I Want to Excite Customers Like This

In case you haven't heard yet, Coke has launched a new soda dispenser that allows customers to choose from 140 different flavors (yes, that's right, 140... I didn't even know there were 140 flavors in existence) including Peach Sprite or Orange Coke.

First off, for everyone who used to go into a convenience store and create a suicide drink, you know how much this rocks.

Second, I could launch into a tirade about how this will improve Coke's ability to deliver more choices to its customers, attract new customers, reduce costs, etc, but let's face it...

Isn't this what it's all about (wait until 24 seconds in)?

Email Stuff

First off, I agree with Chad White over at The Retail Email Blog on his post about Ralph Lauren's recent mailing. I don't remember who said it (I thought it was Caples, but couldn't find it in his book), but we've always said around the office that in photos, the subjects should be facing into the copy. Chad: I agree and if you can convince someone to make a bet with you on a test (obviously not for Ralph Lauren), your money's safe. Not that I think we've tested it recently...

Photos from the blog:


















versus





















I'm working on some ideas for upcoming design tests and I think I may try this test to confirm my hypothesis. Anyone care to place a bet on which wins?

Mashable: Twitter Updates Officially Become Tweets

Should I be ashamed to admit that I never realized Twitter didn't invent or even use the term "tweet?"

Link to Mashable

Manhattan Airport in Central Park?

Really???

http://manhattanairport.org/

Cool Saves Campaign

Hearing about this from Mashable, I just wanted to comment on this...

Facebook has come up with a social way of saving people trying to deactivate their accounts. What a great tactic to use for a social media site -- it's quick (lets the person continue deactivating his/her account if desired) and effective (pulling in people on your friends list and inviting you to send a goodbye message). Great idea.

Super 3D Bowl?

Last night, like 97.5 million other people, I enjoyed the Super Bowl's exciting finish. While it still wasn't as exciting as last year's finish, and not even as exciting as it would be if my Skins got into the game, it was still a great time.

One thing I couldn't understand was the whole 3D commercial thing. At a couple points during the game, the commercial breaks were broadcast entirely in 3D. Of course, if you had a pair of 3D glasses, this was probably pretty cool... if you were like 5 years old.

I mean seriously, I think 3D was cool back in 1984 when Michael Jackson did the 3D version of "Thriller," but in 2009, where we have iPhones, lifelike HD, and all sorts of other advance technology, who the hell cares about 3D anymore?? And people are saying that the Super Bowl is entering a new dimension?

Plus, the advance promotion of the 3D commercial breaks was either nonexistent, or it must have been advertised on every show -- except for the 30 that I watch.

How many people could you honestly believe got these glasses before the big game? I can't imagine that it was anywhere near 15 or 20 million... which means that at least 80% of people watching the game were like me -- wondering what the hell was wrong with their eyes...

Besides, if they were going to put something in 3D, shouldn't it be the big game??

Eh, I'd still rather have watched the Caps destroy the Senators instead of the Super Bowl anyway.

Little Gordon

Wow. What a great series of videos! You know Gordon Ramsey -- he's the asshole celebrity chef on BBC and FOX. A hospitality job-search site has given us a look into what he'd be like as a kid. Pretty sweet.

For the longest time...

Howdy folks --

Well, since September, things have gotten quite busy at work and as a result, I've been hard-pressed to find time to put the kind of effort into writing blog posts that I would want to. As a result, I've been trying to keep up my end of the conversation as much as I can through Facebook and Twitter.

We're nearing the end of our fiscal year, which means that things are only going to get busier, but as much as I can, I promise to keep getting posts up on here.

Happy Friday!