Starbucks bolsters its in-store experience with an exclusive content network

Source: Creativity

Starbucks customers can now get more than just a coffee, scone and Wi-fi when they step into their local branch thanks to the launch of Starbucks Digital Network, an in-house content network created in partnership with Yahoo that provides patrons with access to news, entertainment, business and the local goings on.

The network's channels feature content from a variety of providers, including the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and USA Today for News, iTunes and the Bookish Reading Club for Entertainment, and Rodale for Wellness. A hookup with Linked In will also provide job searchers squatting the coffee shop tables access to a career blog and tips from career coach Lindsey Pollak. The network will also be site specific, and a Neighborhood channel will bring relevant local content via Foursquare, Patch and Zagat.

Interesting Stat

Source: Nielsen 

The latest Nielsen 'Online Retail Monitor' study has shown travel sector purchases account for 47% of all spending in a flourishing online retail market.

The study, which analysed spending across 16 major retail product categories, showed that around one third of online shoppers bought travel product or services, from flights to hotels to travel products, with an average purchase of $1,168 over the 30-day study period.

FCUK launches Youtique

Source: FCUK
An interesting take on online shopping.

A temporary website with a message

A really inspiring temporary website - click on the site to see the message for the world :)

http://shep.ca/

Gilt MANual: A Fashion Retailer Steps Into The Editorial World

Source: PSFK

The online fashion retailer Gilt has launched an editorial site for men.

Called Gilt MANual, the content revolves around style guides, advice, and features about designers. The site also features an "Ask Us Anything" section.

On the front page and throughout the site, the only advertisements direct users towards Gilt sales.

The editorial topics on Gilt MANual have been the main staple of men's lifestyle magazines such as GQ and Esquire. The license for expertise derived from Gilt's proximity to apparel products might grant it enough authority from a reader's perspective over other publications.

Designed by Code and Theory, who have also recently worked on the Vogue.com redesign, the site strikes a fine balance between useful editorial content and subtle advertising for the company.

Are Mobile Apps Still the Way to Go ?

Good points in this article.
Posted by  Circus Communications to Circus Communications

Are mobile apps worth the hype? The short answer – it's complicated. A recent blog post we read on Fast Company.com is drawing a bit of controversy by knocking the effectiveness of mobile apps, but the blog's author, Aaron Shapiro does make some great points.

Apps can be both useful & fun to use on mobile devices! There are currently over a quarter million apps available to download for the iPhone, and users are quick on the download. But because most apps aren't terribly useful, most are downloaded & discarded as quickly as a fleeting thought. According to facts in a study Shapiro quotes, users only use 20% of those they have taken the time to download anyways.

Depending on how cool and original you want to be, the development of a mobile app will cost you somewhere between $5000 and $50,000. If you'd like the app to be available on more than one phone model - be prepared to pay again. In this case, your ROI is your accessibility, cutting-edge image and the value of the incentives offered to your shoppers.

Finally, a comparable alternative to building an app is building a mobile website. According to Shapiro, a mobile website, which can be viewed on all smart phones, has 50 times the reach of an app, and costs a tenth of the price to develop. The other advantage is that the user doesn't have to go out of their way to download an entire program to begin interacting with your brand.

The choice of course is yours, and there is no shortage of opinions or information on the subject. Whatever the case, we're curious to hear from you, and to help your business reach its mobile market.

Cheryl Cardon, President

Circus Strategic Communications Inc

Find us online at:

CircusCommunications.ca

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Cool ad from Optus

Tea, anyone ?

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Write the Future ?

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Brrrr

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Fabulous L'Occitane Window

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Colette looks busy

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Retail Pain Falls Mainly on the Plain

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Sportsgirl splashes colour

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Go West

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The Maze at Smiggle

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Retail Landscape

Drop Pants prices ?

Jeans West, Broadway - very aggressive discounting - drop pants prices ?

Hot az Cupcakes

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Two Left Feet, Right ?

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