Retail Infographic - 2 of 3

This one just makes me feel like a bit of a jerk and that all of my problems are a bit, how do you say...um, 'First World'.

For every dollar spent in Pakistan on 'recreation', I am spending $2,238 (as a Canadian...and we all know that for me, that number is several fold).

This is literally showing me who is working so hard just to put a shirt on their back and shoes on their kids feet. Dare, I say its also telling me who is making and who is buying what's being made?

Just wondering, again, what is the time continuum? Has the spending declined? which categories are on the rise? What will this look like for manufacturing nations in the future, what will the role of brands in the 'have not' nations' look like. How is the amount determined - is it taken based on individual census information, then applied?

Where I think this information is valuable is from a birds eye view. Pakistan, China, Thailand, India are poor and populous nations. The priority is not on life-style its actually surviving life. Paying for clothes, eating and household goods - its about getting by. Even technologies, in which I will wrap in mobile usage, is low and according to alot of articles I've read lately, mobile adoption in these countries is climbing 10x (I will find the source). So for a brand like Nokia, who has may or may not have eyes on these countries for growth and market penetration through Dumb Phones, or a brand like Starbucks or McDonald who is interested in quenching and feeding the local markets, it will be a challenge. While everyone needs to eat, is there even an opportunity to be relevant in these markets, and if you are, to even make money and survive as a company. How will brands need to zig in order to win in these markets? Or, flip the relationship inside out - are there brands in China, or ways of life that the consumer-crazy 1st world can adopt that help curb our enthusiasm for entertainment/clothing etc.? For instance, how are household items shared in these nations? how can we reduce consumerism?

Global brands need global perspectives. And I am a bit fearful that sometimes the perspective is... where there are people, they will buy. This can't always be the case....

Retail Infographic - 1 of 3

I can across 3 infographics that I think are worth discussing. This one I found on GOOD. Good is a well, great resource for emerging innovations and discussions.

There are 2 graphs here... both tell essentially the same story, just a different way to present the information.

Graphs like this are important because they show what industries are over indexing, which are under and in there lies the potential for uncovering opportunities for innovation to tip the engagement in one direction or another.

I was shocked at how much clothing is being purchased on-line. As such a finicky personalized service I was convinced that it would be lower... this begs the question, who is doing it well. and to dig deeper, which markets are more interested in spending online.

I also slightly obsessed with how under indexed the BILLION dollar industry of pharmaceuticals appears to be. And why. I have big Muaah-haaa-haaa laugh in my head... someone, somewhere is clamping that opportunity down and I want to crack it wide open. More to come on how I would like to do that (that's a whole other independant study).

This is a great introductory image. It demonstrates opportunities... What would help flesh this out is data for Canada (oui!), a time continuum. I'd like to see how this fairs from 2-3 years ago, and I'd like a geographic overlay. Too much to ask??

Safety First

Don't have a bikelane?
There is now a light that you can attach to your bike that creates one for you.







The zipper.
Post-Its.
Now this...

when will my ship come in?

Read all about it at Good. click here

Books - the Avocado and the Virgin

I have read this one.

Written in the 1950s, this book tells the story of a young American girl hipster living in Paris and living a Bohemain Golightly life on the kind gesture of her uncle.

The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy is a must-read.

and this one sounds like the children's book R (or X) rated version.

The Recently Deflowered Girl

I read about it on Good magazine. This magazine is the ultimate thought starter. Its so Good its...

The book I am going to track down at Chapters.. or the library (new economy style).

C'est comme un pain de chocolat and un cafe au lait.

Quelle delight.