Canadian Business

Apr 18, 2012

Best Buy in a Small Box

Branding Insights
One of a series by John Paulo Cardoso, Spyder Works Chief Creative Officer & Founder

On March 30th the roll out of Best Buy Express automated kiosks took off from Toronto’s Pearson airport. The new small box format will offer more than 60 product skus at prices consistent with their in-store and online pricing and promotions.

In 1958 ‘self-service’ in supermarkets and variety stores was on the rise and TIME magazine reported on a new merchandising pseudo science named impulse buying. Presenting a small selection of your most desired products in a well branded display makes the purchase decision easy for the customer. So easy in fact that they may not even realize why their buying your product. This format interrupts the consumer’s logical buying behaviour and replaces it with an irrational moment of self gratification.

General Manager of Retail for the GTAA, Janine Gervais, noted that “Many of our guests are moving through the airport quickly and are looking for efficient shopping options. The Best Buy Express kiosks will fill that need for these guests.”

iPods departing hourly.

By John Paulo Cardoso Blog, branding, Innovation No comments Tags: Best Buy, brand positioning, Canadian Business, Innovation, John Paulo Cardoso, Kiosk, Self serve, Spyder Works Inc.

Mar 19, 2012

The XYZs of Gesture Control

Innovation Insights
One of a series by Ken Tencer, Spyder Works CEO

Keyboarding is slow; mice are passé. Voice recognition is still flawed. In future, you may interact with computers (and many other devices) simply by gesturing. A Canadian company called XYZ Interactive Technologies is using inexpensive infrared technology to power embedded sensors that enable you to control devices without touching them. Explains XYZ’s CEO, Michael Kosic,”The future battle for consumers of User Interfaces will be fought in 3D”.

Think of an iPad that you don’t even have to touch, because your hand movements (not the press of your smudging fingers) control the device. Or consider the potential for hands-free operation of devices in order to keep environments more sterile by reducing the transference of germs by contact.

Whatever field you are in, innovation isn’t only about invention; it’s also about solving problems by making existing products and services work better – one breakthrough at a time. As a business strategy, innovation is about recognizing ideas that will touch your customer’s lives in a positive, impactful way. Or not touch them, I guess, if you are part of a group of engineers re-thinking the whole notion of interaction.

By Ken Tencer Blog, business, business strategy, Entrepreneurial Thinking, entrepreneurship, Innovation, marketing, optimzing innovation No comments Tags: business, business strategy, Canadian Business, Innovation, Ken Tencer, marketing, planning, strategy, The 90 percent rule

Feb 28, 2012

Add to Your Network: 5 Best Business Contacts

by Elaine Pofeldt Independent journalist and editorial consultant, Elaine Pofeldt. Originally published on The American Express Open Forum on February, 1, 2012.

The 90% Rule - Business Strategy Even if your marketing budget is tight, there’s plenty you can do to build your business. Networking is one of the most cost-effective ways to win new business. Often, it won’t cost you a dime, but to reap the rewards, you have to weave it into your daily business activities.

Here are five types of contacts to make in the coming months.

1. Smart people in other industries

People in other industries can alert you to best practices that you can bring to your own arena.

“It’s about exchanging information,” says Ken Tencer, CEO of Spyder Works, a branding and innovation firm in Toronto and New York. He is co-author of The 90% Rule, which looks at how to evaluate and effectively act on business opportunities.

How do you find the right people to add to your brain trust? Ask yourself who to exchange information with that would benefit yourself and your business, says Tencer. Don’t know many professionals outside of your field? Join a high-level networking group, such as Vistage, that puts you in the same room with CEOs from unrelated industries.

“It really opens your mind,” Tencer says. “It gives you feedback on what you could be doing differently, by learning from best practices in other areas.”

2. Amplifiers

To spread your company’s message, get to know like-minded industry thought leaders, journalists and social media users with a significant following. These people will help you reach their audiences, says Tencer.

You don’t have to meet such contacts face-to-face to build a strong working relationship. One good way to meet amplifiers, says Tencer, is by offering useful information based on your professional knowledge. Post to social networks such as LinkedIn.

3. New prospects in growing industries

A good 44 percent of small business owners expect economic volatility to make it harder to reach their business goals for 2012, according to the Guardian Life Small Business Research Institute.

You may lose some sales to clients who are in bad financial shape in today’s economy, but you can compensate. Add new customers who are in thriving industries.

It’s not likely to happen by accident.

“If you want to be in health care, make it a point to do some homework,” says Andrea Nierenberg, author of Nonstop Networking. She is president of The Nierenberg Group, an executive training, recruiting and consulting firm in New York.

Identify key players in the market you want to reach, and make a plan for contacting them, perhaps through a site like LinkedIn or with introductions from professional contacts.

4. Savvy suppliers

When you buy products and services, take the time to ask your suppliers about what they’re seeing in the marketplace. Consider inviting one or two to your office this year to make a brief presentation.

“They can definitely tell you about trends they have seen in your industry and in parallel industries,” says Tencer. Suppliers who do business internationally can offer a particularly comprehensive perspective.

5. Friends of friends

Forget the old taboo against mixing business with pleasure. Your social circle, from lunch mates at the office to high school friends, can be a great source of referrals. This works as long as they are familiar enough with the quality of your work to recommend you confidently to their contacts.

How do you foster unsought referrals? Be a recurring source of help to others in your personal, professional and volunteer networks. When you pass along a job lead or make introductions to a potential client, says Nierenberg, others will naturally want to reciprocate.

If you’ve lost touch with a friend, Nierenberg suggests that you set up a Google alert with that person’s name. News clippings and blog posts that pop up may give you conversation starters to use in an e-mail. Of course, if a buddy makes a valuable connection, you’ll want to take them to lunch or send a small gift.

“The better the relationships you have with people, the more likely they are to make introductions for you,” says Nierenberg.

Elaine Pofeldt is an independent journalist specializing in entrepreneurship. Her work has appeared in TheAtlantic.com, BNET, Crain’s New York Business, CBS Moneywatch, Good Housekeeping, Inc., Working Mother and many other publications. A former senior editor of Fortune Small Business magazine and editor of its website, she does editorial consulting for online and print publications.

By Ken Tencer Blog, branding, business, business strategy, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurial Thinking, Innovation, marketing, strategy, The 90% Rule No comments Tags: business, business strategy, Canadian Business, Entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, Innovation, Ken Tencer, strategy, The 90% Rule