A Whole New Mind...Again

I was recently at a conference and heard Dan Pink give a keynote presentation.

You might remember Dan Pink and the presentation he gave at CAMEX a few years ago based on his book A Whole New Mind and the transition from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age.

My recent opportunity to hear Dan was my third. His message on the importance of design, the impact of "story", and the preeminence of "right brain" abilities going forward resonated as clearly for me now as they did when I first heard him in 2004.

With that revelation, I decided to post about Dan and his wonderful book. To ask you, "Have you read it?"

-- If not, you should.
-- If you have, read it again.

Dan's points, examples, and recommendations are as poignant for retailers as for any others.

Great book. Great message.

Tony Ellis, CAE
tellis@nacs.org

Going Green with even Greater Purpose

Reusable shopping bags are big. Stores are offering them to save the evironment, but are finding other benefits along the way:

- Reduced quantities of plastic bags are needed

- Enriched connections are made with customers who appreciate the chance to do a little good by using the bags

- Visibility of the store is enhanced when the bags are returned to the store (or other places--as in my case--the gym, the dry cleaners, the park, the beach, the farmers market....)

While in New York not long ago, I saw two enhancements to this already exciting program. The first was in a college store. The second in a specialty grocery.

1. NYU Bookstores uses Green Bag as a source for their reusable shopping bags. But the neat part is when you choose to buy one. Buying one of these bags from the store earns you a "wooden nickle" (actually worth a quarter, I think) to put in one of four bins on your way out. See the pic above. That's donating real "coin" to the charity of your choosing. Wow! That's doing good, from doing good, that promises to help you do good later, as well. Pretty good!

2. At the Food Emporium, at the Queens Street Bridge, they take a slightly different approach. Still a choice of purchasing a reusable shopping bag with proceeds benefitting one of 3-4 charities. But for they took a specialty/gift approach and created four different bags--each with a rich imprint tied to the charity that would benefit from your purchase. Think Bengal tiger for the zoo or a bamboo-munching panda for the National Wildlife Federation.

Two great twists on an already great concept!

Tony Ellis, CAE
tellis@nacs.org

Dynamic Displays and Cool Ideas!

Everyone loves to get new ideas--for displays, for sales, for windows, for events.

NACS recently announced the winners of two contests--Dynamic Displays and Cool Ideas--that offer numerous ideas.

Give yourself a shot of inspiration. Review all of this year's entries for both contests and see what you can use at your own store! The winners of each contest are marked with a star. Click on any listed entry to see a photo and details.

Please note that the contest information is for NACS Members only--in the Member Resource Center. So you'll have to log in when you click either link below. Appologies to any non-member readers of The Retail Muse!

Dynamic Displays: www.nacs.org/members/secure/the_college_store/dynamicdisplays.asp

Cool Ideas: www.nacs.org/members/secure/the_college_store/coolideas.asp

Have fun!

The Retail Muse