Intelligent Naivety

Last time we brought you news of a pop up shop, we promised it would be the last time. But this post doesn’t count because the interesting part of this story is the idea that pop-up shops are becoming a blueprint for regenerating towns and cities across the UK.

The first … Read more

Posted in Retail Trends

Marmite is producing a limited-edition spread to celebrate the forthcoming Ashes series against Australia – in a jar that looks like a cricket ball.

The distinctive spread is being flavoured with Marston’s Pedigree, the official beer of the England cricket team, and will be sold in dark red jars, complete with … Read more

Posted in Product Development

It may be a time of general doom and gloom on the British high street, but not all retailers are suffering. Earlier this month the Co-operative Group posted record results: gross sales are up 15 per cent and breaking through the £10bn barrier, and operating profit is up 11 per … Read more

Posted in Retail Trends

Although ‘innovative environment for creative encounters’ might sound like the description of a swingers club for the highly flexible, it’s actually the description of a striking ‘living’ project at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Shanghai where the exhibition space extends into the museum restaurant/ café.

The mission behind the project is … Read more

Posted in Commercial Innovations

Celebrity endorsement has taken a grotesque turn - news reaches us that licensing company Greenlight has been appointed to handle the rights for music legend Johnny Cash and his wife June Carter Cash. The strategy: to posthumously re-establish them as the “original Brangelina”, we kid you not.

The more high-culture … Read more

Posted in Product Development

So enough with the touchy-feely stuff. We bring you yet more news of Google’s efforts to document our every waking activity by developing an algorythm to identify staff that are most likely to quit. Sure for now it’s just being used to try to retain their most talented employees but … Read more

Posted in Commercial Innovations

Although anyone currently using the Royal Mail postal service is likely to experience delays of up to 30 years, as far as we know these delays are not officially part of the service. Douceurs (bad name, great product), however, have made delayed mail their USP.

Simultaneously reviving the art of letter … Read more

Posted in Product Development

Howzabout this as a heart-warming allegory for the democratising power of the world-wide-web:
Kickstarter.com is a new artist-initiated web community that crowd funds great ideas. A bit like an online ‘Dragon’s Den’ (without the ritual humiliation, tears and smug millionaires), a community of backers donate sums of money to support … Read more

Posted in Commercial Innovations

Just as soon as the Guardian reported China’s first sex-theme museum had opened for business, it was closed again.

The theme park was, apparrently, a way for China to tackle taboos but today’s Guardian reports that it has fallen foul of the wrecker’s ball before it even opened, after officials deemed … Read more

Posted in Commercial Innovations

We know we’ve already brought you a million pop-up shops but up they keep popping and, when they’re as cool as this one is, we’ve just gotta keep on telling you about them. Open for just two weeks, this candy-coloured emporium of all that is cool in art, design, fashion … Read more

Posted in Retail Trends

A Lancashire seaside resort is using a dash of French glamour and internet social networking sites to boost holidaymaker numbers. A new YouTube film, complete with sexy French accents, promotes Blackpool as a sophisticated place. The aim of the film is to attract visitors who may have traditionally felt that … Read more

Posted in Digital Marketing

Paul Smith has produced 138 bag designs to be showcased at London’s Design Museum, in an exhibition that looks to promote individual design in the face of mass production and the economic downturn.

Smith’s exhibition Project 10 follows his announcement that his company has ‘only been affected in a very small … Read more

Posted in Product Development