Free Access To Disney For A Day

In a bid to inspire people to show more care to those less fortunate then themselves, as well as boosting traffic to Disney theme parks in the US, Disney has announced an initiative called "Give A Day, Get A Disney Day"Disney will be partnering with HandsOn Network to highlight a variety of volunteer opportunities with participating organizations across the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. Starting 2010, those who contribute their time need only have it verified by HandsOn; then, in exchange, they'll get a voucher from Disney which will allow them one day admission to a Walt Disney World or Disneyland theme park.

Via - Disney Parks

Tap Water Resurgence?

Bottled water has been a marketing phenomenon over the past decade or so and will no doubt one day go down in marketing history as one of the cleverest new products - alongside tobacco marketing. The ability to have consumers willingly pay disproportionate amounts of money for a commodity is the holy-grail we're all after and perfected by various bottled-beverage companies world wide.

However, with fears of global warming and the negative impact the bottled water category has had in it's contribution, the past few years have been far more difficult for the industry with various projects aimed at discouraging consumers to purchase bottled water.

It would seem a similar initiative has recently started in London. The city will install various "hydrachills" - essentially water fountains - that will allow people to purchase 500ml of water for a nominal fee of 20p, a fraction of what's charged traditionally by bottled water brands. The 20p charge will go to a charity organisation called Waste Watch, whose aim it is to change people's perception and use of natural resources.

Via - Gemma Charles' Green Blog, Brand Republic

Enjoy A BigMac While Your Car Recharges

The trouble with the idea of rechargeable electric vehicles is the lack of infrastructure to support the system. Sales for rechargeable cars would not take off until there are convenient recharging stations and with international corporations so far being fairly lackluster in installing such systems the concept has yet to gain the momentum as was initially touted.

McDonald's, in collaboration with a company called NovaCharge, seems as though they are about to change the status-quo. The fast food chain is said to install special hybrid parking in a new North Carolina chain, complete with electric vehicle charging stations. NovaCharge’s ChargePoint Network system is a connected model that provides subscription-based access for owners of rechargeable electric cars.

It has been reported that batteries would take between 2 and 4 hours to charge, which is somewhat longer than what an average consumer would like to spend at McDonald's, no doubt. However, it is a fantastic initiative and with McDonald's vast global footprint, they can really make a difference if they chose to.

Via - RedFerret

Micro-financing via Cellular Phones

Entrepreneurs in developing countries have had difficulty bridging the technological divide between their countries and the technologically advanced western world. Innovative attempts to catalyse development in poor countries through the use of computers; in initiatives such as Kiva and C4 world have failed. These initiatives are aimed at bridging the gap between Western and African entrepreneurs by offering mentorship and micro-financing via websites.

There are more budding entrepreneurs with cell phones compared to those with computers. Mobile Movement has introduced a mobile phone solution that will enable entrepreneurs in developing countries to gain access to micro finance and mentoring from western donors by using their cellular phones.

The process works as follows: potential financiers and mentors view the profiles of entrepreneurs and business ideas from developing countries through a central secure website. The financiers can place a comment and the system then sends that message directly to the entrepreneur’s cell phone. When the entrepreneur replies, the system notifies the interested financier. The final steps are done entirely via cell phone, the financier can transfer money to fund the entrepreneur via paypal and continue mentoring them via sms. The system is a solid attempt in establishing a stronger relationship between businessmen in the western and developing countries. Lets all hope the criminal element, which is a virus for development, does not spoil the party.

Via: springwise.com

Bad Times Boot Camp For Retrenched Professionals

The American economy contracted at a surprisingly sharp 6.1 percent rate in the first quarter as exports and business inventories plummeted. Former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said the current global recession will "surely be the longest and deepest" since the 1930s.The global recession has resulted in more than one million job losses in the U.S.

An American personal trainer Alex Light has created free boot camp classes for retrenched professionals. The concept aims to help unemployed people get fit and boost morale during the hard times. Light himself a victim of the recession states “the training is held 3 times-a-week, we aim to get fit and meet new people. With hard work and dedication together we will find the solutions to our individual problems.”

Light now hopes to spread the concept across the globe, pursuing sponsorships in order to keep the classes free and become self employed. Light hopes that when the recession ends the people will get employment and continue training as paying customers.

via:Badtimesbootcamp.com

Mac vs PC Round 2

It would seem that the shift back towards value-focused perception of brands among consumers has benefited Microsoft - albeit temporarily. Oh yes, and advertising helped.

According to research, the perceptions of value Microsoft and Apple offerings has shifted dramatically in the eyes of 18- to 34-years-olds since Microsoft began running its "Laptop Hunters" campaign in March. Apple's "value perception" has fallen considerably, while Microsoft's has risen among this group of consumers.

According to AdAge:

"Based on daily interviews of 5,000 people, BrandIndex found the age group gave Apple its highest rating in late winter, when it notched a value score of 70 on a scale of -100 to 100 (a score of zero means that people are giving equal amounts of positive and negative feedback about a brand). But its score began to fall shortly after and, despite brief rallies, hovers around 12.4 today.

Microsoft, on the other hand, has risen from near zero in early February to a value-perception score of 46.2."

Of those in the older age groups, the 35- to 49-year-olds saw a marked increase in preference for Microsoft around the second or third week of the campaign and momentarily overtook Apple; at the same time, Apple's "value perception" took a dip among this age group. Apple has since clawed it's way back as the top-choice for 35 to 49 year-olds. Among 50-plus consumers, the two brands are virtually neck and neck.

Via - AdAge

Creative Capitalism Shifts Focus To Capitals

While most fair-trade businesses up until now have made social consciousness their major selling point, a new company, based in Indonesia by the name of CraftNetwork has built its business on a more traditional model: large quantities of uniform products, built to near exact specs and supplied at competitive prices.
Chris Benz, the company’s founder, has arranged for over a thousand artisans to create an array of products such as jewelery, home decor, sculptures and other decorative products. The artisans work in their homes or village workshops, allowing CraftNetwork to sell large quantities of product to major wholesale buyers, and ultimately delivering profits back to the artisans themselves.

Benz says, “I have a whole village employed, a whole village that’s bringing in $70,000 a month – based on one order.” That one order was from Carnival Cruise Line, which has bought 50,000 books weaved of banana leaves.

As an added benefit, CraftNetwork also provides financial advice, computer literacy training, and business building techniques to their team of freelancers.

Via: CraftNetwork, BusinessWeek