Bass Pro Shops HQ in Memphis Tennessee showed me the future of retail in the Amazon era. It is about experiences not products. Entertainment not bargains and education not speed. Continue reading “Bass Pro Shops”
USPS Idea Two
USPS division of Amazon (subsidized by the taxpayers)
Delivering the mail isn’t the business it used to be. And it isn’t getting any better. The USPS has tried to solve this by becoming a package delivery business competing with Fedex and UPS. There biggest customer is Amazon and they are apparently giving them smoking prices to keep the volume. Continue reading “USPS Idea Two”
USPS Idea One
On the Postcrossing website someone is advertising to sell you Solar Eclipse stamps for twice the official price. Putting aside how cleverly targeted the ad is. It appears that the post office is leaving money on the table by not trying to get some of the margin on their limited edition and specialty stamps. Continue reading “USPS Idea One”
Prospecting Day
Here is a business idea that is perfect for a young entrepreneur in Phoenix. It is seasonal, has low start-up costs and will be easy to test. Continue reading “Prospecting Day”
Apple Pay Takes on the Banks
Excuse the imperfect illustration. I’m in a bit of a hurry today after my whirlwind trip to Ohio. More on that later. This week I want to give Apple Inc. some advice. Not that they need it. Continue reading “Apple Pay Takes on the Banks”
Sports Coffee Shop
A Coffee Shop with lots of TV screens, an excellent Barista, snacks, sports themed decorations and table service. This is an idea that needs to be tried. With the right location and good promotion there might be a big enough customer base of people who like to watch sports with a group but not drink alcohol.
Monetizing Shade
Corner shade on Camelback
During the heat of summer in Phoenix people try to park in the shade. Even if the parking is less convenient it is worthwhile to park in the shade and walk a little farther. How much is shade worth? How much will people pay for it? These are questions worth pondering and then calculating if money can be made on the valuation. Continue reading “Monetizing Shade”
If You’re Not Different You Don’t Exist
“If you’re not different you don’t exist.”
Is an important marketing concept and with its corollary:
“If you’re too different you scare people.”
they frame the operating range for most marketing. This applies to products, services and, as we found in Sherbrooke, Quebec, cities.
Evolving Revenue Models
In 1970 a television was expensive and TV programming was free for most people. Today a much better television is inexpensive and tv programming is relatively expensive.
In the same time frame the telephone has undergone an almost opposite change. In 1970 the phone was free but calling anywhere except locally was expensive. Now long distance calls are part of your monthly service charge but the phone is increasingly expensive. Continue reading “Evolving Revenue Models”
Evolution in Action
Airport seating has undergone a lot of changes over the years. There were bench seats, then individual seats, then rows of connected seats with permanent armrests to discourage lying down to sleep. Now there is a new evolution going on. Seats are being wired to allow cell phone charging. We saw this sign in Charlotte NC:
