Image Credit: BigStockPhoto.com

Each and every day of the year we all see products from various companies being marketed in one way or another.

It could be a drink on a TV commercial, a new clothing range on the local radio or a billboard showing the latest perfume.  Whatever it is, a lot of time and money goes into ensuring the marketing campaign is as effective and as beneficial as it can be, drawing as many people in as possible to go and find more about the product that’s on offer.

And over the years there have been some fantastic examples of how product marketing should be done.  It’s made us sit up and look and want to go and get more information on the product.

But there’s also been a number of really awful examples that make us do anything from ignore the product completely to complain to the organisation, with the belief that we’ll never shop with them again.

Taking a look at the good, the bad and the ugly, the following examples of product marketing have either gained tremendous praise or substantial complaints (although strangely, whichever side of the fence it falls on, it’s always achieved one of its goals of getting more people talking about the product).

Coca Cola’s Christmas

Image:  Colin Smith (geograph)

Image:  photozou.jp

Widely regarded as one of the most perfect examples of product marketing, everyone knows the Coca Cola brand and everyone loves Christmas, so the company combined the two together and for many years have seen some fantastic success.

The basics of the campaign are essentially just a truck emblazoned with the Coca Cola logo, but decorated with Christmas lights.  Although the commercials have changed over the years, they often show the truck driving through towns and making people’s eyes light up as they see the truck and Santa and realise that it’s such a special time of the year – and it’s now something you can actually see for real in many towns and cities around the world.

Stopped being used in 2001, the commercials were relaunched in 2007, such was the level of consumer feedback – the simple fact is, many people consider seeing the Coca Cola Christmas commercials the start of Christmas and this wasn’t truly appreciated (by the company nor the public) until they were no longer being shown.

Cartoon Network’s ‘Aqua Teen Hunger Force’

Image:  rekha6 (Flickr)

Image:  Bmtpromo (Wikipedia)

Possibly one of the worst examples of product marketing in recent years, what was supposed to be a fantastic modern approach to gaining publicity around an upcoming film turned out to cost the company a fortune and cause unnecessary worry to the general public.

On the build up to the 2007 big screen release of ‘Aqua Teen Hunger Force’, Cartoon Network employed an agency to come up with a creative marketing plan.  What they devised was to place a number of flashing electronic devices (in the form of a Mooninite from the show) in various locations across 10 US cities.

Although ignored in some cities, when it came to Boston, the campaign had the complete opposite effect and many believed the devices to be terrorist bombs, somewhat understandably as the entire country – if not the entire world – was on the look out for suspicious devices after the raised terrorism suspicions since 9/11 (and as the devices had exposed wiring and circuit boards, it really didn’t do much to instil confidence in the the public).

Although the intentions of the campaign were great, it failed – and miserably so. Cartoon Network paid out over $2 million in compensation to the Boston emergency services. It also cost Jim Sample, the head of Cartoon Network, his job.

John Lewis’s TV commercials

Image:  popplastic.blogspot.co.uk

A chain of UK department stores, John Lewis have almost become a national treasure in recent years, thanks largely to their TV commercials, most of which tug on the heart strings of the public.

Making us want to be a part of the commercial, one of the most notable was 2011′s Christmas commercial.  Showing a family with a young boy on the lead up to Christmas, the boy was getting increasingly excited as the weeks, days and then hours passed, just as many young children around the country were.

When Christmas Day came, however, the young boy wasn’t excited about Christmas because of being able to open his presents, but because he wanted to give his own present to his Mum and Dad.

It was such a simple commercial, but it drew the audience in to believing he was just like every other child of his age and couldn’t wait until Santa had arrived, only to show that Christmas isn’t just about the receiving, but the giving, too – whatever age you are.

Said to be the most admired company by marketing professionals in the UK, John Lewis have shown just what can be achieved when you understand what your audience want and deliver it to them perfectly.

Blair Witch Project

Image:  theestablishingshot.blogspot.co.uk

Not really falling into the laugh, smile or cringe categories, the marketing behind the Blair Witch Product was ingenious if you’re on the commercial side.

Before the invention of Twitter and Facebook (or even MySpace), the Blair Witch Project’s pre-launch marketing went viral as it took audiences by storm.

Said to be real footage that was found and now being shown to the public, there were sceptics at the time, but with a website set up to effectively quantify the film’s claims, many believed the Blair Witch Project was 100% real. That made it one of the most ‘must watch’ films of the 1990s.  (It went on to take nearly $250 million at the box office, on a budget estimated to be around $500,000.)

The McAfrika and Ayds Diet Candies

Image:  andrew_latham87 (Flickr)

We want to include these two together as they’re both perfect examples of how marketing can appear to work perfectly – or which should work perfectly – but how it can go on to completely destroy a brand if the timing is wrong.

Back in 2002, McDonald’s launched the McAfrika in Norway.  In theory, it was a great product that should have sold well – and chances are it would have, if parts of South Africa weren’t facing a famine that was to affect 12 million people.

Although not something McDonald’s may have necessarily known at the time of the product’s development, they did start to put donation boxes on their counters and reportedly donated money to the cause.

But this wouldn’t solve the issue, as it wasn’t the real problem. The problem was that no one wants to be buying food that has something so negative associated with it – especially when that negative aspect is people around the world who can’t get access to even the most basic of food provisions, never mind a fast food burger.

It was a similar situation with the Ayds diet candies, in the sense that although they should have been successful (and for many years they actually were). Their name put too many people off for them to be a success when they tried to continue their promotion through the 1980s as more and more people were becoming aware of the AIDS virus.

Not done in any poor taste, it was simply an instance of poor product branding and misjudgement of the audience. No matter how good the product is, no one wants to be buying something that has the same name as something with so many negative connotations.

Old Spice Man

Image:  frompyrgos.blogspot.co.uk

Image:  arnodolzblog.wordpress.com

Completely revolutionising the Old Spice brand, Old Spice Man was first seen in 2010 in an online campaign and took the brand from one generally favored by older generations through to one that was appealing to everyone.

Playing on the fact that people considered Old Spice to be something that ‘real’ or ‘traditional’ men wore, the company started to create videos that showcased ‘Old Spice Man’ in a way that appealed to everyone – men felt they could be like him themselves and women felt their own men could be like him.

Making fantastic use of video, the highlight of Old Spice Man came in July 2010 when the company launched what was to become the fastest growing online viral marketing campaign ever.  Over 180 individual and personalised video responses were made from Old Spice Man to people who had made comments or asked questions on various different social media websites, reaching over 6.5 million people in 24 hours (and a huge 23 million after only 36 hours).

The videos propelled Old Spice back into the limelight, got everyone talking about the brand and showed that with the right approach, any company can benefit considerably from product marketing.

Do you have a favorite commercial? Tell us in the comments.

Image Credit: BigStockPhotos.com

If you’re a Facebook user (and really, who isn’t?), your online social shopping habits have become a much more social activity. Your friends watch your news feeds, and you probably watch theirs. And whenever you “Like” a product or service, you are recommending that product to your network of friends and family.

You Tell Two Friends, They Tell Two Friends, and So On

Depending on the number of interconnections within your network, the simple act of “Liking” a product on Facebook could potentially influence thousands of like-minded purchase decisions. It’s similar to a domino effect as one “Like” begets another and another throughout your Facebook social streams.

While that may sound like hyperbole, consider the huge gains in fan growth and engagement made by big box stores Wal-mart and Toys “R” Us over Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2012 (allfacebook.com). Both of these stores had fan growth increases in the hundreds of thousands over just a few days. Amazon and Macy’s had similar results over the same period.

While fan growth does not necessarily imply influencing shopping behavior, it’s still a tremendous impact. Certainly the tsunami of “Likes” gained by these retailers trickled across the interwebs to influence shopping decisions. But there’s more to the story. There are loads of stats attesting to the growing influence of Facebook and other social media channels on shopping habits. Here are just a few:

• A 2012 Forbes article stated that 81% of US respondents indicated that friends’ social media posts directly influenced their purchasing decisions.
• Nielsen’s latest Global Trust in Advertising report found that 92% of consumers say they trust earned media, such as recommendations from friends and family, above all other forms of advertising. When you think about it, 92% is pretty much everybody, so if your friends and family are on Facebook you’ll probably pay attention when they like a product or service you’re also interested in.
• A 2012 Consumer Insights Survey by empathica.com demonstrated that nearly 3-in-4 consumers, or 72%, use Facebook to make retail and/or restaurant buying decisions. The report goes on to say that half of consumers have tried a new brand due to a social media recommendation.

Think about when you’re out shopping, say at a bookstore or big box retailer. Have you ever comparison-shopped on your smartphone while looking for just the right item? Have you ever then asked your friends on Facebook if any of them have purchased the same item and what their experience was like?  This is social shopping.

Social Shopping: A New World For Retailers

So what does this mean for retailers? A recent whitepaper released by Empathica
suggests that consumers are starting to create a two-way dialogue with brands that encourages both positive online and offline customer advocacy. These customer advocates become “superfans” who can help increase same store sales and even increase a customer’s lifetime value.

The tremendous impact of Facebook and other social media channels has given rise to a relatively new business practice called CEM, or Customer Experience Management. The goal is to capture a consumer’s experience based on data gathered from every conceivable touchpoint, from social listening all the way to the physical design and layout of a store (if applicable), its website usability, customer service and checkout workflows. This information is then used to improve operations across all locations.

So does Facebook influence you?

Think about this for a minute; over 1 billion people are using Facebook. That’s 1/7 of the world’s population. At a 50,000-foot view, that means that 14% of the world’s population is potentially impacting all the world’s commerce. That’s a pretty staggering thought. Back in his dorm room days, I wonder if even Mark Zuckerberg had any idea his nascent website would eventually have such an immense reach.

So folks, the answer is an emphatic YES – your Facebook friends really do
influence your shopping habits, whether you realize it or not. Do you agree?
Let me know in the comments or tell your friends by “Liking” this post.

Image Credit: BigStockPhotos.com

While many fathers may not want to be pampered like Mom, they still enjoy that thoughtful gift on Father’s Day, a token that you are thinking of them and appreciate all that he does. From morning to night, dad is busy working on something, fixing something, or just plain relaxing.

GIFT IDEAS FOR DAD

This gift guide will help you decide which part of the day you would like to celebrate, make it a bit more enjoyable, all while supporting products made in the USA.

Super Soft Organic Nature / Music T-Shirt

Green Label Organics

Does your dad love music? Does he also love nature and being outside? This is the most clever shirt! I know my dad (a hard-core music lover) would really enjoy slipping into at the start of his day. Green Label Organic had me at their truly original nature-inspired t-shirts, but then I checked out their website and I was a goner. Totally hooked.

They are a local business, family-owned and operated from the Blue Ridge Mountains of West Virginia. The music of nature is the nature of music.Their shirts are 100% Certified Organic super soft Ring Spun cotton and printed without the use of PVCs or other harsh chemicals.
Price Point: $32

EcoTouch Waterless Wash and Wax Kit

EcoTouch

Wearing his organic t-shirt, your dad can get to work cleaning up his vehicle without releasing gross chemicals onto his skin or into the ground. EcoTouch is located in Dover, NH (my home state!) It began as a solution to water shortages, employing a clean and wipe technology using a variety of natural sources such as palm, coconut, corn and soybean.

The Waterless Car Wash contains a unique blend of plant-based surfactants that break down surface grime, with polymers that leave the vehicle surface smooth and protected. Eco Touch car products are “non-toxic, biodegradable, phosphate free, and packaged in 100% recyclable materials.”
Price Point: $35

Twin Oaks Envirope Hammock

Twin Oaks Hammocks

Your dad deserves a nice, relaxing rest after all his hard work and what would be better than a nap in a hammock? This durable, handwoven hammock is made from 100% post-consumer waste polyester Eco-Spun fiber in rural Virginia.

The fiber is made mostly from recycled soft-drink bottles – each hammock uses 72 reycled plastic bottles! The wooden spreader bars are also eco-friendly and cut in the worker owned, high-efficiency mill and treated with natural oil for durability.
Price Point: $150

SPARQ Soapstone Griddle

Sparqusa

At the end of the day, your dad can reward himself with a healthy, homemade grilled dinner cooked on the SPARQ Soapstone Griddle. My dad has this griddle and can attest that it is amazing. Cooks clean and saves energy. The soapstone is also non-stick which means it wipes clean, leaving no bacteria and residue. Cut out the dangerous carcinogens by putting a barrier in between the grill flame and your father’s food AND save energy as the stone absorbs heat and distributes it evenly which allows dad to turn off his grill while the food is still cooking.
Price Point: $100

Nature Box Snacks

NatureBox

My dad has always enjoyed eating snack mixes and now he’s been ordered by his doctor to eat more protein so NatureBox is a perfect choice for him. I love NatureBox because it helps you eat healthier by focusing on snacks that are delicious AND wholesome.

Do you know that the average American eats almost 25% of their calories from snacking? In fact, snacking is the leading cause of childhood obesity.

NatureBox helps you get more out of your day without wasting calories on the bad stuff. A monthly service, NatureBox will deliver a different box each month that includes 15-20 servings of yummy, good-for-your daddy snacks.
Price Point: $20

Artifact Woodcut Puzzles

Artifact Puzzles

I had the pleasure of putting together one of these gorgeous puzzles handcrafted in Seattle, WA. It was challenging and fun like no other puzzle has ever been. If your dad prefers using his noggin’ for entertainment, this puzzle is perfect for him!

Beautiful and intricately cut with lasers from eco-friendly pine, these Made-in-the-USA wooden puzzles will keep him busy for hours and he will thank you for it!
Price Point: $18-$100

Still haven’t found the perfect Father’s Day gift? Check out HappyGreenMama.com for a more extensive list of Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas for Dad.

Moms do everything. Laundry, cooking, dinner, errands, even blog posts. This year, remember your Mom and show how much you appreciate her by giving her one of the Top 5 Mother’s Day Gifts for 2013. The list below is in order of lowest to highest budget, so hopefully there’s something for everyone.

1. Breakfast in Bed

Who doesn’t like breakfast in bed? Nothing says “I love you Mom” more than waking up to to the smell of fresh coffee, bacon and eggs (or whatever is your Mom’s favorite morning meal).

Let your mom sleep in and surprise her with a tray full of her favorite goodies. You can even get fancy and decorate it with a hand-made card and flowers from the back yard.

Making Mom breakfast in bed is a lovely way to show Mom how much you care. It’s also a gift from the heart that most young people can afford.

2. Spa Treatment

Moms just love spa treatments. There is just something oh-so-wonderful about getting pampered, whether it’s a massage, facial or a simple mani-pedi. The very fact that someone else is taking care of her will send your mom over the moon.

Most reputable firms have a gift certificate program so your mom can choose the services she’s most interested in after she receives your gift. Spa treatments can usually fit most budgets and generally range from $50 to $150.

You can find a spa using the Internet at one of these sites:

• Spafinder.com
• Salonspa.com

3. Nintendo Wii Fit Plus

A lot of Moms are getting into Wii Fit. It’s a great way to get active during the winter months when it’s often difficult to enjoy outdoor activities. There are Wii Fit games for golf, tennis, and even skiing. The latest console plus basic software includes a balance board for $99.00.

Mom can specify the amount of time she wants to spend on her workouts or select an area for personal improvement, and Wii Fit Plus will suggest a number of diverse activities for her. For even more variety, Mom can mix and match which strength or yoga activities she prefers on a given day. This makes it easier than ever to maintain her daily workout routines.

You can also add accessories to spruce up the basic package, including an anti-slip pad, battery charger, and cover sleeve.

If you’re close to California or Kentucky, you can get the game only in time for Mother’s Day for just $26.98 if you pay $2.99 for same day shipping or upgrade to 1 Day Priority Shipping. Or give Mom a card and let her pick out her own Wii Fit Plus Bundle.

4. iPad mini with case

Speaking of spending, Mom will go nuts for an iPad mini. These little gems are showing up in purses all over the world, making it easier than ever for moms on the go to stay connected while staying involved in their children’s activities.

The iPad mini is a full-featured iPad. Mom can choose from over 250,000 apps available online from Apple’s App store. It’s small, cute, and super-durable with a solid glass and aluminum construction.

It’s more expensive than other tablet computers at $330, but the Apple pedigree and access to the zillions of apps in the app store should make just about any mom smile. While you’re at it, you can include a protective smart cover case in her favorite color. You can compare prices on iPad minis at The Find.

5. Flowers (of course!)

Last but not least, flowers are a dependable Mother’s Day choice. But not just any flowers. Plan ahead and see if you can find out Mom’s favorite flowers without giving away your plan. Then call a reputable local florist, explain your budget and have them design a custom-made bouquet full of mom’s favorites.

You might even consider placing the arrangement in a beautiful commemorative vase that Mom will enjoy for years. If the vase is made of silver, brass or stainless steel, you might consider engraving your mother’s name along with the date on it. Instead of a last-minute gift, you can turn this long-time standby into something truly memorable and special.

The top online flower sites send you flowers from a local florist. These are the top three:

• 1800Flowers.com
• Proflowers.com
• Florist.com

So there you have it, the Top 5 Mother’s Day gifts for 2013.
What other gift ideas do you have for this Mother’s Day?
You still have  time before it rolls around,
so get out there and get shopping!

Image Credit: ©Depositphotos/mcgphoto

Blender Types

Technically there are only two types of blenders available on the market. But you need to weigh the versatility, durability, ease of use (and cleaning), and of course it needs to look like a regal, space age contraption on your counter.

For The Cook with a Small Kitchen

Immersion Blenders are handheld or stick blenders. They are a long, thin device. You hold one end, the other blends. They work well for blending thin drinks, soup, smoothies, and soft components. They take up little space and allow you to blend hot liquids and blend right in a cooking pan.

Immersion blenders are practical, simple to use, and easy to clean.

For $20 you can get a cheap handheld with no attachments. For $50-100 pick up an immersion blender with a measuring beaker and attachments for chopping and whisking. Cordless, battery operated, and commercial immersion blenders are on the market, too.

Image Credit: ©Depositphotos/photography33

Everyday Blending

Countertop Blenders may be referred to as jar or jug blenders. The stationary electric blenders are heavier duty than an immersion blender. They are suited for blending drinks, mixing, pureeing, grinding, chopping, and crushing ice.

Small personal blenders are perfect for frequent use by one or two people. They are small and inexpensive, but aren’t often the best at crushing ice.

The Entertainer

If you’re looking to prepare cocktails and entertain, you’ll want a Cocktail Blender with the power to crush ice – preferably uniformly. Dual Wave Cocktail Blenders enable efficient ice crushing and fast mixing.

Look for options with large pitchers or two 16 ounce cups. The Hamilton Beach 52147H was recommended by Natural Juicing Remedies. Of course for the shaved ice and margarita lovers there’s the Margaritaville DM3000.

Smoothie Drinkers

If you need your non-GMO soy protein powder and flax seed perfectly blended with fruit – you need a smoothie blender. A smoothie blender will come with a 5-7 cup container and a pour spout. Motor power will range from 2-750 watt.

Look for one with multiple speeds and a pulse option. If you make smoothies regularly consider that more power means a shorter blending time. Ninja, KitchenAid, and Oster make decent models.

Only the Best

If I can’t afford what I want, I wait until I can. I don’t buy junk. I was given a used (cheap) blender. And it still works, kind of. It doesn’t’ crush ice or blend frozen fruit well. It leaks and smells like it’s burning. But it still “works.” As soon as it stops functioning altogether I’m getting a Vitamix.

The Vitamix falls into the Top Performers category.

There is no comparison. I spent years in booths at events like the Wisconsin State Fair and NARI Home and Garden Shows. I could give their spiels. (I actually did a few times.) My parents invested in the Vitamix probably 15 years ago (gosh, that makes me feel old). I think they paid $300 for it at the time. But if you’ve seen the demo you understand. The machine is remarkable; durable, versatile, powerful. The thing will last forever.

The multi-functional, heavy duty Vitamix is the best rated out there. The Automatic Mix’n Machine earned The Kitchen Innovations 2012 Award.  The Cadillac of blenders does so much more than blend.

The Vitamix will supplant many other kitchen gadgets. It can blend, chop, grind, puree, crush, freeze, dice, and even cook. Grind spices or coffee, cook soup, freeze ice cream, make peanut butter, crush ice, mix salad dressing, and knead bread dough. I’m getting hungry… I’m getting a new blender.

Do you have a favorite brand or type of blender?
We’d love to have you share it in the comments below.

KITCHEN APPLIANCES

• Home: Consumer Information: Appliances
• Home Improvement: Appliances
• Kitchen and Cooking: Appliances
• Shopping: Home and Garden: Appliances
• UK Shopping: Home and Garden: Appliances
• Canada Shopping: Home and Garden: Appliances

Click image to read Mobile Deals are the Future on MobileWalletMedia.com

Daily deal sites have become popular in recent years, with customers jumping on significant discounts and spurred on to buy immediately by the pressure of the limited time nature of the deal offer. As specialty sites offered daily deals, other merchants also started to jump on the bandwagon, offering discounts on their own sites.

All these daily deals, however, may not actually be such a great thing for merchants after all. As a result, many merchants have realized that they were offering daily deals against their best interests and have stopped the practice. Others may continue to offer daily bargains, but some of these bargains may not actually present such good deals for consumers after all.

Are Daily Deal Sites a Bad Deal For Merchants?

When daily deal sites first became popular, many merchants took advantage of what they saw as a great source of publicity and a chance to get new customers in to try their business. As the industry grew and people actually tried out the marketing method; however, it soon turned out that the daily deal sites simply weren’t offering the return on investment that it initially seemed they might.

According to one Deals survey by Manta from October of 2012, only around
3 percent of retailers who offered deals on daily deal sites ended up getting
any type of repeat customers as a result of the deals that they offered.

Customers would come in to use the deal – which was often a loss leader for the retailer who offered a big discount and who paid a fee to the daily deal site. The customers wouldn’t come back, so the retailer only ended up with the low profits or loss of the initial visit and no gain from the deals.

With so few customers coming back for future visits, many retailers decided that daily deal sites were a bad deal for them.  As a result, businesses began to turn their backs on the idea of offering special bargains through daily discount websites.

Daily Deals on Merchant Sites

While daily deals turned out to be bad business for many, there are still some merchants who will make daily offerings on their website during the holiday season. For example, retailers might offer “12 Days of Christmas” deals or some related holiday event where there is a different item on sale each day on relevant days in December when many people do their holiday shopping.

If merchants are running these deals themselves. They don’t necessarily come at such a high cost to the retailers as using a third party daily deal site. Merchants can also offer a reasonable discount that still allows them to earn a profit.

Customers taking advantage of these deals; however, keep in mind that the goal of the merchant is still to make money. This means that the deal might not be quite as great as the customer is hoping it will be. The deal may be on products that the merchant wanted to get rid of anyway like outdated stock, or the deal may simply not be a really great discount.

While this isn’t always the case, consumers need to do their own independent research and confirm prices and product reviews before they jump on making a purchase offered as a special deal of the day.

SHOPPING

In the mood to look for some deals of your own or interested in making sure your deals are easier to find? Check out these DIRJournal categories.

• Shopping
• Antiques and Collectibles
• Apparel
• Arts and Crafts
• Beauty Products
• Books
• Children
• Computers
• Consumer Electronics
• Flowers
• Food and Drink
• Furniture
• General Merchandise
• Gifts
• Jewelry
• Mobile Phones
• Music
• Niche
• Pets
• Recreation
• Sports
• Toys and Games

Your business could be listed in DIRJournal’s business directory. Click this link to find out more.

Most people celebrate key holidays like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Easter and Father’s Day. Are you curious about how many cards are sent and what kinds of gifts are purchased?

Can you guess which of these holidays generates the most cards sent? Or which day sees the most flowers and chocolates given as gifts and who buys them?

You’re in luck. Here’s an infographic that answers those questions and more:

Infographic courtesy of Debt Consolidation Services.

Is anyone else surprised the ties are the most popular Father’s Day gift. Really?  I’m sure there are far more interesting and creative gifts a Dad would like. Wouldn’t you think it would be a new smartphone or power tools or sports equipment – or even tickets to a sporting event. Ties? Bummer.

Would you like to give your business a Valentine’s Day gift this year? Check out these Business Directory Deals to give any business a boost in sales.

Image Credit: LocBox ~ Click image to read about Yelp’s mobile App

Yelp is a popular review site that many use to find information on restaurants, shopping, hotels, night clubs and even doctors, lawyers or mechanics. Getting the unbiased opinions of a community of people online can seem an invaluable tool in making a decision and, in many ways, the data provided by Yelp and similar sites is a good way to narrow down your choices or to choose a place to go.

Unfortunately, relying too much on Yelp might not be the best idea because there are some significant flaws with the site (and many other online review sites) that need to be taken into account.

There are many reasons why the reviews and info on Yelp might not provide quite the unbiased and informative opinion that people hope.  Some of the potential reasons that Yelp might not be 100 percent trustworthy include the following:

• Anyone can post a review in Yelp- and some of the reviews are planted. Restaurant owners or store owners may post glowing reviews of their own product and service. Some restaurateurs and retailers will even pay people to post positive reviews, resulting in a whole lot of five star reviews that were paid for and that don’t reflect the actual quality.
• Reviews on Yelp are 100 percent anonymous. This means it is easier for people to post fake reviews of their products, restaurants or services. It also means that people are free to say whatever they want, whether it is true or not, without worry about being found out.
• There’s no guarantee that people who post even visit the restaurants or use the services they are reviewing. There have even been cases of negative reviews showing up on Yelp for restaurants that have not yet even opened.
• Yelp may sort its reviews in dishonest ways. Yelp is not clear on the algorithm used to explain how reviews are ordered on their site. Some reports have indicated that Yelp might be pushing bad reviews down lower if the restaurant agrees to pay for advertising on their site.
• The star system on Yelp doesn’t have a clear-cut meaning. There are no guidelines on the site for what different starred reviews mean. A five star review, for example, might mean that the restaurant was impeccable and perfect or it might mean that the restaurant was acceptable and met a person’s tastes even if it was nothing spectacular. Without some objective explanation attached to what each star means, it is hard to make a determination on exactly what the star rating indicates about a store.
• There is a very small group of restaurant visitors actually reviewing on Yelp. Most people read reviews on the site but don’t post reviews themselves. This means the site may be primarily populated with reviews from people who had a really bad experience or a really good experience, since people who just have a mediocre time may not be inclined to bother to go on a website and right reviews.

For all of these reasons, it is important to remember that while Yelp provides a good source of information, it also has some significant limitations that you need to consider when deciding how much weight to give to the stars on the site.

Are YELP Reviews Trustworthy?

• Reviews Online – Can You Trust Them?
• Why We No Longer Recommend Yelp to Businesses

LEGO is without a doubt, one of the most successful toy franchises of all time. Launched in 1949, today LEGO has joined forces with those behind Star Wars, Harry Potter, Batman and Indiana Jones. They’ve also launched computer games, a film, clothing, a number of board games and even a chain of theme parks.

However, what follows are ten super-cool LEGO inspired gifts that amongst all the wonders and wizardry of the franchise, have somewhat fallen under the radar.

LEGO Inspired Desktop Calendar

This very funky desktop calendar is formed of three individual lego shaped blocks, in yellow, red and white. What really makes this calendar truly unique however, is that is block is self-contained, meaning you can line them up, stack them on top of each other, or even dot them around your desk.

LEGO Magnets

Small, simple, and very sweet, LEGO magnets are the perfect budget gift for any LEGO geek.

LEGO Duplo Wall

Literally, a wall of LEGO, the LEGO Duplo Wall has to be the awesomest way to decorate a child’s bedroom – ever!

Born of i-Beam design, the LEGO Duplo Wall allows kids (or, ahem, adults) to build 3D structures all over their bedroom walls. However, you don’t need to limit the LEGO wall to a bedroom; why not decorate your bathroom, your living room, or even ask your boss how they feel about transforming the office into a LEGO-laden haven?!

LEGO New Era Caps

Seeing how recent years have seen LEGO evolve into the epitome of ‘cool’ toys, surely it was only a matter of time before they made their way down the catwalk?

Brought to us by daring French designer JC de Castelbajac, his take on New Era Hip Hop style caps will certainly be one to make heads turn.

DIY LEGO Key Holder

If you’re on a budget, this DIY LEGO key holder is practical and great fun too!

Want to make one? All you need is:

• A small LEGO building board
• A few pieces of LEGO (various colors)
• Eyehooks (one for each piece of LEGO)
• Colorful wires (one for each piece of LEGO)
• Key rings (yes you guessed how many)

Simply screw the eyehooks into the LEGO, thread the wire through and attach the keyrings and voila! The coolest budget gift for LEGO geeks – ever!

LEGO Headphones

Another for the DIY aficionados among us – though creating these LEGO headphones might require a little more attention to detail. However, there’s no doubt they’re worth it.

While the finished result is somewhat on the bulky side, what they lack in sleekness they more than make up for in style. Well. Maybe. Either way, it’s a pretty safe bet that any self-diagnosed LEGO addict will be impressed.

DIY Brick Tower Mood Light

More of a ‘make-it-yourself’ than a full on do-it-yourself, the LEGO lamp come with 26 8 x 2 LEGO bricks and 56 2 x 1 bricks; from there on you can create whatever shaped LEGO light-box your heart desires.

LEGO Utensil Set

Cool and colorful but possibly not the easiest utensils to clean, this lightweight and child-friendly knife, fork and spoon set will make the perfect geeky gift. However, what has to be the coolest feature about this kitsch kitchen essential is the way they slot together in true LEGO fashion.

Salt & Pepper Shakers

Sticking with the kitchen theme, these stackable salt & pepper shakers emanate a subtle awesomeness – at first glance you might not realize the accolade to the LEGO franchise, but on closer inspection it’s clear what a super-cool compliment to the LEGO chronicle these are.

LEGO Digital Camera

The LEGO digital camera is cool, colorful and creative – everything you’d expect an official piece of LEGO merchandise to be. However while its novelty value would be hard to beat, as an actual camera, this is somewhat lacking.

With 3MP and a 3x zoom this is a very basic digital camera that is sadly, outdone by even most mobile phones. If you’re considering getting it as a gift, you might have to measure its initial ‘wow’ factor against the less than amazing photos this presumably takes.

Image Credit: ©Depositphotos/changered

We all have the same challenges as we go about our online shopping research any time of the year and especially for big occasions and during the holidays:

• Do you find keeping track of where you saw that great gift idea a challenge?
• Would you like to quickly find reviews and the best price on products across many stores that sell them?
• Where can you find a really low price on a discontinued item you want that is out of stock at your usual stores?
• How can you figure out what to buy that special hard to buy for someone?

These are my most favorite sites for gift finding research and gift ideas:

WISHPOT: CREATE A WISHLIST TO SAVE ALL YOUR FINDS

Create one wishlist to save gift ideas, compare prices, and decide what to buy.

What if you could make one giant wishlist that contains all the gifts you are considering and lets you easily compare them across multiple sites? Add them while you’re looking around and then easily go buy them later.

You can! Sign up for a free account with Wishpot and install the Wishpot button so you can add items to your shopping list to compare or buy later.  I only found a button for Firefox, but using that browser for shopping is a small price to pay for having all your gifts to consider in one place! If you don’t have Firefox already,  you can get it for free from Mozilla.

What you can do at Wishpot:

• Save any product you may want to buy later
• Create gift registries and gift lists for weddings, baby showers, anniversaries or any other occasion – you can even let co-workers, friends, and family make contributions towards bigger gifts they can’t afford to buy by themselves
• Set up price alerts – Wishpot will notify you when something you want to buy drops to the price you want to pay
• Use their shopping guides and what others share to get gift ideas or ask their experts what gadget to buy or what fashions are “in”.

THEFIND: INSTANTLY FIND AND COMPARE PRODUCTS AND PRICES

Search for a product and instantly see prices and reviews in many stores

What if you could easily find many stores that carry the  product you want and see their prices and reviews? You can! TheFind makes that so simple, and here is how you use it:

• Search for the product you want.
• See all the stores they have listed that carry it
• Compare prices and read reviews
• Find unique accessories for popular gadgets

SUPPORT SMALL LOCAL AND ONLINE BUSINESSES

If you want to create a better world by buying directly from a small business, TheFind makes that easy. Just search for the product and they will show you every business in their directory – large or small – that carries what you want.

How to Use TheFind:

• Online in your browser – just go to TheFind.com (or click their logo in this post)
• Add products to your TheFind wishlist or see recently viewed searches, products and stores
• Download TheFind iPhone App
• Download TheFind Android App
• View catalogs on a Tablet, iPad, or Kindle
• Use the Local tab to see stores located near you
• They also have a UK version at TheFind.co.uk

TheFind is a great way to find small stores. Buying directly from them instead of their listings on sites like Amazon gives the ecommerce stores more money which they spend in their local economies which creates jobs that pay better.

By choosing where you shop you either improve or create further
declines in employment and everyone’s standard of living.

Every person who supports small business is keeping someone in their home and eating. Make the holidays better for us all – and that in turn protects your own job and life. Consider buying a few less items, and spending a little more per item and you will be changing the world one penny at a time!

SHOPWIKI: GIFT IDEAS AND SHOPPING GUIDES ~ INTERNATIONAL SHOPPING

Find Gift Ideas, Gift Buying Guides and International Shopping

Another site that makes it easy to find products and compare prices is ShopWiki. They have tons of shopping guides that they call Buying Guides that offer a ton of great gift ideas.

You can find a Buying Guide for just about anything you want to know:

• Holiday Shopping Guides for any holiday
• Gifts by where you use them – like the kitchen, bath or outdoors
• Products by brand or store
• Roundups of the best products by type

The best place to start is in the ShopWiki Buying Guides Directory.

How to use ShopWiki:

• Find discount coupons in their CouponFinder
• Download the FREE ShopWiki iPhone App
• Download the FREE ShopWiki Android App

INTERNATIONAL SHOPPING

ShopWiki offers separate sites by country to make it easy for you to find stores where you live or to buy that exotic gift from somewhere you have traveled or wish you could travel. Check out all the countries they cover:

• ShopWiki US
• ShopWiki UK
• ShopWiki AU
• ShopWiki CA
• ShopWiki FR
• ShopWiki NL
• ShopWiki DE
• ShopWiki ES
• ShopWiki BE
• ShopWiki PL

GIFT IDEAS

Many people struggle with what to buy someone else – and for good reason. They don’t ask themselves what that person would want and when they ask for advice it is too general. For example, they will say “what do I get for a boy?” or “what would my husband like?”. No one can offer useful advice without more information about the intended gift recipient.

The key to buying the perfect gift is to make it personal. These tips on How to Select the Perfect Gift are just what you need. Don’t get stuck – ask the experts on TheFind or ask in the comments here so anyone can share ideas for you.