Korner Talk

Reads from the past two weeks.

MBA Poker – Play hold ‘em and network at the same time. Who was last year’s winner? Some kid from Broad
LXD – Another dance movie, although this one has some promise.
Zappos Retails Its Culture – More than just an online shoe store, Zappos will now teach you how to emulate the Zappos culture.
Ford and Social Media – A chat with Ford’s VP of marketing about how Ford is trying to be hip like Apple and Facebook. iMustang?
Bezo’s on Amazon – Amazon CEO talking about the next thing I’m thinking about emptying my pockets on :/

In Your Face – This article talks about something I’ve been noticing a lot lately which is the inordinate amount of people that I see in SM wearing North Face fleece jackets. Specifically, the article explains how the NF’s logo is so noticeable and recognizable, yet I’ve never seen a NF ad on TV or radio but I know exactly what the NF logo is communicating about NF’s brand.

The article also goes on to talk about how a brand’s image can also easily turn someone off. From my own experience, I will never buy a mattress from Larry from Sit n’Sleep or Niel from Leed’s because I can’t stand their commercials. In case you don’t know what I’m talking about, think “You’re killing me Larry!!!!” and “I’m Neil with the deal, I won’t be beat!”.

Back to NF. I don’t own any NF gear and I don’t have anything against NF in general. If I had a nit about NF, it wouldn’t be with NF, it would be with  NF haters who dislike NF because NF is 1) too popular and 2) too “technical” (meaning too many buttons, compartments, and straps). I was in Patagonia the other day and there was this one douche-bag who was loudly bagging on how only douche-bags wear NF and how NF crap has too many useless douchey hoops, loops, and pockets in their jackets. First of all, STFU to the snob. Second, it goes to show how popular NF is. When you have major haters and they’re not hating on the quality of your product, you know you’ve got a popular brand. I mean, when was the last time you heard someone hating on Kia or Champion sports wear?

Surviving the Start of Bschool
Another Wireless Charger – The difference between this charger and the wireless powermat is that this charger harvests energy out of thin air. Pretty cool.