How can you not like a company like this?

Posted on December 17, 2016 by skittel

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At Moosejaw we want to make shopping as much fun as backpacking the Chilkoot trail, climbing in Yosemite, mountaineering in the Himalayas or playing red rover with the neighbors who you don’t like that much but they’re always ready to play any game in the cul-de-sac so you make do.
If you’re offended by ridiculous commentary don’t click on any of the Moosejaw Madness sections.

-from the Moosejaw website.

You have to admire an outdoor store that does not take itself too seriously. After all they sell toys to adults and are not transplant surgeons or diplomats from nuclear-armed countries.

Check it out yourself at http://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/shop/madness_home____

It’s the drugs talking

Posted on December 2, 2016 by skittel

Several years ago, I saw a fascinating TV show on retailing. If my memory serves me correctly, it was called Buyology. One of the most interesting segments reported on the stress of shopping and Holiday shopping especially.

When you are under significant stress, the body creates the steroid, cortisol, to help you deal with the situation. It is your body’s chemical behind the “fight or flight” mechanism.

Another characteristic of cortisol is that you can test a person’s cortisol level using a simple oral swab, so researchers went out and swabbed people’s mouths during stressful events to measure the stress caused by certain events.

The researchers tested combat pilots; it seems they have high stress levels in when being shot at. (Only a governmental program would spend a lot of money to find that result.) They also tested Holiday shoppers at a major mall the weekend before Christmas.

Continue reading →

Guanggun Jie

Posted on November 11, 2016 by skittel

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Today, 11/11, is Singles Day or Guanggun Jie. The name derives from the four “1”s from the date that represent an individual that is alone.

Singles Day celebrates being single and is celebrated with other singles and is very popular with young Chinese.

Tracing its roots to 1993, the original celebrations were held at a number of universities in the Nanjing area of China. The students took this celebration with them when they finished at the universities and entering the workforce across the country. The day was further popularized by the expansion of the internet in China.

Seizing an opportunity, retails began to promote the idea of giving gifts to oneself as part of the festivities. Alibaba trademarked the term “double eleven” as part of their sales promotion. In 2015, Singles Day sales set a record for on-line sales at $14.32 billion.

Fashion Week in Paris

Posted on November 9, 2016 by skittel

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By chance, our recent visit to Paris coincided with Fashion Week, the biggest week of the year for French designers.

We did not attend any events, but one night while walking back from a late dinner we found ourselves on Rue Montaigne where many designers have their shops. It was late at night but every shop was open for private showings.

This is where, when and how some of the 1% shop.

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The Holidays, so soon?

Posted on November 5, 2016 by skittel

I guess it is that time. My next question is when did HGTV become the official sponsor of Christmas?

Your welcome, Nordstrom, and thank you!

Posted on November 4, 2016 by skittel

Saw this window display the other dat outside of my local Nordstrom store. What a great message to send to your customers. Unrelated but still a nice thing, Nordstrom is partnering with Shoes That Fit to donate up to 20,000 pairs of shoes for K-12 students in need. Shoes That Fit

CARAN d’ACHE

Posted on November 2, 2016 by skittel

Fabrique genevoise de crayons began over 101 years ago when the Ecridor Pencil Factory was purchased by Arnold Schweitzer in Geneva, Switzerland. Today, the company known as Caran d’Ache is the premium manufacturer of pens, pencils and art supplies in Switzerland with the brand known world-wide for its quality. I had the chance to visit the Boutique Caran d”Ache at Place du Bourg-de-Four on my visit to Geneva. A wonderful little shop from the manufacturer of 40,000,000 FSC-certified pencils a year.

One has to wonder?

Posted on October 28, 2016 by skittel

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Returning from a backpacking trip last weekend, I stopped in at a Dairy Queen restaurant for a quick lunch. (You really can’t beat the “5 Buck Lunch.”)

I made a quick trip to the bathroom to wash up before eating and while drying my hands I read this sign on the paper towel dispenser. We have all seen these “Wash your hand” signs but I had never read one carefully.

Two things jumped out to me from the sign.

First, the idea that employees must wash their hands twice. Shouldn’t one thorough washing do the trick? And if an employee does not do a good job the first time they wash, what makes public health officials think a second washing will do the job?

Secondly, the last line of the sign states,” A placard containing this section shall be posted in all toilet rooms” of any restaurant, bed & breakfast facility or temporary restaurant. I do not remember seeing this sign posted in any of the finer restaurants of Portland.