LUXURY EQUALS VALUE: THE CHANGING EQUATION FOR LUXE SHOPPERS

by Gwyneth Holland European luxury shoppers are shifting to a value mindset, and global megabrands are getting left behind. Sales at top European luxury brands are down, as chic Parisians and Milanese can no longer afford to shop with them. At the same time, the much-beloved free-spending international shoppers (especially those from China, Russia and the […]

EUROPEANS SWITCH OFF TO CHARGE UP

by Gwyneth Holland Europeans are famed for their love of the good life, but the influence of global commerce and always-on tech toys and tools (plus the need to improve productivity in the wake of the eurozone crisis), has compromised their easygoing pace. While connectivity is key for harried midlifers and three-screen teens alike, they […]

CHRISTMAS GETS REAL

by Gwyneth Holland It’s November, so that means consumers are already well surrounded by Christmas marketing. But in Europe, it’s taking on a more realistic tone than the warm and sparkly fantasy festivities depicted in years past. The new wave of holiday campaigns addresses the many difficulties of the season, with UK supermarket Asda creating […]

QR codes make digital memorial to British dead

by Rebecca de Vaux WHAT’S HAPPENING A funeral company in Poole, Dorset has developed a digital way of bringing back the life stories of deceased people, with a swipe of a smartphone (Guardian.co.uk, 5 September 2012). Customers of Chester Pearce Associates can upload text, videos and photos to a tribute page in memory of their […]

PEOPLE POWER GETS PRACTICAL

by Gwyneth Holland People Power is manifesting itself around Europe, as post-recession consumers increasingly take a pragmatic approach to building the communities around them. Regeneration initiatives have sprung up everywhere, and hyper-local currencies are even helping to keep cash flowing among locals. Many Britons now embrace the idea of reshaping and reinvigorating their own communities. […]

Healthy snack dispenser for UK’s tiny tots is world’s first

by Nancy Ludwig WHAT’S HAPPENING A tiny vending machine dispensing healthy snacks for toddlers has been launched by food brand Ella’s Kitchen (FDIN.org.uk, 21 August 2012). Standing 115 cm tall, and with “bespoke features” to help little hands access their own nutritious treats, it was designed with the average 1-year-old (and their parents) in mind […]

Kids play matchmaker for single parents on UK site

by Krisha Kinnersley WHAT’S HAPPENING They say kids know best — but could that apply to the dating game for single mums and dads? A British dating site is putting that concept to the test by inviting kids to create profiles for their over-50 parents (HuffingtonPost.com, 17 August 2012). My Lovely Parent was created by […]

Men in Sheds helps older Brits build and bond

by Rebecca de Vaux WHAT’S HAPPENING A hands-on community project to help meet the emotional, physical and social needs of older men has been given £262,876 funding after a two-year pilot project (BromleyTimes.co.uk, 2 August 2012). Based in Eltham, south-east London, the Men in Sheds project has more than 50 retired male participants who are […]

MEAT Podcast, Episode 11: Celebrity gossip and the Olympics

by Mike Garrison, Katie Elfering and Robert van Alstyne Media, Entertainment and Technology Strategists discuss the celebrity news of the week as well as the Olympics. For more information and to listen, click here.  

OLYMPIC VILLAGE

by Hans Eisenbeis The 2012 London Olympics are upon us, and before we get too immersed in the 100-meter butterfly or the triple jump, we should pause and consider what the Games mean to a world that continues the sometimes painful process of shrinking. Even though markets and borders are more open today than ever […]

MOMMY (AND DADDY) WARS

By Becky Sun In case you didn’t notice, there’s another “mommy war” in the blogosphere. In an Atlantic article titled “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All” (accompanied by the obligatory photo of a toddler in Mom’s briefcase), Anne-Marie Slaughter revisits the well-worn grooves of the “mommy track,” parental leave and the meaning of modern […]

POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE

by Gwyneth Holland What stirs patriotism? And what does a surge in patriotism translate to for brands? With the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics both happening in summer 2012, the UK is going mad for patriotism. Red, white and blue bunting strings across every street, and the union flag covers everything. The Jubilee pomp and […]

UK: Folk in a Box is world’s smallest music venue

by Sara Bivigou WHAT’S HAPPENING Folk in a Box is a music venue big enough only for a single musician to play to one audience member (Complex.com, 17 February 2012). The bespoke wooden box is a small pitch-black cabin, creating a dark and intense space. It has a front door for the audience member and […]

PRIVATE READING

by Gwyneth Holland They used to say that you can tell a lot about a person by the titles on her bookshelves, but now it seems you can tell even more about a person by the less worthy material hidden on her e-reader. While great literature is available at knock-down prices on many e-book platforms, […]

Bergmönch eliminates the downside of mountain hiking

by Sarah Barker WHAT’S HAPPENING Mountain hiking enthusiasts can ascend with the folded Bergmönch scooter in backpack mode, unfold it and coast back down standing or kneeling (Coolest-Gadgets.com, 14 July 2011). The backpack/scooter was developed to eliminate stress on joints caused by descending and to turn anticlimactic downward drudgery into a thrilling ride. The lightweight […]