Free Cone Day is GREAT for business .. Ben & Jerry Philosophy of giving back (charity)

I must admit that I love ice cream, B&J Ice Cream Shops (especially), the business back story and philosophy of the founders (Ben Cohen & Jerry Greenfield) who believe that having a business that treats their staff well is the foundation of success.  Every year I go to Ben and Jerry for free cone day with friends and/or co-workers as a ‘treat’ as well as a give back since the scoopers that day are with various non-profits that get all the tips for their organization. So this year make sure you make a trip, ignore your diet, bring your kids, friends, family and random strangers to your local Ben & Jerry with TIP money and grab a cone.  I’m sticking with Vanilla (maybe) and will bring $5 to give back… forget my diet it’s work the sacrifice!

 

Ben & Jerry’s (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Free Cone Day is on April 9th!

 

Free Cone Day is on April 9th! So, make sure you swing by one of our participating Scoop Shops and grab yourself a FREE cone. Free Cone Day is something we’ve been doing since 1979 when Ben and Jerry celebrated their first year of business! Ben and Jerry wanted to thank everyone for their support in the best way they knew how; with free ice cream!

Once again this year we’re giving away plenty of our classic flavors as well as some of our new flavors like Candy Bar Pie and Liz Lemon Greek Frozen Yogurt. If you haven’t tried them yet, this is a great opportunity to give them a lick!

Looking for a friend to join you on Free Cone Day? This year we built a technological thingamabob to help you find the perfect friend to enjoy Free Cone Day with. So give it a whirl and Cone Together!

Needing to locate a participating Scoop Shop near you? No problem – just head to our Scoop Shop Locatorand we’ll hook you up!

Nostalgia sells out stadiums with NKOTB, 98 Degrees and Boyz II Men

What do you call Boy Bands that are now grown men with kids?  Well it’s the Package with nostalgia acts in full throttle from 80s with New Kids on the Block, 98 Degrees and Boyz II Men!  I was a little old for this version since my ‘Boy Band’ was Wham! and Culture Club .. oops showing my age but really the business of filling concert seats is all about the numbers.  When I say the numbers I mean the willingness of people shelling out money to see a show.  Now that all these teen girls are grown women with money in the bank and (relative) freedom for a fun night out it makes logical sense to appeal to this demographic!  Checking out the PR blitz The Tour has organized I think this is going to be one of the top concerts of 2013!  They have the social media sites up and running to capture interest and excitement from their fans wanting to relive their innocent first crushes!  The Package is everywhere from  @twitter  @facebook @instagram using social media to get casual and hardcore fans excited to attend the concert with pre purchase package pricing from Live Nation.  I’m surprised that the tickets are unbelievably affordable ranging from $29.50 – $89.50 when you consider they have some big hits that we can all sing along with!  It looks like I might @thestaples center Los Angeles this summer!

 

Is the Reviewer Card a mob style shakedown or customer service

 

Am I the only one who thinks that Brad Newman’s ‘great idea’ seems like something out of the Sopranos?  He’s creating a card that is a ‘protection racket‘ where instead of threats of breaking arms it’s fear of a negative review.  It’s pay or play for positive reviews that undermine average citizens voicing their opinions with no expectation of reward!

After learning of the Reviewer Card from an article in the LA Times I agree with David Lazarus that this is a shakedown.  But really the only surprise is that someone else hasn’t thought of this reprehensible way of intimidating business owners!  Of course some would say that Yelp a few years ago had it’s own racket with their own version with their advertising program to assist business owners to control reviews.  In case you need a refresher here’s a link to the article ‘Yelp and the business of extortion 2.0′ as detailed in the East Bay Express (2/18/09).  It’s a reprehensible example of how social media can be used to intimidate for personal gain.  Posting a review that has been garnered because of free services or items isn’t fair.  If you write a review of a product that has been given gratis or with a substantial discount that should be listed in a prominent way so that people can decide rather they believe that the comments are forthright.  Instead plopping down a card and demanding discounts or free services in exchange for a positive review is just as wrong as a business soliciting positive reviews with ‘incentives’.  

This card is on the forefront of people seeking to monetize popular social media programs that they have no control or busines interest by those who are unscrupulous.  Of course it’s easy to say that a business owner should refuse to participate in this program but doing what’s right doesn’t keep the lights on or pay staff!   It boggles the mind what other ‘ideas’ will come out over the next year to make money with no sense of fair play!

 

 

You can learn a lot about co-workers from Top Chef

Seattle is the tenth season of the American reality television series Top Chef and was filmed in Seattle, Washington

I know your saying reality TV can’t teach me ANYTHING but your wrong!  I’m a huge fan of Top Chef where it’s a show based not just on personality but ability, skill, thinking on your feet and how to deal with a crisis in the ‘kitchen’.

What I’ve learned from Top Chef

1. Being a team player is great until it’s not – Their can be only one!  Well only one Top Chef winner per season so yes it’s important that your team succeeds but you still have to do your very best every challenge.
2. Be prideful – If you don’t stand up for yourself no one else will and people will try to take credit for your success and blame you for their failures.
3. Not everyone is a ‘nice’ – Just because someone is smiling to your face or saying how we’re all on the same team (as women, minorities, alumnus, sexual orientation) that doesn’t mean they don’t view you as a threat and will try to undermine you at the first opportunity.
4. You have to fight for success – If you are always taking ‘responsibility’ for failures no matter how tenuous eventually you won’t be seen as the ‘upfront’ responsible team member but instead as the albatross who’s always making mistakes.
5. Stand back and read the room – Before jumping into a work group feel the lay of the land to see who’s hardworking, a slacker, kiss ass, bosses favorite or just difficult to work with so that you know how to work with everyone.
6. Work with co-workers weakness – Everyone has strengths and weaknesses and it’s your job (at times) to know how to with them.  You have to figure out their parameters so that when your in charge it shows you know how to manage people no matter how difficult.
7. Expect the unexpected – Always have a contingency plan in your back pocket.  When I’m in charge or working on a project I always have a ‘what if’ plan ready.  You never know when you get whisked away to Singapore to cook with unfamiliar proteins, seasonings and stoves.  Well that’s incredibly unlikely but you do have to be prepared with forgotten presentations, computer bugs, missing chargers or not being able to figure out how to work the projection equipment.  I do a dry run, keep extra plugs and keep detailed notes on how to work unfamiliar equipment.
8. Be flexible – Every season a chef will go to Whole Foods with a recipe in mind and than they can’t get the protein they want they usually become so disconcerted that they lose instead of having the mental flexibility of rethinking a basic recipe with items available.  I always call it doing a ‘MacGyver‘ from the old 80′s show where he could defuse a bomb with a toothpick, safety pin, gum and a nail.  You work with the items you have and rework it to fit!
9. Be ambitious – Nothing is wrong with wanting to be a success, to prove that your good and to win!  It’s one of the pleasures of the competition is watching all of these talented chefs create culinary masterpieces just from pluck and passion!  It’s something that we all need to embrace to be confident in your ability and skills.  To want everyone to know that your great in your chosen field and it’s not wrong to brag when it’s the truth!

 

Is it still Big Brother if it has Mouse Ears? MyMagic+ at Disney Amusement Parks

Disney (DIS) officially introduced MyMagic+ wristbands with RFID chips at their hearts to enhance their vacation from hotel room to rides this tech advance is the future of amusement parks and more

I can never fear the mouse and I for one am excited about this new tech that Disney recently unveiled. The first Disney resort for the roll the is Disney World Orlando in Florida where Magic+ will make your vacation .. well magical.  The handy bracelets is part of a tech trifecta with a app, website and the bracelet that will enable park goers to schedule ride times, enter their hotel room, make reservations and even allow park staff to truly personalize your vacation with the information inputted to the bracelets.  Staff will know attendees information and will be able to  greet your kids personally (birthday, Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah, quinceanera) or event (wedding, anniversary) so they’ll know the what to say from a song to congrats.  For some people this is a dream come true but for others it’s Orwell 1984 come to life!

But in this digital, over sharing and living all their lives online generation it makes sense and will feel normal for them!  I’m sure that Disney has taken into account others who feel more comfortable with anonymity will likely be able to request an opt out since they don’t want guests to be unhappy.

Of course I’m sure quite a few parents will feel this adds an additional layer of welcomed security to keep an eye on their kids as they run around the huge four parks.

Depending on the success the Magic+ has I suspect other major amusement park chains will be playing catch up for this tech advancement once guests start to request equal programs.  It seems as if some startup is likely already creating an app that will mimic Magic+ for other uses from replacing key cards to payroll forms.

Will original content keep viewers tuning in and paying for service

Image via CrunchBase

It’s a new year and entertainment services are fully embracing the original programming model after decades of regurgitating old shows to keep viewers entertained.  But as service fees increase and the ability of the average viewer to choose how they consume content quite a few services realize that old is well … old!  You know that ‘classic TV’ isn’t what it used to be when TV Land’s most popular sitcoms are originals starring familiar faces that hit the sweet spot of nostalgia and targeted demographics.  What is a surprise for the average viewer is that it’s not just network or channels that need to generate loyal fans but also the companies behind the ‘cable’ box.  They have to ensure that they sustain current subscribers and sign up new ones to keep their bottom line.  So they are creating their own exclusive shows to keep you tuned in and subscribed!

The original programming club that has been dominated by HBO, Cinemax, TNT, Bravo and other premium channels that kept viewers engaged and willing to pay for access is now including service providers like Netflix, DirecTV and Hulu.  It’s a business model to keep their ability to negotiate fees, to increase market share, attract the loyalty of the next generation of entertainment consumers that currently use alternative platforms.  It’s a gamble but a necessary one with the change in the entertainment landscape.

Everything from the monthly fees that increase all the time to pay for expensive channels that people may not be watching (ESPN I’m talking to you!) to the generation of tech savvy kids prefer streaming using their laptops, smart pads and game consoles are passing the traditional cable service.  Adding original programming is a way to get loyalty and more importantly fees from customers.  I’m very curious on how the shows will stack up to the major networks or even some of the great independent series that you can find online with YouTube, yahoo and other services.

DirectTV is launching their new series Rogue on April 3rd starring Thandie Newton.  It’s got the cross appeal of revenge, action and a beautiful woman cast as the lead.  Netflix is using the cult hit Arrested Development to leverage a rabid fan base and star power with for the new series House of Cards starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright.  Hulu has been offering original programming but is now attracting more high profile contributors.  Their new animated series the Awesomes has the creative co-creators of Seth Meyers (SNL) and Michael Shoemaker (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon) a comedy about a superhero team that’s left with the less powerful members leave.  As well as a

second projection made with the BBC called The Wrong Mans.  It’s got the behind the scenes geek cred of James Corden (Doctor Who, Gullliver’s Travels, Gavin & Stacey) and Mathew Baynton (Peep Show, Spy, Gavin & Stacey) and is about two office working cogs who find a phone at a terrible car accident and become embroiled in a life or death conspiracy.

Who knew fashion and coffee was a match made in Starbucks Heaven

When you think of Starbucks I must admit that coffee and food comes to mind but unless you’ve been living under a rock they are crafting a fine tuned message that corresponds with their marketing philosophy of being a caring corporation.  It includes their support of small business micro loans to bracelets to get people back to work.  But that isn’t all that they are doing since Starbucks is a business who’s bottom line is to make money.  It’s why they’ve decided to test out Bistro style shops that sell alcohol.  Of course that’s expected for any place where people like to gather you expand the menu so that they’ll keep purchasing items.  What maybe a surprise is their

decision to expand into fashion using their brand awareness to team up with up and coming fashion lines to increase sales and cachet.  It’s a logical step when you think about the spending habits of their consumers who enjoy having something different.

Starbucks is ubiquitous with coffee, coffee beans, coffee drinks and their ice cream available at the grocery store.  They have now added their home brewing pod system and I can’t help but wonder what’s next?  An energy drink or branded casket to create products from birth to grave?  Well I’m (slightly) exaggerating with the funeral product lines but they have definitely expanded past breakfast with these products that were released in 2012.

All of this came to mind when I opened my mailbox this evening with a package from Daily Candy.  It was a trio of nail polish from Deborah Lippman that are colors inspired by Starbucks Coffee.  Rather you love or hate Starbucks their business plan to be more than a coffee shop is moving

forward on a path that makes sense for their brand.  In the past year they’ve teamed up with the fashion duo Rodarte for the holiday season with logo’d gift cards, tote bags, cup sleeves and mugs.

Earlier this year they issued the first metal card in conjunction with the fashion website Gilt.com that was a limited edition of 5,000 and sold out faster than a pair of Louboutins!  The card was $450 was pre-loaded with $400 (valid for drinks, food, and merchandise) and special perks like Gold Level membership.

I’m excited to see how they’ll expand the brand for 2013.  Maybe Glidden paint in various muted shades of coffee or a special edition car with colors inspired by your favorite Starbucks Frappuccino?  I’m sure that they are thinking of these ideas and more at the headquarters in Seattle and I’d love to be a fly on that wall!  if they do release a branded car or paint .. well that’s MY idea!