Eric Slivka / MacRumors:
Apple Retail Stores to Allow Self-Checkout via iOS App for Accessory Purchases  —  MacRumors has learned that Apple is planning to launch an update to its retail store iOS app that will allow consumers to utilize self-checkout for purchases of accessories and other shelf-stocked items at the company's retail stores.

from Techmeme http://www.techmeme.com/111031/p14#a111031p14

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It's summertime and I suddenly have a lot of time on my hands. Whatever will I do? I have always wanted to up my grilling game and now is the perfect time to do it. At least once a week I will be using a recipe from either Weber's 'Way to Grill' or one of the many from America's Test Kitchen. Both are trusted sources and provide the resources I need to become a better grill master.

Slow Smoked Spareribs with Sweet-and-Sour Barbecue Sauce.

I started out with my favorite BBQ staple, spareribs. I choose ribs to challenge myself, I had to use indirect heat and smoke the meat for more than four hours. I ended up with rich layers of smoke, rub and sauce. The ribs were juicy and fell off the bone. The whole six hour process gave me the confidence to continue my #SummerOfGrilling.

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The Problem:

Finding an entry-level job in advertising is hard, finding one during the recession is next to impossible. How do you get yourself noticed in a field that is full of creative minded people along with a pool full of experienced professionals looking for work? What do you do when your education and college experience aren’t enough to catch the eye of an HR rep?

My Solution:

I needed to do something more than just send out resumes and hope for a call back, I needed to get in front of the people who would see and recognize my talent. I needed to explore new methods and learn new things.

Strategy:

In the summer of 2009, I set out on a journey to learn about and create a campaign using QR codes. The strategy was to get myself ‘discovered’ by account planners and creative directors at advertising agencies in Minneapolis. The campaign relied on the recipient's curiosity to scan the code and ‘discover’ me. I had the resources and knew the market wouldn’t have seen anything like this.

Tactics:

I created business cards with my logo, a QR on one side and a Microsoft Tag on the other with instructions on how to use the code. I decided to use both types of codes because at that time QRs were more recognizable and MS Tags could be tracked. The cards were mailed in orange envelopes with Simpsons stamps to represent a little of my personality and bring further interest. There was no identification whatsoever, just a logo and a code. When the code was scanned the participant was taken to www.youfoundjohnnybones.mobi, a mobile site I built using free tools online. Once on the site I introduced myself, explained why they were there and asked them to explore more about me.

I tracked the campaign using Google analytics on the .mobi site and scans of Microsoft Tags. I tracked the success of the campaign based on the informational interviews I received. Overall I had about 13 visitors to the site with around 20 Pageviews and I was given two informational interviews and it was mentioned in a tweet. The campaign costs were minimal, there were domain and hosting costs, printing, and postage. The total cost of the campaign was $180. The cost per informational interview was $90.

Take Aways:

Overall I had two great conversations and made two contacts within the field. In the end, the campaign did not yield the results I was expecting. I anticipated that account planners would have been more familiar with the codes than perhaps they were in actuality. I can’t help but think that I was about nine months ahead of the curve. I did walk away having a better understanding of building a campaign, how to use QR codes, which ones to use and how to track them. 

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On Saturday afternoon, like the American I am, I was parked in the parking lot of McDonalds wolfing down a McChicken before I had to go to work and I noticed the customer service survey on the receipt. I looked at my phone and wondered if the survey site was mobile friendly. In short, no.  It's hard to explain, simply put, it didn't work and I never got a chance to submit the survey. Out of curiosity I tried other retailer's surveys on my phone and found them usable, but not mobile friendly. The long-form questions that are asked in the surveys along with tables to gage satisfaction/dissatisfaction are not easy to use from a mobile phone.

Surveys are a way for stores to receive feedback about customers' in-store experience and the surveys currently being used have major flaws built in. They assume you will go home, take the time to access the site and remember the experience you had. I don’t know about you, but by the time I get home I have already moved onto the next thing.

The most frustrating part about the surveys were they built to be viewed and interacted with on larger screens. The screen grab below is what the survey looks like in a mobile browser. Yeah I can zoom in, but I can only zoom in so much. I had to scroll side to side to verify I was giving the correct response to the corresponding question. It was also hard to select the desired radio button without accidentally selecting another.

In a world where access to the Internet is in the palm of our hands and the ability to instantly compliment/complain about guest service via our social networks retailers should refocus their survey strategies to make them mobile friendly.

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So last year I announced here that Zhu Zhu pets were going to be 2009’s hottest Christmas toy, well I am back again to announce 2010’s.

This year’s hottest toy are Squinkies. WTF are Squinkies? They are little rubbery-plastic babies, dogs and other assorted collectible things that come in plastic containers which are housed in supermarket quarter toy machines. The goal is to collect them all (like most toys) and wear them as jewelry.

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I got to the bottom of it with Summit in this radio ad about which pitch I would be. For all of you who still listen to ad supported radio in Minnesota make sure to listen for it.

Summit_Ad_-_Baseball_Pitch_(final_Mix).mp3 Listen on Posterous

Jeeze do I really sound like that?

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So here is the rub, I have been looking for a job and the perfect opportunity has presented itself. Today I ask you, dear follower, to take the lead and be one of my references. I will be using the hashtag #whyjohnnybones in my tweets to present my qualifications and reasons why I should be hired as Deluxe's social media intern.

How can you help? In the spirit of Follow Friday please use the hashtag #whyjohnnybones and share why you think I would be the best candidate for the job or why you've included me in your social circle. Have fun with #whyjohnnybones, for example "#whyjohnnybones I hear 4 out 5 dentists recommend him." You might not know me IRL, but we have crossed paths on the Internet at some time and I'm sure you can come up with a reason why I would be the perfect person for this position.

I want to thank you for hearing me out and I look forward to your contribution to #whyjohnnybones.

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AT&T is screwed. I am an AT&T customer and I have been with them when they were Cingular. I have never really had a complaint with their service, but then again I don't own an iPhone. An analyst predicts AT&T will have exclusive carrier rights to the iPhone through 2011 which was helped in part by AT&T's bid for 3G data plans for the iPad. In the short-term AT&T is milking the iPhone for everything it's worth and not looking at the larger picture; Android.

Yes, AT&T has one Android device right now, the Backflip, and plans to roll out four or five more by the end of the year. The problem is, AT&T closed the door on an open platform, only allowing their company branded apps and changing the default search to Yahoo. It's open source they can do what they want, but which map application offers a more robust set of features, Google or AT&T? How often does Yahoo modify their mobile search features? From what I read on Google's mobile blog they are tweaking their mobile search features and functionality almost once every two weeks. AT&T has been blinded by iPhone mania and is not able to see the future of the mobile platform. 

Don't get me wrong Apple and the iPhone changed the mobile/smart phone game, but now the competition has devices, which run custom UIs, that put the 3GS to shame. And yes everyone knows the fourth generation iPhone is coming out in June and will have a front-facing camera and other sorts of bells and whistles. It still doesn't make up for the fact that the Android platform is a beast and will start devouring market share with releases like the Incredible and the Nexus One on Verizon and T-Mobile.

I could get into the App Store/Market debate, but that would open the Apple vs. Google can of worms and that takes away from my main point of AT&T being left in the dust.

The only reason people are choosing AT&T is because it has the iPhone. In a recent survey, about half of Verizon's customers would ditch their current phone for an iPhone, but wouldn't change carriers to get it. To add insult to injury AT&T ranked dead last in a customer satisfaction poll done by Consumer Reports.

AT&T's lack of foresight to bring in more Android devices and keep the platform open is going to bite them in the ass when their exclusive contract is up with Apple and the iPhone is on Verizon.

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Sorry for the blurry photos, my phone sucks.

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I recently applied and was denied an intern position at one of the "best" agencies in town. Applicants were asked to answer two questions, the first about why you want a job in advertising and the second about the key to successful branding. Instead of letting my second answer go to waste I have decided to post it here.

What do you think is the key to successful branding? Provide an example of a successful brand execution applied across various platforms, that you consider to be strategically and creatively sound. Support your point of view.

Today's media landscape is completely different than it was five years ago. Brands are scrambling to make a connection with their customers through traditional and new media. The web has blurred the lines between how brands and customers communicate with each other.

The key to successful branding is being genuine. In an age of citizen journalism, a brand must truly live their image lest they be discovered and roasted over coals. The best, and perhaps one of the more positive, examples of a brand being genuine is the Conan O'Brien or CoCo brand. Conan is beloved by his fans because he doesn't take himself too seriously.

Conan is a character that started out as a writer, who got to host a TV show, who then got to host a bigger TV show. As far as television goes, many personalities find themselves trapped there.

Conan was different. Somehow he found himself being backed by Team CoCo. When he lost his show, fandom exploded and support for Conan ensued on Twitter, Digg and Facebook. Fan support came in the form of fan art and city rallies. The best part about the fan movement was Conan personally acknowledged all of the support on-air and returned the favor with an appearance in the streets and bought the crowd pizza.

And now that Conan is "legally banned from being funny on TV?" The ex-talk show host and his team of writers are going direct to the fans. They joined Twitter and spout the same brand of comedy which was featured on his show. For example, Twitter presence actually evolved into eight different accounts. Conan is using the platform, like he did with his show, to entertain his fans. It was on Twitter that he announced his nationwide tour. Within the first hour, second shows were added in some cities to meet the overwhelming demand. This could not have happened without the Conan brand being genuine.

Conan genuinely wants to entertain people, it's what made his brand bigger than his TV show, it's why his fans spoke on his behalf, it's why they're now willing to pay up $700 to see him perform in person.

Conan is a great model for a brand to follow now that brands are people and people are brands.

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• Device capabilities: The iPhone/iPod touch features an accelerometer and a captive touch screen which has completely changed the way gamers control the action and interact with games. Granted theDS and DSi have a touch screen, their screens didn't enhance the game-play. The touch screen on the DS is mostly used for menu navigation. The touch and iPhone are both web enabled which makes playing a game with friends an easier task than it is with the DSi and the PSP.

• App Store: The App Store is the main driver of the iPod touch/iPhone's success in the gaming market. Games can be downloaded for free or at a reasonable price set by the developer. Game developers big and small are flocking to the device and creating unique games that were not possible on thePSP or DSi. Developers are porting games which lived on other devices/consoles and classic games from our childhood. The touch has also been seen running game engines built to run on more powerful consoles. The digital distribution of the App Store has developers seeing big payoffs too.

Apple has revolutionized the portable gaming market by offering a new creation, pricing and distribution model. They have also created a device which is always going to be with the consumer. Sony and Nintendo have a lot of ground to makeup with their next generation devices. At best they must offer a new way to play, buy and get their games into the hands of the consumer. Here's hoping for some surprise E3 announcements.

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Customers come and go in the electronics department a lot of them when asked if they need help with anything will respond "Just dreaming." Latino customers on the other hand spend the most time in the electronics department; I have seen Latino guests spend 20 to 40 minutes back in electronics. Latino customers walk up and down every aisle and interact with all of the displays. Latinos spend the most time, back in electronics, with the TVs, iPods and digital cameras.

The number one item Latino guests purchase is digital cameras. Latinos are very family oriented and want cameras to capture and share photos of their children. From their purchase behavior of digital cameras Latinos tend to be price, quality and warranty sensitive. They are looking for brands they trust and a price that is reasonable. I used to think Latinos loved and trusted Sony, but from what I have sold Kodak better fits their purchasing sensitivities. Latino guests don't have too many questions about the cameras themselves, but do want to know how many photos they can fit on each memory card. When they do decide to buy a camera they usually ask about the warranty and about half of the time they will buy the two year replacement plan. I see Latinos want the peace of mind that their purchase will be protected and last them for many years.

It will be interesting to see what the 2010 census reveals about the growing Latino population and what effect it with have on marketers. From my perspective there is a huge opportunity for brands to be reaching out to a very brand-loyal Latino market.

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From what I have seen at Target, this year's hottest Christmas toy is the Zhu Zhu Pet. What is a Zhu Zhu Pet you ask? Well it is a motorized hamster that you buy accessories like beds, tunnels and cars. Judging by the product videos on their Facebook fan page these things are just miniature Roombas shaped like hamsters. The hamsters sell for $7.99 at Target, but take a look at what they're selling for on Amazon and E-Bay.

When I was first asked if we had these toys I assumed the spelling of the product was Zoo Zoo and I had no clue they even existed. From the discussion I had with a customer, who was looking for one for her daughter, I found out of the eight hamsters only four of them can be found in stores now and the other four will be released later; talk about creating scarcity and demand. The customer went on to tell me she promised her daughter a hamster and the Zhu Zhu pet was closest thing she was going to get to a real one. I have seen a couple of cases of parents crazily trying to find them for their kids and I can only imagine how nutty they will get closer to Christmas.

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The customer is smarter than they have ever been. With the emergence of smart phones, product reviews and social networking customers have all the tools they need to make informed decisions and find the best deals. From what I have seen at the retail level that information does not exist within the stores and customers are demanding more of the sales staff.

In the year I have been working at Target I have seen a major increase in customers using their smart phones to look up online reviews and more product information. I have also had and increase in customers coming in citing reviews they had seen online for products. This is great more power to them, but the sales staff is only as knowledgeable as they information they are provided or already know.

Everyone I work with in electronics has a specialty in one product category and is a generalist in every other category. It is really hard for us to know every fine detail about a product considering the little information we are provided in-store and the lack of any tool to help us search for further details. When I get questions I can't answer I will search for an answer on my days off to better prepare myself for the next time.

From where do we get our information? Well Target provides us with a generalized book of products we sell with the information we need to make the sale. Basically it tells us the difference between plasma and LCD, the differences between the game consoles and which accessories we should sell with the products. This helps answer the basic questions, but lord help us if we are asked how many MHz a particular TV has. We also have the place cards by the product which give dimensions, megapixels and other general features. These cards help the most for digital cameras because if you have ever looked at camera box you'll know there is no info about the camera whatsoever. This brings me to the last source of information we have in the store which is the product's package. A product's packaging should hold all of the answers considering most boxes have six sides and you don't need to a have the same product picture on four of them. For example, I was helping a guest figure out the difference between two HP printers. There was a $40 difference between the two and it took ten minutes to find on the box that one printer was faster than the other and that was it.

The knowledge diffusion in retail environments is starting to fall behind and if they don't improve the way they get information to their sales staff they will begin to see declines in customer satisfaction and sales.

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The lower socioeconomic class still buys and values physical media. They are still buying new DVDs and CDs on Tuesdays, taping TV shows to VHS and wanting MP3 players but do not know how to use them. They are the same people who are buying CD-Rs to back-up their files and photos and I have to step in and tell them flash drives are a better solution. After telling a guest we were sold out of VHS tapes he began to tell me how because of the recession we were going to go from DVDs to VHS and everything was going to go back to a simpler time (I think my jaw hit the floor when I heard that).

This is a very important takeaway for me because people in the advertising industry tend to be early adopters and are always surrounded by the newest technology. I think we forget that owning a computer and having Internet in our house is still a small luxury that some people cannot afford. I see customers buy MP3 players, but don't have a computer to load music onto it; I think they have friends who have access to one do it for them.

In the past three years there has been an explosion in digital media and I believe the future of media will be in digital copies and in the stream. The iPod revolutionized the way we keep all of our music with us and Hulu and Netflix are revolutionizing the way we watch and interact with premium video content.

One of the most important lessons I have learned from working at this Target is to take a step back and re-frame where other people are coming from and to remember that no one has the same luxuries.

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