Delivery for online orders

http://bit.ly/TNOy7p

interesting read , but for those who want a snapshot, read this:

• The Millennials have much less brand loyalty and are more willing to engage in different distribution models to find food.  This generation is not afraid to purchase food online and to look outside of the traditional grocery store to find what they want.  Boomers on the other hand were more brand loyal and shopped at the grocery store for everything.
• Millennials are less married to the ‘one stop shop’ concept of grocery store shopping.
• Specialty (ethnic, organic / natural, and fresh) sellers – in shops and online – will benefit from changes in preference.
• Branded processed food manufacturers will be “losers” in the new food paradigm.
• Millennials – while focused on paying as little as possible for products – are also much more willing to pay more for specific attributes in food, such as organics / natural, ethnic and specialty foods.

http://onforb.es/OPNL1g

wonder if they're picking up on the food truck trend... but with paternity tests

Not sure what the ROI is for this since it's $299 PLUS you allegedly need a prescription (for a cotton swab test!) and it's not even instant.

Still, interesting to think that somewhere someone decided (assumingly based on research) that NYC needs to solve the "who's your daddy" question

http://bit.ly/OgWOZI

Walmart has just launched a beauty magazine called Beauty Scoop

it's a monthly publication dedicated to beauty and personal care advice.

Authority is added through contributions from the editors of Glamour, Allure, and Self magazines.

It also includes a digital component, letting shoppers add items to their list and purchase online at Walmart.com.

"Walmart is testing a program that invites consumers to send Walmart a photo of a grocery receipt from a Walmart competitor. Within a couple of days, Walmart responds with a calculation of how much the consumer would have saved at its stores."

Would be better if it were instant... but interesting how WM is going after competitive retailers

Click on the link to see ithe video on how this works

http://bit.ly/Rg1jTE

ADDITIONAL INFO:

• Only for exact SKU matches on grocery, health & beauty, and consumables products
• Private labels and random weigh items (e.g. fresh produce) are not applicable.
• Receipts must be less than seven days old, and must contain at least 10 items.
• Compared to “most major” grocery stores, drug stores, and mass merchandiser in participating markets.
• Comparisons will include specials and loyalty card savings, but coupons are excluded.

“Things have to be faster and more exciting in order to entice them.

Need to start thinking about how Tweens are affecting or will affect our clients and their brands

bit.ly/MK7UVU

See what the AXE brand is doing in Australia to launch their new women's brand. Advertising that can only be seen with special sunglasses

http://bit.ly/KLvwYP

What a great way to get customers in-store during quiet store hours

http://bit.ly/L4C3gJ

and yes, they already know that Pinterest failed to make it on the visual.

check out this crazy graphic. kinda makes your head spin

http://read.bi/JVr4ct

Target is going to be delisting Amazon's Kindle becuase they're tired of people coming in-store, playing with it at Target and then ordering from Amazon.

Granted, this MIGHT have something to do wth Target and Apple testing a store within a store concept in 25 stores. We'll see how other retailers start to combat against Amazon.com

http://bit.ly/IM7GNj

Walmart shoppers are now able to turn their in-store shopping experience into a scavenger hunt featuring characters from "The Avengers" film.

http://bit.ly/IurQJP

Very cool way that a car company has decided to engage with Pinterest.

In Panama, Peugeot is running a Pinterest-based competition to encourage followers on the site. On its Pinterest page, you can see various puzzles showing different car models with missing pieces. People can then search for and find pieces on the Peugeot facebook page or website. They then pin them on their own boards and share it with Peugeot.

first 5 people to complete their boards, win prizes

interesting! Germany grocery store is laid out by recipe instead of by category.

Would be great to have that in the USA. Try new things and not have to spend a million hours running all over the store locating the various ingredients

https://www.iconoculture.com/SMART/public/view.aspx?ContentID=333436

Kotex recently capitalized on building its first Pinterest campaign that involved sending care packages to customers in hopes they would share their experience with other users.

Interesting video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UVCoM4ao2Tw

WM is hoping that shoppers will "come in for the groceries and stay for their other merchandise".

WM announced today that they will be lowering grocery prices by $1Billion this year. (to put it in perspective, they made $145Billion in grocery sales last year)

You can expect for manufacturers/brands to have to take a hit on their margins or other prices in the store to increase (such as apparel).

What will this mean for other retailers? Can we expect to see a battle of the grocery prices?

http://www.foxbusiness.com/news/2012/03/28/wal-mart-plans-to-reduce-grocery-prices-by-1-billion/

Say hello to the world’s first app-equipped toothbrush. Set to hit stores for approximately $50, the brush wirelessly communicates vital teeth-polishing stats to the user’s smartphone via an accompanying app and a sensor that tracks exactly how long bristles are scrubbing.

http://beamtoothbrush.com/beam/brush-overview.php

Now you can control electronic devises with a touch on your wall!

It's a conductive wall treatment that can enable touch control of various home electronic devices.

Check out details here:

http://www.springwise.com/life_hacks/touch-enabled-wall-paint-converts-skin-contact-electronics-control/

if you speak / read french, check out the website here:

http://www.peinture-interrupteur-on-off.com/

don't worry your smartphone did, which is why you just got that great ad / deal.

SonicNotify displays content on smartphones in reaction to inaudible frequencies being played during television broadcasts, live events and in retail stores.

http://sonicnotify.com/

turn your facebook photos into printed art!

http://www.simplyzesty.com/facebook/canvaspop-lets-you-print-out-your-facebook-photos-hang-them-as-art/

good idea or kinda gross?

http://www.cspnet.com/news/snacks-and-candy/articles/cupcake-atm-debuts

now we can get rid of those awkward moments of trying to buy someone a drink... you can buy someone a beer without being with them or talking to them! You can pay for someone to get a beer in $5 increments

So tweet someone a beer today!

http://mashable.com/2012/03/08/tweet-a-beer-app-paypal/

Amazon.com is testing ways to allow shoppers who cannot have a package shipped to their home/office still be able to order from them. started as a test in Seattle and is now in NYC.

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/10/amazon-rolling-out-robotic-delivery-lockers/

UncommonGoods.com (one of my favorite online retailers for those who are looking for a bday present for me) is doing a Pinterest Contest! I'm sure we'll be seeing more ways that brands are engaging consumers with Pinterest.

check it out, make your own and be entered to win $250

#uncommongoods #contest

http://pinterest.com/christypugh/my-uncommon-bedroom/

Don't just pin it... buy it

Fancy is a website that allows consumers to not only "fancy" something, but you can also purchase it directly. no need to go anywhere else.

Fancy vs. Pinterest

Fancy: 250K users (so far), 60% male who like high fashion clothing / accessories 

Pinterest, 10MM+ users, predominantly female who like to pin things like crafts, recipes, etc

still haven't figured out how to "fancy" things from other websites but i'm sure someone will...

check it out at www.thefancy.com and follow me!

http://techcrunch.com/2012/02/23/dont-just-like-it-buy-it-pinterest-rival-fancy-may-have-just-figured-out-social-commerce/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29 

How could they not be? Manufactureres / stores are doing all sorts of things to help gain incremental sales/interaction/engagement outside of store. They're on billboards, ads, subway walls... in Japan you can order your groceries by snapping a barcode and having it added to your grocery list! (different article, but same concept)

It's an easy, immediate way to connect with brands

http://www.mobilecommercedaily.com/2012/02/23/are-mobile-bar-codes-changing-the-way-consumers-shop

Walmart in Joplin, Missouri started a twitter campaign for the Thanksgiving  where consumers could use the hashtag #thxjoplin and have that tweet go straight to the board!

Did you know: "If you post a pin to Pinterest, and it links to an ecommerce site that happens to have an affiliate program, Pinterest modifies the link to add their own affiliate tracking code. If someone clicks through the picture from Pinterest and makes a purchase, Pinterest gets moola."

why is this interesting? most social sites concentrated on getting users first and then had to figure out how to make money. 

http://llsocial.com/2012/02/pinterest-modifying-user-submitted-pins/ 

what? we can get paid to take in-store photos and take surveys about products, stuff i do already? awesome

This is a great idea and depending on how easy it is (taking the pics/surveys, etc) and the moola, this could really be a game changer.

http://www.fieldagent.net/

then it's time you entered Walmart's "Get on the Shelf" contest

there are already 800 entries and it's giving small businesses a chance to get their product out there... no such thing as 'bad publicity' right? 

Now if you'll excuse me, i need to order some zombie repellent 

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/story/2012-01-24/walmart-get-on-the-shelf-contest/52782444/1