A Nice Touch

A few weeks ago in Chicago, I stopped by a Caribou Coffee on the way back to O'Hare. The "Happy Monday" sticker that doubled as a coupon for my next visit was a nice touch that showed they were attentive to detail and were interested in giving me more than just the expected rational benefit of a warm cup of coffee and caffeine to start my day. Combined with the daily trivia, I'd be interested enough to return to Caribou a second time to see what another day might bring (for me, even though the coupon wasn't a driver to return, the message was).

A great example of a brand really sticking to its principles but still being flexible and creative enough to be interesting. We all strive to be consistent, but sometimes we forget that we can still be consistently interesting. If we're boring, our consumers will get bored and will start experimenting with our competitors. Clearly, some creativity and attention to detail can help prevent this.

Product Shocker: Real Scorpion Suckers

I spotted these this weekend at the CNBC news store at the Philadelphia International Airport. A little Googling around revealed that they are, in fact, real scorpions (hence the name, I suppose). As one website puts it, "Yes, the scorpion is real and edible. No, it will not sting you. Insects are a major food source for much of the world's population. If you have never tried them, join in and expand your (or your friend's) culinary tastes."

My plane crashed into a truck.

Of course, this was the plane I was about to get on returning home from my last trip to New York.

Elizabeth Arden joins the beauty-vending trend!

Ladies, for all your makeup and products you just parted with at the security checkpoint, Elizabeth Arden saves the day!

ProActiv vending machine

Acne can be emotionally devastating and embarrassing. I spotted this ProActiv vending machine in the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport recently, initially wondering if part of the thinking behind the concept was that acne sufferers are embarrassed purchasing acne products in traditional drug stores. But that begs the question, is using a vending machine in a major airport any less embarrassing? Or how about getting it pulled out of your carryon luggage at the security checkpoint returning home?

So, the embarrassment factor probably wasn't the idea driving this. Perhaps it's just convenience, and also the cool factor in differentiating your product in an overly cluttered, crowded category. Unless, of course, it gets stuck in the machine and you have to call an 800-number to get it out.

Is it really chicken?

I was in Manhattan visiting a friend recently, and in a Duane Reade (a popular Manhattan drug store), I spotted this finding: bags of chicken in an aisle. They weren't frozen or refrigerated... just sitting out in the open. Can anyone explain this?