Blink:

“Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.”  Frank Zappa

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Early morning Christmas Eve day I went to Macy’s to buy a duffel bag.  The store was completely dead despite all the discounted merchandise.  I was surprised given all the positive holiday sales forecasts I had read.  However, I was aware that a significant amount of growth was going to be a result of increased online sales versus a year ago (approximately 18%).  Bottom-line: I was experiencing the overall inertia of retail brick & mortar.  Reminded me of a line I once read in Fast Company magazine: equilibrium, status quo is the precursor to stagnation.

Deviation (noun): The action of departing from an established course or accepted standard.

Are you prepared to deviate from the norm in 2018?

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Slang – cool, def, bomb, kwel, awesome, boss.  What defines a cool person?

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To me, New York Times columnist David Brooks said it best this past year: “The cool person is stoical, emotionally controlled, never eager or needy, but instead mysterious, detached and self-possessed.  The cool person is gracefully competent at something, but doesn’t need the world’s applause to know his worth.  That’s because the cool person has found his or her own unique and authentic way of living with nonchalant intensity.”

Are you cool?

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Blink:

I have posted numerous times about food waste, the last titled Good Thinking.  Beyond food, the global challenge is Zero Waste, a visionary philosophy – the redesign of sustainable resources.  All products are reused.  The most recent Zero Waste innovation I learned about is Feel Iceland.

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Founder & CEO, Hrönn Margrét Magnúsdóttir observed how her father-in-law, a fisherman of Viking decent, utilized his catch from the ocean.  She was amazed how much of the fish byproducts were thrown away.  Her mission was born; she was determined to create more value for the fish caught by Iceland’s fisherman.  Via research, along with other ingredients from the waters surrounding Iceland, she created a line of food supplements and skin care products that would make people feel good.  Two examples:

• A collagen powder made from Icelandic fish skin and amino acids that helps conserve the youthfulness (elasticity) of skin. Just mix the powder into your favorite smoothies, tea or the beverage of your choice.
• An anti-aging skin serum made with a high concentration of marine enzymes and Feel Iceland’s collagen powder.

Feel Iceland, an innovative example of utilizing the precious sustainable resources of our planet.

Blink:

In my 2011 post titled The Missing App – The Personal Touch, I questioned whether society had lost its personal touch.  However, I still believe there are exceptions to the norm.  Amtrak employee, Kevin Marshall is one of those people who practices the value of the personal touch.

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Recently Mom and I went to Washington D.C.  We decided to take Amtrak versus experiencing the parking lot on I-495 (the Capital Beltway) and taking out a loan to pay for hotel parking in DuPont Circle.  On the way back to Philadelphia, when I went up to the counter to purchase our tickets, Kevin Marshall the ticket counter customer service specialist, after viewing my Mom’s ID (age 97), said wait a minute.  Unsolicited, he put on a jacket, stepped out from behind the counter, got a wheel chair and wheeled my Mom onto our train directly to her seat.  Over the top – the personal touch!

When was the last time you experienced an over the top customer service experience?

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I have been following World Vegan Month (November) on twitter.  Key Learning: Exclusive vegan sneakers are here!!

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Back in 2009, I posted about exclusive sneakers, specifically Nike’s “Gucci” themed Dunk High sneakers.  Nike’s latest exclusive release will be the winner of their inaugural Vote Forward contest – vegan shoe style Air Max 97/1 designed by Richmond, VA vintage store owner/vegan Sean Wotherspoon.

What are vegan sneakers?  Sneakers made without any animal ingredients or byproducts.  Most sneakers are made with synthetic materials to make them light and breathable, but some are blended with animal leather or use glue made from animal bones.  A majority of sneaker colors are made from synthetic dyes and inks, some that are derived from animals.  Sean designed his sneakers with a velour interior and a multi-color (80’s love theme) corduroy exterior.  To promote his sneakers, he drove a Volkswagen bus painted with the same colors of his shoe style from Richmond to Los Angeles giving away vegan food on his trip.  The first pair which was scheduled to debut in Los Angeles sold for $96,000 on eBay.  Currently the shoe is priced upwards to $2,000 on eBay.  Recently, the exclusive release of the vegan sneaker was cancelled when a crowd of 500 people camped out in front Sean’s store days in advance.  Note: Nike plans to release the shoe globally in March 2018.

Are vegan sneakers on your Christmas list?

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Yesterday while I was on hold waiting to talk to a customer care specialist for Cigna (my medical insurance provider), I thought about the following:  We live in a world dominated by convenient products/services to counterbalance our busy lifestyles.  However, how much time do I spend waiting.  Just waiting!

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Detailed below is my waiting list:

1. Computer tech support.
2. IRS.
3. Cable TV.
4. Waiting for my reservation/table at a popular restaurant.
5. Standing in line at a movie theater or for a ticketed art museum exhibit.
6. Doctors’ appointments.
7. DMV.
8. The post office (USPS).
9. TSA security lines at the airport.
10. Friends!!

What’s on your list?

Blink:

What is one of the major differences between adults and kids when it comes to day to day thinking.  Answer: Exploitation vs. Exploration

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One definition of exploitation is the action of making use (a.k.a. capitalization) and benefiting from resources.  As it relates to adult thinking, we tend to draw on the wealth of our life experiences.  Consequently, sometimes adult thinking is biased and lacks objectivity.  Exploration is the act of exploring or investigating the unknown.  Innovation can be a byproduct of exploration.  Suggestion: Sit in a local playground and watch how kids navigate/explore all the different equipment and play.

Are you ready to be a kid again and innovate?

Blink:

How excited were you leaving work yesterday to get home to try on your new Rubie’s Jurassic World T-Rex Inflatable Costume for Halloween delivered via Amazon Prime, only to find out it is not on your doorstep and you have fallen prey to the neighborhood porch pirate!

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Fact: Approximately 23 million Americans have had one package stolen from their home.  In response to these brazen porch pirates, police in some communities are utilizing bait packages with GPS trackers to catch the criminals.  Amazon is testing two technology based delivery solutions; smart license plates so deliveries can be made to your car’s trunk and smart home locks so packages can be dropped off in-home.

Beware of Porch Pirates 2.0.  They will figure out how to circumvent technology based delivery solutions so they can still tap into the flourishing e-commerce business.

What are you planning to wear for Halloween?  How about a porch pirate costume?

Blink:

Conspicuous consumption – a term first introduced (1899) by economist/sociologist Thorstein Veblen.  It referred to consumers who bought expensive items in order to display wealth and income.  It was an attempt to enhance one’s prestige.

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The stigma of wealth is morphing.  Recently I read the summary of interviews conducted among wealthy Manhattanites.  The research revealed that a majority of the interviewees are ambivalent about being labeled affluent; they choose to maintain a low-profile about their wealth so they can be viewed as “normal” hard working people versus being ostentatious, entitled “snobs.”  Some wealthy people actually cut the price tags off their clothes so their hired help (a.k.a. nannies) won’t see them.  They purposely shop at Target for bargains or drive old cars.

I recognize that the New York Times research only reflects the social values of the new rich in New York Metro.  In other pockets of the country, rich people still like to display their wealth in every glitzy way possible; mega mansions, yachts, private jets, etc.   Regardless, whether the rich decide to flaunt their wealth or not, socioeconomic inequality in America is a reality.

The gulf between the haves and have-nots continues to widen.

Blink:

Economists keep warning us that manufacturing jobs are continually on the decline thanks to foreign competition and advanced technology (a.k.a. robots).  Here is a game changer for the apparel industry, a story with a twist – a high-tech automated Arkansas T-shirt factory opening in 2018.

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The twist?  The factory is owned by a Chinese company; clothing manufacturer Tianyuan Garments.

Once fully operational, the Arkansas factory will be able to produce 1.2 million T-shirts at a cost comparable to companies that manufacturer and ship clothing from the lowest-wage countries in the world.  The sewing technology, Sewbot (an autonomous sewing robot) was developed at Georgia Tech University.  Tianyuan projects that their factory will employ 400 people in addition to the robots (e.g., line supervisors, mechanics, logistics, etc.), but overall less physical labor than the sweatshops in other parts of the world.

Coming soon to the apparel industry, Sewbot 2.0 that makes wedding dresses.