Is this too close?

February 20-24, 2014 Flier from Visions Electronics

February 20-24, 2014 Flier from Visions Electronics (Detail)

Can anyone figure out what country and/or event that Visions is trying to create a link to? "Rushin" and "Socheap" might give a slight hint. The mock Cyrillic typeface could be a bit of a giveaway. But the guy in the red hockey helmet makes it pretty clear.

But while the International Olympic Committee comes down pretty hard of people who try to use the Olympic names and symbols to promote their goods or services, this is probably safe. Close enough to get people's attention, but far enough away that Visions can avoid a lawsuit. It is a fine line, and Visions seems to managed to balance on it.

What does this mean? (And why should I belief it?)

Driftwood Brewery coaster

There must be a certain demographic that this message appeals to. (I just know that I'm not really it.)

Any product that has to tell its potential customers that it is "Effing Great" usually isn't. (Ford had to say that quality was "job one" because Ford's vehicles had such a miserable reputation for quality. Your customers and critics don't come up with acronyms like "Found On Roadside Dead" or "Fix Or Repair Daily" unless there is some underlying evidence.)

So, while this coaster does not make me want to immediately order a pint, I note that the website beeradvocate.com gives the Driftwood Ale a rating of 87 or very good. So I have to balance the boastfulness of the marketing with the evidence of objective evaluations.

Oh twist my arm. In the interest of academic research I will give it a try. And if it is not "Great Effing Beer", Driftwood will hear about it.

Welcome to something that doesn't exist anymore

The Bike Gallery, formerly upstairs at Different Bikes, West Vancouver
(Source: http://www.differentbikes.ca/west-vancouver/gallery/)

This was a great experiment, but it appears that it ran its course. Different Bikes in West Vancouver had an upstairs Bike Gallery that featured premium brands of road bikes in a much more inviting shopping environment.

However, although the upstairs gallery has closed, it still appears on the shop's website. Not the end of the earth, but a bit sloppy. I wonder how long before the page gets removed.

A box equals a product (And a whole lot of air.)

Combination Box for Norton Internet Security and Norton Anti-Theft

At one point in the deep, dark, distant past, software came with manuals in large linen-wrapped binders and a handful of 5.25" discs. But times have changed. The 5.25" disc was replaced by the dual-size disc package and then the 3.5" disc on its own. It has been more than 10 years since any software publisher released its product on magnetic media, preferring the large capacity and low cost of the CD and the ease of on-disc help files and on-line documentation.

But if a software package is offered through the retail channel, shelf presence is a necessity. This means that although the actual contents of this box take up less space than a slim paperback book (7.25" x 4.75" x 0.25"), the box is 10.5" x 7.5" x 1.25". If something takes up the full space on the shelf, it must be a valuable product. (Or at the very least, more likely to be seen by a passing shopper.)

But that means that firms such as Symantec end up shipping a lot of useless air around the world.

The craziest thing is that I was a returning customer and previously had Norton 360 installed on my computer. Why didn't I just renew that subscription? Because it was much cheaper to buy a new product. This is the challenge of trying to keep the partner in the channel happy by not undercutting their retail price.

Purple for Peru and Blue for Mexico

Blue rubber band from Asparagus

In a previous post I remarked on the use of the colour purple to indicate that a bunch of asparagus originated in Peru. (The rubber band holding the asparagus together was purple.)

Last week I saw a bunch of asparagus from Mexico, and the rubber band uses was blue. The search continues for the balance of the rainbow.

Not a trademark any more?

Toot Toot Beep Beep by Emma Garcia

Toot Toot Beep Beep by Emma Garcia (Detail)

One of the biggest fears of any brand manager is that the brand-name becomes a generic term for the category. This has happened to Hoover, Tannoy, Escalator, Thermos, Zipper, Aspirin, and Heroin. (Heroin was trademarked by Bayer in 1898) Other brands are fighting it tooth and nail. BandAid and Xerox are just two firms who seem to police the use of their brand quite aggressively.

It is somewhat telling that the editor of this book didn't think that the word "jeep" was worthy of capitalization. Is Jeep headed down the road of becoming a generic term for any four-wheel drive vehicle? Fiat had better hope not. Jeep is one of the more valuable parts of the whole Chrysler organization.

Of course it is.

The Odd Couple promotional card, Arts Club Theatre Company, Vancouver

Detail from The Odd Couple promotional card, Arts Club Theatre Company, Vancouver

Converse All Star Logo
Source: http://www.refinedguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/15-converse-all-star-chuck-taylor-logo.jpeg

The Arts Club Theatre is putting on The Odd Couple. A play, then a film, and television show, it tells the tale of two men who end up sharing an apartment.

One is a neat freak, the other somewhat of a slob. (Any guesses who is who based on the two shoes above.) I like the red star on the canvas shoe. Any student of brands would immediately recognize the Converse star.

Keeping the goods secure (And on display)

Display window at Tiffany's, Vancouver, BC

There is nothing surprising about seeing a ring in the window of a jewellery store. However, this is a window at Tiffany's and I took the photo before the store opened. Unlike most jewellers, Tiffany's keeps jewellery in the windows when the store is closed.

Speaks volume for the security of the windows and makes for much more interesting displays.

Is some punctuation missing?

Guest Pass from Science World

For an institution that has education as one of its cornerstones, I was a bit surprised to see that this guest pass was missing an apostrophe. It should read either Members' or Member's.

I know, petty and pedantic. Well, it's a genetic problem and I just have to live with it.

Pick a spelling and stick with it

Sign at Pottery Barn, Granville Stret, Vancouver

The Canadian spelling of the word is "jewellery". The American spelling is "jewelry". This one is neither fish nor fowl.

Canadians do appreciate when American retailers make the effort to adopt the local standards, but a dictionary might help. (Again, I know I'm being pedantic, but it is a genetic problem.)

A pale comparison

la Vie en Rose, Robson Street, Vancouver

Valentine's Day is one of the "make or break" sales opportunities for lingerie stores. This sort of heart-filled window is common in early February. I took some time on the morning of Valentine's Day to compare some stores.

Although the Victoria's Secret store didn't open until 10:00 AM, there were staff in at 7:30 AM restocking the shelves.

Nothing similar was taking place at la Vie en Rose. The store opened at 10:00 AM and when I went in at 11:00 AM was bereft of male shoppers. Victoria's Secret, on the other hand, was filled with men buying barely wearable unmentionables.

A massive candy in the window

Valentine's window at Boboli, Vancouver, BC

I saw this display window at Boboli on Granville Street in Vancouver on February 13th. The visual language of the Valentine's candy was a common theme this year. I also saw it at bebe.

Valentine's window at bebe, Vancouver, BC

I'll keep an eye out next year to see how many retailers use the same theme.

To sell to girls just make it pink, purple, or turquoise

Sign at the LEGO exhibit at Science World, Vancouver

I talked about this before when I spotted the "girls" LEGO aisle at Walmart. The new LEGO "Friends" collections are aimed at girls. While the "boys" is all Star Wars and Harry Potter, the "girls" LEGO sets are all about "Friends". (If my memory serves me correctly, I think that Harry Potter might have had a couple of friends. I think one of them was even a girl.)

My daughter loves LEGO. I'll have to see if her tastes evolve to fit the new "Friends" sets, of if she stays true to the gender-less stuff we have in large quantities around the house.

Everything old is new again

Boy Mannequin at Label Express, Vancouver

Earlier this week I saw this mannequin at Label Express in Vancouver. Initially I wasn't sure if it was new and retro, or antique and old. I'm guessing the former.

Perfect attitude on the mannequin to match the image on the tee shirt. A rare fit between the style of the clothing and the mannequin's pose.

Who else gets a discount? Or "Why can't I get one?"

Sign in the window of The Hudson's Bay, Vancouver

Preferential pricing, in this case for students, is a fact of life, and something that drives people crazy. Why should students get 10% off? Can my child buy something for me and get the 10% off? Does it really make a difference to students? Will they buy hideous fashion just because it is cheaper? Not likely.

But, this sort of price is a reality. (As is special pricing for seniors.) Just something to get used to.

Christmas is over

Gift card from Subway, February 6, 2014

Christmas is a lovely time of year. But by early February is is undeniably over. Yes, I know that this card does not say Christmas, buy in North American the iconography of a red and white cap is pretty much linked to Christmas.

Maybe time for something a bit more better suited to upcoming holidays. (Or even better, not linked to any holiday at all, not unlike this card I also saw at the same Subway outlet.)

Gift card from Subway, February 6, 20145

Get the right mannequin

Mannequin in the front window

It is actually possible to buy mannequins that are suited for lingerie. But this retailer has decided not to bother. I mean, why bother to actually show your merchandise to its best advantage? Every customer for these red panties will wear them pinned to hips.

Has this store closed too?

Starbucks store, Granville Street, Vancouver, BC 

Am I on a bit of a bit of a bender on these bad signs? Well I use what I see.

Starbucks is a large, well-funded, multinational firm. So, how does this happen? Too many firms let standards slip and from then it is just a slow decline as customers go elsewhere and the death spiral is inescapable.

I wonder if Starbucks will escape the decline?

Is it the same font? Sure looks like it!

Sign at Urban Fare, Kelowna, BC

This is a rather cheeky advertisement. The font even looks the same. (Which I guess is the whole point.) Now if the grocery store was only able to sell beer and wine. But that is a discussion for another day.

Sweet, suite, or suit?

Sign in shop window, Vancouver, BC

Back in the deep, dark, distant past I had a job buying stuff from Samsung. In those days, the late 1980s, Samsung was in the business of making men's suits in Korea. And, like most things that Samsung did, and still does, the firm did a pretty good job of making men's suits. But the lower cost of labour elsewhere, specifically China, put the Korean suit factories out of business.

But that is all by the by. My question today is who let this typo slip through. The two words are not even pronounced the same way. I can understand homonyms such as where and wear, but this is a major silly mistake.