Tuesday, January 11, 2005

The Buzz on Mobile Aromatherapy AromaPods

Now, why didn't I think of this? AromaPods ... mobile sniff inhalers to carry aromatherapy with you ! These "flavors" sound familiar ... think I've seen the candles in these themes and now Downy fabric softener may be more into aromatherapy!

"Mood swings. Anxieties. Anger. Fatigue. No wonder aromatherapy has become such a massive success. However, until now, it was definitely something that was enjoyed (or should we say applied) in the confinements of consumers' homes or in expensive spas. New Zealand 's AromaPod has come up with a mobile solution: twist and sniff inhalers in four functional 'flavors': Awake, Calm, Energize, and Focus."

"AromaPod was developed by senLab, which itself is part of the Healthcare Manufacturing Group. Dubbed 'mood-management devices', the AromaPods are being distributed via large New Zealand retailers, supermarkets and BP gas stations. They sell for NZD 9.95 (USD 6.95) per pod, and last for about a month if used regularly ... they don't contain calories, caffeine, alcohol or other fun stimulants."


This article was featured in the January 2005 issue of Springwise's free, monthly newsletter. For more new business ideas like this one, please visit their archives.

The Buzz - Prague Pink Lizard Embossed Barrel

What is HOT in handbags? What's all the buzz? The Prague PINK Lizard Embossed Barrel -- This little bag is the rage and a definite must have for all you fashionistas out there! I LOVE my bag!

When I found mine, it was available through Overstock, the Big O. Overstock advertised the pink barrel as "lizard embossed" although the manufacturer's tag says "genuine leather." From what I can find, the buzz is that the Prague line of designer handbags are reportedly designed in New York City, the fashion capital of the world, and made in China! Prague handbags boast a distinctive New York style with European designer touches and Chinese manufactured quality!!

Prague handbags are constructed of high quality fabrications, yet moderately priced to fit in anyone's budget. These handbags reflect the sense of modern style that keeps evolving in today's fashion industry. They're tastefully designed and appealing, as well as easy on your pocketbook. This little number lists for $70.00, but can be had for 50% list. If this compact little bag carried the Louis Vuitton, Chanel, or Prada, the price tag would be MUCH higher!

Features: It's Pink Genuine Leather. Dimensions are 7.5 inches wide x 3.25 inches deep x 3.25 inches high. It has a removable 15 inch carry strap with 8 inch drop, zippered enclosure, one zippered interior pocket.

Monday, January 10, 2005

As an eBay Seller Looking for What's Hot

As an eBay seller, I'm on the look out for what's "hot." And, I don't necessary mean "hot" as in those prolific knockoff or replica handbags, which are seemingly the rage. I can't tell you just how many sellers on eBay are selling knockoffs as the real genuine thing!

However, "eBay.com has rules posted forbidding the sale of counterfeit goods, but it's not unusual to see Louis Vuittons on the site for less than $100."

I personally would rather sell the real, genuine article. So, I'm sticking to selling designer women's apparel with recognizable, authentic brand names.
  • Look for my listings under my eBay seller name: JaguarJulieBuys.
  • Check my positive feedback.
  • Purchase and pay with confidence as I'm PayPal verified and ID-verified on eBay.
  • My eBay store is Jaguar Julie Designs which just happens to be the name of my new company!
P.S. I stopped selling on eBay and only buy something once in a while. Being retired and a single senior, my life has changed significantly and I no longer have the energy to be a seller.

Best Blog Awards 2004 from MarketingSherpa Readers

MarketingSherpa Readers' Choice Best Blog Awards 2004: Chosen in April 2004 by 173,000 readers, mainly marketing execs at medium-large businesses and the agencies who serve them, and selected by 826 judges from 29-nominated blogs.
  • Individual's blog, marketing and advertising: Adrants http://www.adrants.com; Honorable Mention: Seth Godin's Blog http://www.sethgodin.com/sg/blog.html. 
  • Group weblog, marketing and advertising: AdLand http://ad-rag.com; Honorable Mention: MarketingVOX http://www.marketingvox.com/. 
  • PR: CanuckFlack http://www.canuckflack.com; Honorable Mention: PR Machine http://prmachine.blogspot.com/. 
  • B-to-B, marketing: Dana's Blog http://www.danavan.net/weblog/; Honorable Mention: B2B Lead Generation Blog http://blog.startwithalead.com/. 
  • Small business marketing: Duct Tape Marketing http://www.DuctTapeMarketing.com/weblog.php; Honorable Mention: re:invention Blog - Biz and marketing soundbytes for women entrepreneurs http://www.reinventioninc.blogspot.com. 
  • Online marketing: Search Engine Lowdown http://www.searchenginelowdown.com; Honorable Mention: Adverblog Web & wireless advertising in a Blog http://www.adverblog.com. 
  • Top readers' choice write-in vote: Strategic Public Relations http://prblog.typepad.com.

Best / Top Blogs Cited in 2004

Curious about what's the Best Blogs, I did a Google search this morning for "best blogs," yielding results of 13,400,000 for "best blogs" in 0.14 seconds. Big Eye, http://www.bigeye.com/blogs.htm, has highlighted BlogPulse as "best of 2004."

BlogPulse, http://www.blogpulse.com/2004_review/BlogPulse2004_review.html, lists the following, as the Top Blogs cited in 2004:
  1. BoingBoing
  2. DailyKos
  3. Instapundit
  4. The Drudge Report
  5. Slashdot
  6. AndrewSullivan.com
  7. Talking Points Memo
  8. Eschaton
  9. Washington Monthly
  10. Power Line
  11. Albino Blacksheep
  12. Little Green Footballs
  13. engadget
  14. The Smoking Gun
  15. MetaFilter
  16. Wonkette!
  17. Gizmodo
  18. The Command Post
  19. Captain's Quarters
  20. Wizbang!
  21. HughHewitt.com
  22. The Volokh Conspiracy
  23. Michele Malkin
  24. Penny Arcade
  25. Informed Comment
  26. J-Walk Blog
  27. Protein Wisdom
  28. Blogs for Bush
  29. Kottke.org
  30. Belmont Club
  31. Lileks.com
  32. Buzzmachine
  33. A Small Victory
  34. Dean's World
  35. Crooked Timber
  36. The Scepter of Angst
  37. Allah is in the House
  38. Scobleizer
  39. VoidStar
  40. INDC Journal
  41. Democratic Underground
  42. Outside the Beltway
  43. Gawker
  44. Pandagon.net
  45. Gothamist
  46. Tim Blair
  47. Roger L. Simon
  48. Brad DeLong's Semi-Daily Journal: a Weblog
  49. VodkaPundit
  50. TalkLeft
  51. Unconscious Mutterings
  52. Daniel D. Drezner
  53. Blackfive
  54. Mad Science News
  55. Oliver Willis
  56. Cox and Forkum Editorial Cartoons
  57. Matthew Yglesias
  58. This Blog is Full of Crap
  59. Windsofchange.net
  60. Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
  61. Billmon
  62. Joi Ito's Web
  63. Waxy.org
  64. Hullabaloo
  65. Jihad Watch
  66. Marginal Revolution
  67. Scripting News
  68. IMAO
  69. Iraq the Model
  70. The Official Kerry-Edwards Blog
  71. ScrappleFace
  72. MyDD
  73. This Modern World
  74. Defamer
  75. Lessig Blog
  76. Maud Newton
  77. Kuro5hin
  78. Questions and Observations
  79. The Blue Lemur
  80. techdirt
  81. Chrenkoff
  82. Right Wing News
  83. Rathergood.com
  84. Ace of Spades HQ
  85. Argghhh
  86. Dan Gillmor eJournal on SiliconValley.com
  87. Filling a Much-Needed Void
  88. USS Clueless
  89. Wil Wheaton dot Net
  90. Reason Online Hit and Run
  91. The American Prospect: Tapped
  92. The Truth Laid Bear
  93. Backcountry Conservative
  94. The Jawa Report
  95. Polipundit.com
  96. dooce
  97. The Politburo Diktat
  98. Baghdad Burning
  99. Jeremy Zawodny's blog
  100. Orcinus 
BlogPulse Trends is the one-click answer to the simple question: "What’s the buzz?" BlogPulse Trends identifies the topics and subjects that people are talking about in their blogs.

"The BlogPulse Showcase is a sandbox for our researchers, developers and collaborators. This is where we offer an early peek into new and cool things related to blogs, blog searching, blog analysis and more."

I am a Blogger x5!
  1. Julie Ann Brady Blog On and On
  2. Blondes that DIY
  3. For Sale By Owner - Leesburg, FL
  4. For Sale By Owner - Jacksonville, FL
  5. Topicability

Friday, January 07, 2005

Six Apart, LiveJournal Merger Creates Blogging Powerhouse

"There's money to be made," blog expert B.L. Ochman, author of "What Could Your Company Do with a Blog?," said. "As soon as that becomes clear, you'll see more mergers in the marketplace. This acquisition will certainly help Six Apart, which is starting to see quite a few competitors."
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/39463.html
Six Apart, a developer and provider of blogging software and service, has acquired Danga Interactive, operator of LiveJournal, an online community organized around personal journals, for an undisclosed amount. The merger of the two blogging pioneers makes the new company a blogging powerhouse serving up 6.5 million blogs, with thousands more added daily, according to the companies. Analysts said it puts Six Apart in a better position to capitalize on the revenue-generating aspects of blogs.

Six Apart now has a complete package of blogging software and services.
  • TypePad offers bloggers a hosted service with more flexibility and power than free services.
  • Moveable Type offers corporations and institutions a server-based blog publishing platform.

Thursday, January 06, 2005

Blog Shares Blogshares - Fantasy or Reality

OK ... me again with the Google searches. I live to LOVE Google searches. I honestly don't know what I did before Google!! Really. And, I'm much too old to be carrying on this way. I'm sure my husband would say, "It must be men o pause!"

Well, I just searched "Blog shares" and yielded 24,700 for "Blog shares" in 0.19 seconds. Without the quotes, you get 1,290,000 for Blog shares in 0.27 seconds.

The most obvious result is http://www.blogshares.com/ -- a fantasy stock market for weblogs. Players get to invest a fictional $500, and blogs are valued by incoming links.

As I am new to fantasy and to Blogshares ... much more into reality ... I was surprised to find Jaguar Julie in Blogshares. In reality, I nominated my blog as Best Small Business Blog for the 2005 Blogging Awards.

I am a Blogger x5!
  1. Julie Ann Brady Blog On and On
  2. Blondes that DIY
  3. For Sale By Owner - Leesburg, FL
  4. For Sale By Owner - Jacksonville, FL
  5. Topicability

More about Make Meaning

If you do a Google search, you get 79,500 for Make Meaning in just 0.25 seconds.
  • Google returned a site that really wasn't pertinent, but nevertheless, it's a cool site to check out for definitions: Think Exist.

  • "Purposeful Leaders Make Meaning." --Jim Clemmer.

  • "Making meaning, understanding the world, gives us control over our lives and empowers us to make good decisions, to be the kind of people we would like to be. Understanding is always good. Meaning, by definition, is useful." --http://lightshedder.com/learning*life/WritingProcess/meacom.html.

  • “Everyone should carefully observe which way his heart draws him, and then choose that way with all his strength.” —GuyKawasaki.

  • "Guy, you have a Top Five list of things an entrepreneur must accomplish. At the top of that list is Make Meaning. What does that mean, and why is it so important? Kawasaki: It means that if you start a company to "make money" then you'll probably fail. Great companies start because the founders want to change the world ... not make a fast buck. Call me a romantic, but I think entrepreneurs should try to change the world. This comes from working at Apple ... old habits die hard ... However, if you make meaning, you'll probably make money. If you make money, you might not make meaning. At the end of one's life, hopefully you've done more than simply make money." Forbes Q&A with Guy Kawasaki.

  • "The most important thing in creating any venture is to make meaning. Have you ever fallen in love with someone without sharing a meaningful experience with that person? Of course not. It just doesn't happen. Kawasaki says by making meaning, entrepreneurs will be inspired by what they're creating as they're creating it, virtually falling in love with it, ensuring the venture's success." http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/12/12/201610.php.

Resolve to Make Meaning Your One Decision

I haven't yet stated any of my resolutions for 2005 in this forum, but will share a few quotes that I found which, to quote a Meatloaf song, "You took the words right out of my mouth..."
  • Here's a great quote that I found on www.anchorsaway.us:
"I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant flame than it should be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time." --Jack London.
  • Anchors Away is all about US! 
  • "This year, make a 'One Decision' ... your commitment to living a life of MORE ... To make lasting change in our lives, we need to commit to one way of living versus another. This is not just a decision. It is the One Decision that determines the quality and direction of our life ... By making a One Decision, you choose to pursue the greater MORE in life: more connection, meaning, fulfillment and satisfaction. And along the way you find more time, money and energy." --Judith Wright

Wednesday, January 05, 2005

The Buzz on Word of Mouth Marketing or WOMMA

In case you haven't heard, WOMMA is the official trade association for the word of mouth marketing industry. So, what exactly is word of mouth marketing?

"Word-of-mouth is more about farming than it is about hunting. Building your business through word-of-mouth is about cultivating relationships with people who get to know you and trust you."

"Word of mouth is the passing of information by verbal means, especially recommendations, but also general information, in an informal, person-to-person manner, rather than by mass media, advertising, organized publication, or traditional marketing. Word of Mouth is typically considered a spoken communication, although web dialogue, such as blogs, message boards and emails are often now included in the definition

A very successful word of mouth promotion creates a buzz. A buzz is a highly intense and interactive form of word of mouth. Word of mouth is essentially a linear process with information passing from one individual to another, then to another, etc. A marketer has successfully created a buzz when the interactions are so intense that the information moves in a matrix pattern rather than a linear one. Everyone is talking about the topic."

If you've got pertinent case studies, reports, research, and white papers, the WOMMA's new blog/library/newsletter, The Womnibus, is building their repository. Contact them at http://www.womma.org/contact.htm or email editor@womma.org.

Tuesday, January 04, 2005

Top Ten Most Trustworthy Industry Sectors

Internet Companies, Banks and Healthcare Organizations Cited as Most Trustworthy Industry Sectors. A consumer-focused study conducted by the Ponemon Institute and the nonprofit TRUSTe revealed that eBay is the most trusted company for privacy in America while companies in the hospitality and retail food store industries are not considered as trustworthy.
The top ten ranked companies:
  1. eBay -- FYI ... Jaguar Julie is an eBay seller ... so this is a "good thing!" that eBay is #1.
  2. American Express -- yes, our family supports AMEX daily.
  3. Procter & Gamble (all brands) -- a great family of brands.
  4. Amazon -- what a wonderful online experience for buying books!
  5. Hewlett Packard -- well, I tried their multifunction printer, but now have an Epson. ;-(
  6. U.S. Postal Service -- wonderful integration with PayPal for eBay shipments! + carrier pickups!!
  7. IBM -- yes, Jaguar Julie was a marketing contractor with IBM in Atlanta and Tallahassee!
  8. Earthlink -- this was my IP choice when I used a MAC previously.
  9. Citibank -- again, we support this company monthly.
  10. Dell -- yes, Jaguar Julie made a major Dimension 8300 desktop + flat screen purchase recently!
The study, which polled more than 6,300 consumers, also reveals the three top criteria that consumers apply to gauge a company's trustworthiness.
  1. The most important factor is the company's overall reputation for product and service quality,
  2. followed by a company's limits on collection of its customers' personal information.
  3. The third criterion is the use of advertisements and solicitations that respect consumer privacy.
"Privacy is a key component of trust, which is crucial to the success of the eBay marketplace," said Scott Shipman, privacy counsel, eBay Inc. "We work closely with the eBay community to maintain the transparency of the marketplace while protecting the privacy of our users."

Most of these top ten companies above have provided consumers with links to make donations to the American Red Cross's Tsunami Disaster Relief. You can visit the American Red Cross directly through one of the links below.

As I mentioned in a previous blog posting, our family has made a significant cash contribution last Saturday and I am donating all the proceeds from my Jute Tote Bags that are advertised on eBay. Thanks for your heartfelt support.

http://www.redcross.org/index.html. You can make a donation through the American Red Cross to support the Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund.

eCommerce: Online Consumers Spent the Most on Apparel

eCommerce: Online Consumers Spent the Most on Apparel / Clothing; Jewelry #1 in the Fastest-Growing Categories

"The latest holiday eSpending Report from Goldman, Sachs & Co., Harris Interactive(R), and Nielsen//NetRatings revealed that online shoppers in the U.S. spent $23.2 billion during the 2004 holiday season, excluding travel. This reflects a 25 percent increase from the $18.5 billion spent online during the same timeframe in 2003.

According to the 2004 eSpending report, based on weekly surveys of more than 1,000 respondents, online consumers spent the most on apparel/clothing, totaling $3.8 billion, or 16 percent of total online revenue, during the 2004 holiday season.

Categories generating the highest year-over-year growth in holiday dollars included jewelry ... Jewelry jumped 113 percent to $1.9 billion during the 2004 holiday season compared to the $888 million spent in 2003."

Source:
  • Goldman Sachs, Harris Interactive, and Nielsen//NetRatings eSpending Report, 2004.
  • Harris Interactive Inc. (http://www.harrisinteractive.com), combines its intellectual capital, databases and technology to advance market leadership through U.S. offices and wholly owned subsidiaries:
    London-based HI Europe (http://www.hieurope.com), Paris-based Novatris (http://www.novatris.com), Tokyo-based Harris Interactive Japan, through newly acquired WirthlinWorldwide (http://www.wirthlinworldwide.com), a Reston, Virginia-based research and consultancy firm ranked 25th largest in the world, and through an independent global network of affiliate market research companies. To become a member of the Harris Poll Online(SM) and be invited to participate in future online surveys, visit http://www.harrispollonline.com.
  • Nielsen//NetRatings, http://www.nielsen-netratings.com, a service provided by NetRatings, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTRT), is the global standard for Internet audience measurement and analysis and is the industry's premier source for online advertising intelligence with its NetView, AdRelevance, @Plan, WebRF, LemonAd, MegaPanel and SiteCensus services.

Monday, January 03, 2005

Tsunami Relief Fund - Have you Donated

I am donating proceeds from the sale of my two jute totes which were handcrafted in India. On Saturday, January 1, 2005, our family made a significant cash donation to this relief fund. We encourage you to do your part to contribute.

You can purchase the Yellow Jute Snail Tote or the Yellow Jute Turtle Tote through my online eBay store. Thank you.

P.S. I was selling jute totes in 2005. Some of my remaining totes were actually donated to First Coast No More Homeless Pets and the Goodwill in Jacksonville, Florida. It is now late May of 2019. I am a retired single senior gal living in Leesburg, Florida navigating my retirement. So, I am no longer an online auction seller.

Have Blogs taken over the world

Several searches on Google returns some surprising MONSTER results!
  • "Blog" yields 154,000,000 results in 0.19 seconds !
  • "weblog" yields 40,200,000 results in 0.15 seconds.
  • "Blogging" yields 9,560,000 results in 0.14 seconds.
  • " 'web log' " yields 4,140,000 results in 0.12 seconds.
  • "blogosphere" yields 1,380,000 results in 0.15 seconds.
  • "blogrolling" yields 655,000 results in 0.19 seconds.
  • "blogsphere" yields 122,000 results in 0.23 seconds.
Additional Google searches yields some EMERGING terminology.
  • "Blogophile" yields 385 results in 0.09 seconds.
  • "Blogphile" yields 156 results in 0.15 seconds.
  • "Bloggerphile" yields just 5 results in 0.24 seconds.
What is the history of blogs? They aren't as new as you would think!

Mallory Jensen writes,

"They have actually been around since the early days of the Internet. In the strictest sense, a blog is someone's online record of the Web sites he or she visits. Today's blogs, of course, are much more than that. In 1999 there were dozens of blogs. Now there are millions. What happened?

Simply put, some of the blogging pioneers — in an effort to make their own work easier — built tools that allow anyone, no matter how little Internet savvy he or she possesses, to create and maintain a blog. All you need to get started is a name, a password, and an e-mail address. The most popular of these tools is the aptly named Blogger.com, which was launched in August 1999 by Evan Williams, Paul Bausch, and Meg Hourihan and quickly became the largest and best-known of its kind.

Part of Blogger.com's appeal is that it lets people store blogs on their own servers, rather than on a remote base. This allows them to have a personalized address (like www.yourname.com), whereas with other blogging tools your address starts at the remote server."

I love Blogs and Blogging

That makes me a BlogPhile ... So, "What's a BlogPhile? " you ask? Blog a.k.a. blogger -or- blogrolling -or- weblog -or- Web log -or- blogosphere
  • A blog is basically a journal that is available on the web.
  • The activity of updating a blog is "blogging" and someone who keeps a blog is a "blogger."
  • Blogs are typically updated daily using software that allows people with little or no technical background to update and maintain the blog.
  • Postings on a blog are almost always arranged in chronological order with the most recent additions featured most prominantly.

  • -phile or -phil suff.
    1. One that loves or has a strong affinity or preference for: audiophile.

  • Loving; having a strong affinity or preference for: Francophile.
  • [New Latin -philus, from Greek -philos, beloved, dear, from philos, beloved, loving.]

I am a Blogger x5!
  1. Julie Ann Brady Blog On and On
  2. Blondes that DIY
  3. For Sale By Owner - Leesburg, FL
  4. For Sale By Owner - Jacksonville, FL
  5. Topicability

Humor Quickies - Momerisms

Starting off New Year 2005, my mother has shared some quickies ...some of her momerisms [that's momisms with the "er" in the middle]:
  • Two peanuts walk into a bar. One was a salted.

  • A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says "I'll serve you, but don't start anything."

  • A sandwich walks into a bar. The bartender says, "Sorry we don't serve food in here."

  • A dyslexic man walks into a bra.

  • A man walks into a bar with a slab of asphalt under his arm and says: "A beer please, and one for the road."

  • Two antennas meet on a roof, fall in love and get married. The ceremony wasn't much but the reception was great.

  • Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other: "Does this taste funny to you?"

  • "Doc, I can't stop singing 'The Green, Green Grass of Home." "That sounds like "Tom Jones syndrome" "Is it common?" "It's not unusual."

  • Two cows standing next to each other in a field, Daisy says to Dolly "I was artificially inseminated this morning." "I don't believe you," said Dolly. "It's true, no bull!"

  • Two hydrogen atoms walk into a bar. One says, "I've lost my electron." The other says, "Are you sure?" The first replies, "Yes, I'm positive..."

  • A man takes his Rottweiler to the vet and says, "My dog's cross-eyed, is there anything you can do for him?" "Well," says the vet, "let's have a look at him." So he picks the dog up and examines his eyes, then checks his teeth. Finally, he says "I'm going to have to put him down." "What, just because he's cross-eyed?" "No, because he's really heavy."

  • I went to buy some camouflage trousers the other day but I couldn't find any.

  • I went to the butcher's the other day and I bet him $50 that he couldn't reach the meat off the top shelf. He said, 'no, the steaks are too high.'

  • I went to a seafood disco rave last week.... and pulled a mussel. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly; but when they lit a fire in the craft, it sank, proving once and for all that you can't have your
    kayak and heat it too.

  • What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh.

  • Two fish swim into a concrete wall. One turns to the other and says, dam." 
Check out more from my mom on this page entitled Momerisms and dedicated to her!

Saturday, January 01, 2005

Fashion Trend Talk - Faux-Fur Accents

Fur ruled the runways this season, showing up on everything from jackets to sweaters to accessories. And while real fur is out of the question, faux fur taps into the luxe trend in an affordable, humane way. To help you take advantage of this fuzzy look, check out our favorite faux-fur-adorned items for winter and our tips on how to wear them:

Sweaters: The tailored, classic '50s-feel cardigan gets an update when its collar is wrapped in fuzzy faux fur. Look for a cardigan that's fitted, with a faux-fur collar in a color that complements the sweater's weave. For an ultra-feminine look, pair your faux-fur-collared sweater with a pencil skirt, patterned hose and heels. Avoid cardigans that are boxy or shapeless.

Ponchos: The poncho is still hot for winter, and does double-fashion duty when it's trimmed in fake fur. One great bet: a poncho with faux-fur trim along the hem, or with faux-fur pom-pom ties. Ponchos look great when worn over classic, casual clothes, like a sleek turtleneck and slim boot-cut jeans. Add cowboy or stacked-heel boots for a finishing touch.

Jackets: What's way better than a real fur coat? A fun, faux-fur jacket! This season, many toppers combine two trends: animal prints and fake fur. Look for a jacket that's shaped by princess seams to accentuate the waist, and that falls to mid-thigh. Also be sure the faux fur is thin and sleek, not shaggy (otherwise, the silhouette will be too big). A faux-fur jacket in an animal print can work for lots of occasions: over a suit on the way to work, or topping an evening dress at night. Another option: Try a parka with faux-fur trim around the hood.

Handbags:
Even totes and purses take on the fur trend this season! Sporting a faux-fur bag is an easy, risk-free way to wear this fun look. To keep it chic, look for a bag that's structured, to contrast the relaxed feel of the material. Satchels, structured totes and bucket bags look great in faux fur. Stick to neutral shades of black, brown and cream, and pair with sleek clothes to put the focus on your bag.

Source: Lisa Kovalovich

What’s the Buzz About Buzz Marketing

"There's a new marketing catchphrase that's getting rave word-of-mouth reviews. From articles in the popular press to conversations in the classroom, huge companies to boutique marketing firms, suddenly it seems you can't talk about new products without addressing 'buzz marketing.'

'People are buzzing about buzzing,' says Wharton marketing professor Barbara Kahn. 'People think it's cool. There is something almost empowering about the idea of being able to 'buzz' your way into the products people buy.' " http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/1105.cfm

These two trade associations give fuel to the growing phenomenon of BUZZ:
  • Word of Mouth Marketing Association
  • Viral + Buzz Marketing Association
From Knowledge @ Wharton

Get Blog Inspired

Thinking about starting your own blog and want to get some ideas on what to write about? Are you making meaning with your blog?

Check out these Blogs for some blogging inspiration:
  • A VC
  • Engage
  • VC Ball
  • Blog.org
  • Blue Sun
  • eblogsky
  • Beyond VC
  • Amy Jo Kim
  • Jeff Nolan
  • Madeleines
  • Clay Shirky
  • David Allen
  • TJ's Weblog
  • Section One
  • Trader Mike
  • CorporatePR
  • Media Culpa
  • PR Opinions
  • Common Craft
  • Mathemagenic
  • Susan Mernit
  • Venture Blog
  • Dave Pollard