Added 25 February, 2013
The School of Mines & Technology in South Dakota is testing a new system that uses biometric readings for purchases at campus shops. After setting up an account, customers can then make purchases simply by pressing their fingers onto a reader. Security features include a pulse monitor that checks to see that the print is not simply a photo.
Added 25 February, 2013
As the economy cools, sharing heats up. So can websites that encourage borrowing rather than buying turn consuming less into the Next Big Thing? Several websites, including Freecycle, Neighborgoods, SnapGoods, Sharehood and SwapStyle are betting just that, competing to be the place for neighbors to lend to each other. Yerdle, cofounded by Andy...
Added 16 February, 2013
Lana Del Rey has had her videos bought and paid for by products several times now. Her latest video, "Burning Desire" also looks like a long-form jaguar ad, part of a six-figure contract with the car company. Do her fans know this, or even care? In the future, is this how most music videos will be funded?
Added 14 February, 2013
Africa Health Placements, a social-profit recruitment agency collaborated with Boomtown, a strategic brand agency in South Africa, to create the world’s first stethoscope radio ad. They sent a direct mail package out to foreign doctors to recruit them to work in Africa. But rather than a pamphlet that could easily be thrown away, they found an...
Added 13 February, 2013
American Express card holders can now purchase select products via Twitter. After syncing your Amex card to Twitter, tweet a specific product hashtag, AmexSync will send you a reply with a confirmation code, tweet that and you've made a purchase. For now, orders will come with free two-day shipping.
Added 11 February, 2013
Cultural mashups are always trendy, but few are as stylish as Splash, a new laundromat near the Plaça University in Catalunya, Spain aims for the college market with a sleek interior and stylish lighing.
Added 2 February, 2013
Barbie Cafe, which is licensed by toy giant Mattel, will feature hot pink sofas, tables shaped like high-heeled shoes and the staff will wear pink Barbie logo T-shirts, armbands, glitter and tiaras.
In addition to dolls, Barbie-themed clothing, accessories and furniture will be sold in the cafe, which Mattel hopes will draw Barbie fans from China...
Added 2 February, 2013
The burrito chain is branching out by selling clothes, hosting 'locavore' festivals, and backing a comedy video series.
Added 7 January, 2013
in what appears to be Starbucks' first foray into the retail technology space, the coffee chain will start selling Square mobile card readers at its 7,000 U.S. stores. The card readers will cost $10 each, with a $10 rebate available for new users of the service. And while it may seem odd that the coffee chain now offers a tech device along with...
Added 7 January, 2013
The company plans to open at least ten Polaroid Fotobar locations in 2013, the first of which will be a 2,000 SF store in Delray Beach, Florida. That store, which is slated to open in February of 2013 and will serve as a model for all Polaroid Fotobar locations, has been in design and development for the past 12 months. Every Polaroid Fotobar...