Holiday Shopping Guide 2007, Vol 1

UncommonGoods: While the products are consistently fresh and original, their website is lacking in design and usability. They're a trusted, long-time quirky goods reseller. Be sure to sign up for their print catalog -- it's nice to browse through printed materials every now and then.

Elsewares: Taking a page out of Urban Outfitter's playbook, Elsewares is another success story in peddling original, quirky stuff on the web. Popular among urban-dwelling twenty-somethings, like the above UncommonGoods, this is the place for independent artist designed jewelry, clothes and products for your apartment (err, dorm?).

Branch: Recycled and earth-friendly products are perfect for an eco-minded gift recipient. One fact I especially warmed up to is that their founder Paul Donald is a former creative from Wired magazine.

GelaSkins and Mophie: Looking for great iPod accessories? These guys have got the hottest way to wrap, protect and accessorize the most precious of mp3 collections.

NY Transit Museum Store: For those passionate about trains, or more specifically NY's mass transit, this is the place. While the subway map emblazoned apparel and bags are a bit tacky, the old subway grab holds and original subway art make for tasteful, original gift ideas.

Burt's Bees Community Service Announcement

I fully disclose that Burt's Bees is a client of ours over at the agency, and I never leave the house without my Beeswax Lip Balm. With that said, I am still compelled to share news that these fine folks are raising awareness to a growing concern: our country's troubled bee population.

We have a problem with honey bees dying. This issue is important for all of us… not just nature lovin’ tree huggers. To learn more, visit the Burt's Bees site and watch a new video about dying honey bees.

Do-it-Yourself Flintstones Car for Kids

Yabba Dabba Doo! A member at Instructables has posted detailed instructions on how to build a Flintstones car for your kids! Brilliant idea, and very well executed. Eat your heart out Fisher-Price!


Warning: May not be appropriate for children under 3. Hazardous and dangerous to most children's health. Only use if your child grew up watching classic Hanna-Barbera cartoons, and is named Pebbles or Bam-Bam.

Sure, we've all faced challenging clients. They often put us on the spot in the middle of a creative pitch, and ask if we use "that software that makes logos," or share design comps they'd like you to consider... you know, the ones their high-school grade level nephew assembled.

Ever wonder if there was a comprehensive list of responses you could reference in cases like this? Go over to Eric Karjaluoto's ideasonideas blog — he's got just what you're looking for! Bravo.

Thx for the link Jeffrey Zeldman

Nintendo Wii Contributes to Healthy Marriages

As MediaPost reports, the Nintendo Wii has been recently hovering in the top spots of Amazon's wedding gift registry. Their observation that "Nintendo is no longer seen as an obstacle to a healthy marriage, but as a contributing factor," is very consistent with happenings in my own relationship.

My wife and I find that by participating in Nintendo Wii 2-player bowling or tennis, it brings us closer the way actual sports and activities tend to do. There's usually a hand-slapping "good job" to commend a nicely bowled strike. Or, a thorough taunting when my tennis serve is an ace (well, in all honesty, the taunting isn't always welcome).

Make-A-Wish Foundation Presents Beetle Boy

The Kaplan Thaler Group, one of my most favorite agencies in the whole wide world, just produced a memorable, creative, heart-touching and really smart new spot for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Related: One of my most favorite books, written by the founders of the Kaplan Thaler Group: Bang!: Getting Your Message Heard in a Noisy World - a must read!

AUDI Plows Into Winter Sale

I rarely write about off-line advertising, but news of the grassroots campaign from Audi Canada caught my attention. They're placing ads on snow plows with a daunting message that warns "WINTER IS COMING."

While I'm a big fan of Audi and their efforts to be a green company, I question the environmental impact and carbon footprint from releasing these gargantuan gas-guzzling trucks onto the streets ... all in the name of advertising.

Thanks AdRants.

The Future of Homepages

As reported on by our agency's voice of authority on User Experience, the "homepage" as we know it today may dramatically change in the near future.

The following are some interesting points from the article:

• Overall, search, RSS and widgets are driving users deeper into websites
• 50% or more of traffic on many top sites originate beyond the homepage
• 60% of consumers customize their start pages
• 56% use RSS
• 54% use search engines to start their shopping experiences