November 18, 2008

Happy Socks

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TrendCentral: This Swedish hosiery company, Happy Socks, makes us want to never wear plain black socks again. Offering a literal rainbow of color palettes and patterns, the socks seem like the kind of thing you may see an accidentally stylish 6-year-old wearing, but there's no reason we can't treat our feet too.

Make Your Feet Smile [TrendCentral]

By Marcel Sim @ 9:27 AM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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November 12, 2008

Forks & Spoons That Float

floatingcutlery.jpgProductDose.com: I have this weird affinity for doing the dishes. I find it oddly therapeutic. A professor of mine told me there's a primal satisfaction in the act of cleansing -- things, your body, your spirit. These utensils from Seongyong Lee have a ball designed into them to enable them to float so that you don't have to rummage around in dirty dishwater to find them.

Floating Cutlery [ProductDose.com]

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October 21, 2008

No More Zip Malfunction

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TrendCentral: If you've ever walked down the street to stares thinking you must look pretty good that day only to discover blocks later it was your fallen fly and not your fly outfit, then this gadget is for you. Designed to keep your zipper up and your nether regions covered, the ZipHolder loops through your zipper and around the button on your waistband, ensuring that no one will ever say XYZPDQ to you again.

ZipHolder [TrendCentral]

By Marcel Sim @ 1:29 PM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (2)  |  Article Link
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October 19, 2008

Flipper Toothbrush Holder

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The Flipper toothbrush holder is a special kind of product. It takes brushing and shaving – normally mundane activities – and turns them into a daily delight, whether you are six years old or 60 years old. From function to form, the Flipper toothbrush holder is a simple addition that will change the way you go about your morning routine.

Using the Flipper toothbrush holder is a snap, even on your groggiest morning. All you need is one hand.

1. Patented snap-open mechanism makes retrieving your toothbrush or razor both easy and fun, whether you’re a kid…or an adult!

2. Patented snap-closed mechanism adds a little bit of magic to your day. Insert your toothbrush or razor, and watch the Flipper toothbrush holder automatically close on its own.

3. High-quality suction cups allow for reliable adhesion to a variety of smooth surfaces, including bathroom mirrors and tile surfaces.

By Marcel Sim @ 1:06 PM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (1)  |  Article Link
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October 16, 2008

Easy urBonfire

urnonfire.gifProductDose.com: To fill out your faux-woodsman motif, this fireplace from Michael Hilgers evokes the log fire you could never build because you dropped out of Boy Scouts when the woods got a little too dark for your frightened child's heart. Yah, I never made it past Cub Scout so I'm venting all my urban frustrations. It's not so much the critters and the lack of electricity that frightens me about going "wild." It's the lack of modern plumbing. The woods is no place to bare yourself. This wilderness free urBonfire uses odorless and smoke-free bioethanol.

urBonfire [ProductDose.com]

By Marcel Sim @ 6:47 PM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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October 11, 2008

SWIMS Overshoes

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TrendCentral: Umbrellas may come compact enough to throw in your purse or satchel, but unless you're hauling a duffle bag in lieu of a computer case, galoshes aren't exactly practical to lug with you. But for those cold, cloudy mornings when freezing rain seems imminent, you no longer have to forgo your favorite kicks for fear of plunging into a muddy puddle of slush. Available for men and women, these rubber overshoes protect your footwear from ruin. Hopefully the prototype designed for high heels, which was recently spotted at a Milan trade show, will hit the production lines in time for winter.

Overshoes to brave the elements [TrendCentral]

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September 11, 2008

Sneakskins

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Spingwise: Hard on the heels—so to speak—of our story about sneaker customization at Keds Studio last week comes another spotting in the world of customized footwear: Sneakart, a site that lets users personalize sneakers from any brand via specially designed removable stickers.

Still in beta, UK-based Sneakart offers users the opportunity to customize their sneakers via Sneakskin, a super-thin, flexible, durable and waterproof graphic film that can be applied to white, light-coloured and metallic shoes. Printed with non-toxic ink in the UK, Sneakskin is 100 percent PVC-free and can be peeled off and replaced at will. It's available either in sheets of individual stickers or in 22-by-29-cm sheets of patterns that the user can cut to fit the areas to be covered; either way, one or two sheets is typically enough to customize one pair of shoes, Sneakart says.

Customizing sneakers with removable stickers [Springwise]

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September 1, 2008

Checkpoint Flyer

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Luxist: It may not be the most glamorous briefcase I've ever seen but the new Checkpoint Flyer Briefcase by Tom Bihn has one very important feature, it can slide through airport checkpoints with your Mac safely inside a sleeve, saving you the awkward fumble of taking out your computer, putting it into a bin and sending it through the chute unprotected along with umpteen other Apple computers.

The durable bag is made of ballistic nylon with YKK Uretek zippers, Duraflex Stealth buckles, and Poron foam-padded handles in Tom Bihn's Seattle factory. It's pretty travel friendly with 11 organizational pockets, a back pocket that zips open to accommodate the handle of a roll-aboard, a quick-access boarding pass/map pocket and a folded foam laptop compartment that completely encases the laptop in 8mm-thick closed cell foam, available in three sizes designed specifically to fit Apple laptops (yes, it fits PCs too). They say it requires less than 3 seconds to be prepared in order to send the briefcase through the x-ray machine.

Checkpoint Flyer Briefcase [Luxist]

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August 26, 2008

No Slip Charlie

Market Watch: Celebrity and non-celebrity parents of new babies have one less thing to worry about. No Slip Charlie(TM), a unique baby bath safety product offered by mompreneur-owned Mom Sense, gives parents the ability to maintain a firm but gentle grip on their wet, slippery baby during bath time.

Soft, durable and easy to maintain, No Slip Charlie(TM) is a pair of fingerless gloves that promote bath safety by providing a secure gripping surface while leaving parents' fingers free to wash hair and make skin contact with the baby. In addition to a pair of soft poly/lycra gloves, each No Slip Charlie(TM) package also contains two machine-washable terrycloth wash mitts that attach to the gloves during bath time. The product is available in pink and blue.

No Slip Charlie(TM) was created by mompreneur Kim Shulman, who realized the need for this type of baby bath safety product after the birth of her son, Charlie (for whom the product is named). Worried about the dangerous combination of her wet, slippery baby and the equally wet and slippery hard surfaces of a bathroom, Shulman developed the gloves to help alleviate unnecessary stress that can arise during an otherwise joyful time. With No Slip Charlie(TM) gloves, parents can relax and have fun with baby during bath time, knowing they are equipped to keep their child steady in the tub and while lifting their baby in and out of the bath.

Mom Sense's No Slip Charlie(TM) helps keep babies out of slippery situations [Market Watch]

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August 17, 2008

The Fit Flop

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A fitness trend that lets you get a work-out while you walk: The flip flop with a built in gym. In short: The Fit Flop. The micro-wobbleboard technology built into the shoe's midsole "places varying densities of EVA under your feet each time you step, to challenge the support and balance muscles of the foot and leg." EVA (Expanded Vinyl Acetate) is the closed-cell foam in the midsole of many shoes. It's used for its cushioning qualities since it is lighter and softer than the other major midsole ingredients. So while you can exercise hard to reach muscles, trim and tone your legs, work your bum and thigh muscles and essentially stay in shape, you also look fabulously stylish. In addition to all that, according to a study done at the University of Salford in Manchester, "Walking in FitFlops is like walking barefoot, but a little bit better." Anything else? Oh, yes. There are no animal products used in the UK Walkstar fitflop, which makes at least one of the fitflop models vegan-friendly as well.

Taking a walk has never posed as a more sensible and trendy workout. Stroll, skip, hop, jump or run-as long as you're in fitflops, you'll surely see results.

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TrendsSpotting.com is a trends agency focused on developing exciting tools for Trend Spotting. We follow current trends and are constantly looking for new ones. We specialize in trends research and the social media. Dr. Taly Weiss, TrendsSpotting CEO, is a Social Psychologist, with extensive experience in branding strategy and marketing research. Feel free to explore our trend spotting tools on www.trendoScope.com.

By TrendsSpotting.com @ 8:49 AM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (2)  |  Article Link
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July 22, 2008

Sure To Launch You Out Of Bed!

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Latest Buy: Sleep is a very individual thing. Some like to sleep on their side or their back or their front. Some like a soft mattress whilst others prefer a bed of nails. And when it comes to waking up, some of us spring out of bed, whilst others need, well, how shall we put this, others need a rocket up them.

Problem solved. The Rocket Alarm Clock is here to ensure that if you have to take off in the morning, it will do just that.

Rocket Alarm ClockThe launch pad doubles as mission control, where you can set the time and the alarm from the LCD display. When it's time to get up, the red LED lights begin to flash and the countdown begins. 10 – 9 – if you wake up now you can abort the launch – 8 – 7 – 6 – you can still stop it – 5 – 4 – come on you space cadet get up – 3 – 2 – 1 – LIFT OFF! If you've failed to abort the mission by now, your soft-headed rocket has launched itself across the room – and the only way you're going to stop the alarm from sounding is by getting up and retrieving it!

Rocket Alarm Clock [Latest Buy]

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July 8, 2008

Uroclub for Golfers

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TrendHunter: Attention male golfers! The game of golf is full of gadgets: gadgets that increase your distance; gadgets that straighten your drives; gadgets that hide your beer. The list goes on… Now, you can add a club that doubles as a toilet to the list. The Uroclub is a golf club with a hollow shaft that holds your pee.

Every aspect of this piece of equipment has been meticulously worked out to make it simple and trouble free to use. To start with, the UroClub is designed from a light weight resin with a molded grip. The cap opens and closes easily and is designed with a triple sealing system to ensure that it is leak proof.

The privacy shield hooks to the sides of the pants or belt and adds stability. This allows freedom of the hands to manipulate the club and zipper. The UroClub is intended to eliminate anxiety and any feeling of uneasiness on the course. It can be emptied at the nearest restroom or later on, when the golfer returns home.

Urinal Golf Clubs - The Uroclub [TrendHunter]

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June 27, 2008

Nike Personalised Shoes

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TrendBlog: Nike has launched a large-scale pan-European mobile marketing campaign in which it unveils a customization service called Nike PhotoID, which invites Nike fans to submit their randomly cellphone-taken pictures with brilliant colors to the company. The service will then analyze and withdraw from the pictures two dominant colors, make customized sneaker designs and send pictures of the designs back to the photographers, who can choose either to keep them as wall paper or order the personalized shoes.

Nike PhotoID [TrendBlog]

By Marcel Sim @ 12:00 AM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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June 15, 2008

Coffee Carrier Bag

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If you're stepping out to grab a coffee, decency requires you ask your co-workers if anyone else wants one. But on the way back to the office, you curse your own decency as you juggle multiple hot cups and the phone rings or you need to pull out your keys.

Here's a smart solution: A nifty solution is this carry-bag for coffees!

An elegant way to carry coffee and the carrier could be reused over and over again. Definitely a hit for coffee addicts and maybe our environmentalists as well!

By Steven Teo @ 12:00 AM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (4)  |  Article Link
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June 14, 2008

Kung Fu Shoes

kungfushoes.jpgTrendCentral: These simple canvas sneakers have been popular in China since the '20s and have recently gained a small, cultish following Stateside. The shoes' durability, comfort and flexible soles made them the choice footwear for Shaolin monks who wore them when practicing Kung Fu and Tai Chi. While they are still worn by martial artists, it's their simple, classic style - akin to American mainstays such as Converse All Stars and Keds - that resonates with fashionistas (both male and female) today.

Shaolin Chinese Sneakers [TrendCentral]

By Marcel Sim @ 12:00 AM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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June 10, 2008

Baby Boomers Attitude Tees

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BoomersWithAttitude.com is a new online tee-shirt store that’s devoted exclusively to the most exceptional generation in the USA today: the Baby Boomers. It features distinctive, unique Tee-Shirts and other quality apparel that further expands on what this already vocal group of over 70,000,000 people has been doing for 45 plus years, that is, Expressing Themselves … with Attitude.

Simple and straightforward in design, and sometimes a bit spicy to boot, each tee-Shirt includes a unique, clever, funny, insightful, nostalgic, possibly stinging or otherwise thought-provoking message on the back, in addition to the standout "BWA - Boomers with Attitude" markings on the front. Most designs are offered in multiple colors.

By Marcel Sim @ 12:00 AM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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June 8, 2008

Instant BBQ

BBQ.jpegTrendHunter: Tons of lighter fluid is used to light BBQs in the US every year which contributes to toxic residue on the foods cooked. The Baja BBQ firepack is made of charcoal packaging (100% recycled biodegradable paper pulp) which quickly ignites by lighting from the bottom. The chimney holes provide the ventilation needed to produce hot coals. The contents are 2 lbs of natural lump charcoal, all of which burn easily, producing hot coals ready to cook your meal in 15- 20 minutes without any nasty “flavourings”.

The creators are Mike and Maaike, a collaborative team formed by American Mike Simonian and Dutch born Maaike Evers who are into useful experimental design. They designed the Baja BBQ firepack for Lazzari with a patent pending.

Instant Eco Grills [TrendHunter]

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May 6, 2008

Unusual Scented Candles

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TrendOriginal: Unusual smells aren’t generally the inspiration for scented candles, but Hotwicks doesn’t really seem to care. Among its unique collection of scented candles is the “Campfire Candle” which emits vapors reminiscent of a campfire-makes you feel like you’re camping and toasting marshmallows.

Hotwicks also have other unusual scents such as grass, popcorn and even urinal smells.

Campfire Scented Candle [TrendOriginal]

By Marcel Sim @ 9:11 AM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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May 1, 2008

Body Fat Analyzer Scale

Homedics.jpgProductDose: Gauging your health or fitness by weight is inexact and can actually be unhealthy, which is why using a regular scale to track your health goals is foolish and best left to supermodels. This HoMedics scale measures your body fat, body water, muscle mass, and bone mass. It's also got a Daily Calorie Predictor that tells you how many calories you should be consuming each day. Features include:

- Built-in scale with KnowledgeBook technology accurately measures weight, body fat, body water, muscle mass and bone mass

- Durable stainless-steel design; 2" backlit blue LCD display for easy viewing

Homedics Healthstation Body Fat Analyzer [ProductDose]

By Marcel Sim @ 12:00 AM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (1)  |  Article Link
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April 26, 2008

Polar Shelves

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Babygadget: These Polar bear shelves have to be the ultimate in fun product design, though one has to ask if they'd look quite as good once stacked with random books and objects. Now, if you were enough of an obsessive to only store white-spined books on there, I could see the look really working. And having laid out over £2,000 (US$ 4,000), you'd really want it to work.

Polar Bear shelves [Babygadget]

By Steven Teo @ 12:00 AM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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April 17, 2008

Kids Safety Bands

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You just turned away for a moment. You look in every direction - scanning the area. Your heart starts to pound as you call out their name. You start to panic and think the worst when your cell phone rings. A welcome voice tells you that they found your wandering child and all is well.

Has this happened to you? If you're a parent, chances are it's happened, maybe more than once. It's estimated in the US, that 2100 kids under the age of 18 go missing everyday. It's a terrifying situation, one that we all would like to avoid. Children wander, it's their nature. You have to do your best for them and hope for the best outcome.

Here is where Kids Safety Bands come in. Custom made of durable silicone rubber, the bands are laser engraved with your child's initials and your cell phone number(s). If your child gets lost, anyone can locate the cell number on the branded orange band and call you. The custom bands are $4.00 plus shipping.

http://www.kidssafetybands.com

By Marcel Sim @ 4:31 PM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (2)  |  Article Link
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April 15, 2008

Draw Your Own Henna At Home

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Popgadget: If you're taking part in an Indian celebration, have a kid who wants a tattoo but is waaaaaaay too young, or you're just a mad crazy fan of henna, then Henna Penna is for you. As the name strongly implies, this product is henna... in a pen. Which is a godsend, as anyone who's tried to do anything with henna (multiple hair dyes, here) knows how messy the darn thing can be.

Henna Penna pens are available in a range of colors including emerald and traditional brown and black, and can be used with stencils or freehand. At $25.75 per pen (from Nonstop Bazaar) they're not dirt cheap, but they are all-natural and not tested on animals, so you your kids can play without fear. (Although I must advise some caution: designs fade, but can't be erased, so not something to play with on the face, perhaps...)

Home tattoos the safe way with Henna Penna [Popgadget]

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April 14, 2008

Flip & Tumble Reusable Bag

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Flip & Tumble is an unique and modern reusable bag created by Eva Bauer and friends right out of graduate school. While in graduate school at Stanford’s Product Design Program, they began researching how people use reusable bags because while almost everyone owned reusable bags, most didn’t remember them until they reached the checkout line. Flip & Tumble came out of an idea to design a bag that people wouldn’t forget. In their own words:

We felt that there had to be a good way to keep your bag with you all the time. For us, that meant two things. It had to compact easily so you could stash it in a messenger bag or purse, and it had to have a flexible “go anywhere” style.

We played with a variety of compacting systems, but ultimately took our cue from sockballs, those little balls formed from rolling your socks and stretching the end over. Our final design uses an elastic pouch system that works pretty much the same way.

Simply place your hand into the attached pouch, scrunch up the bag, stretch the pouch panels over the bag, and your bag is ready to tumble along.

Flip & Tumble

By Marcel Sim @ 8:30 AM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (2)  |  Article Link
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April 1, 2008

Thrift Shops

The Coloradoan: The stigma of thrift, consignment and resale stores are a thing of the past, and vintage has given new meaning to thrift.

Saving some green, whether it's dollar bills or the environment, the second-hand industry is thriving, benefiting from people looking to make a few extra bucks by selling their used stuff or buying items at a reduced price.

For Paula Sacks, business at her resale store reflects the economy and right now, people are in need of extra cash to make ends meet. "I find more people looking for extra ways to earn money," said the owner of Harmony Kids, 925 E. Harmony Road, which resells children's clothes, books, toys and baby equipment.

Resale is one of the fastest growing retail segments, experiencing roughly 5 percent growth each year, according to the National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops.

Even big name stores are noticing the impact. Goodwill opened a new Fort Collins store in August, capitalizing on the growing retail market on the south end of town.

"Knowledge of thrift is getting out. It's OK to shop thrift," said Ric Berninzoni, vice president of retail operations for Goodwill. The company recently launched a new advertising campaign with the slogan "It's not your grandmother's thrift store."

"(Resale) is an excellent market considering it's so green," said Laura Green, owner of Repeat Boutique. After 21 years in the industry, she's surprised the second-hand market isn't larger. "It's a booming business that has been fairly unrecognized in the last five, six, seven, eight, years. I don't know why it wasn't enormously apparent before."

Secondhand stores make vintage cool in tough times [The Coloradoan]

By Yuelin Toh @ 12:00 AM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (3)  |  Article Link
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March 22, 2008

Portable UV Scanner

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UV Scanner from Whatever works is a portable scanner which allows you to disinfect everything you might have to touch like door handles, telephones, computer keyboards, etc. Waving the UV light over an object will kill 99.9% of the germs you might come in contact with.

Via OhGizmo

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TrendInsights. A blog to inspire, stimulate creativity and trend spotting.

By Trend Insights @ 10:54 AM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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March 9, 2008

Self Binding Paper

Newswire: Creative Stationery Industries, Inc. of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, reports that its new self binding sheets can bond sheets with just a pull, no staples, no three holes punch, and no tools at all (US Patent 7,037,564). A new self binding paper that makes business reports look like a booklet.

The custom A4 size sheets fits copiers, Fax machines, and Printers, It’s made for your special paper projects just print your documents on the self binding paper and align the sheets and pull the entire tabs, except for the last one and your sheets are all bonded together.

Now make a folder or cover for your documents use an 11x17 sheet, print your information on the front and fold it in half, pull the last pull tab and now insert your bonded documents. This new self binding sheets will be sold in stationery and office products stores.

In tests, inventor has bonded over 400 sheets with remarkable result. Other uses are scrapbooks, file folders, term papers, reports, calendars, resume, business forms, catalogs, flyers, signs, manuals, information from the internet, church programs, all important documents, music notebook, artist Sketch pad, agreements, wills, organizers, school newspaper, company policy, all important documents the list goes on and on.

The company plans to have different sizes and colors and paper weights, plus removable sheets. And also a new self mailer paper, print your documents, bond them fold and seal. Inventor indicates “Secretaries and other can use this self binging product without the hassle of binding equipment; Homemaker can use this paper with their personal computer printer.

Creative Stationery Industries, Inc. Introduces New Innovative Self-binding Paper Solution [Newswire]

By Yuelin Toh @ 12:00 AM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (1)  |  Article Link
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March 7, 2008

iPod Messenger Bag

Carry your tunes into the future with this ultra-modern Messenger Bag by Australian company Smart Fabrics. It combines the ElekTex Smart Fabric control panel to allow you to control your iPod tunes. The ultra thin NXT Speaker is incorporated into the bag, so you can share your music or add that powerful punch to a presentation.

The Messenger Bag isn't stingy on comfort and practicality. There are loads of additional pockets for business or personal accessories, a water bottle pocket and there's even an extra soft air-flow open pocket in the back.

By Marcel Sim @ 2:42 PM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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February 28, 2008

Easy Groom

groom.jpgI've tried a number of battery-operated nose hair trimmers hoping one of them would last, be easy to clean, and remain sharp. Every one of them failed. This stainless steel trimmer is simplicity itself! No whirring motors, wimpy foil blades, batteries or delicate electronics. It costs a little more than some electric models but works elegantly and reliably. I also like the fact it is so compact I can sanitize the entire unit in the occasional alcohol bath. I always thought trimmers had to work at high speed to deliver a comfortable and painless cut. With this device, you simply stick the unit an 1/8-inch up your nose and rotate the shaft back and forth.

Groom Mate Nose & Ear Hair Trimmer [Cool Tools]

By Marcel Sim @ 8:20 AM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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February 23, 2008

Cereal On The Go

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Every morning, one out of every two Americans starts their day with a bowl of breakfast cereal. Baby boomers love it for nostalgic reasons, but also because it is often healthier than restaurant alternatives. They represent an entire generation raised on cereal, and still love it because it is quick and simple, requiring no cooking.

CerealThing, Inc hopes to tap on this consumer trend. Founder Dave Ascone has invented what is known today as the CerealThing™, a mug-shaped milk and cereal container comprised of individual milk and cereal compartments, separated by a patented valve. CerealThing’s built-in cold pack and insulated milk compartment keeps the milk cold.

There is also a detachable spoon that delivers a complete breakfast experience in a single, easy to carry container. With CerealThing, health (and cost) conscious consumers can enjoy breakfast away from home anywhere and anytime. Dave is planning to offer his idea for sale, licensing or joint-venture.

http://www.cerealthing.com

By Marcel Sim @ 7:18 AM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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February 14, 2008

Single-use sachets for HABA products

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In south Asia, the majority of shampoos, laundry detergents and other HABA/home cleaning products are sold in single-use sachets for a simple reason - many Indian consumers are not yet able to afford the purchase of traditionally sized packages.

In North America, sachets of this type have usually only been used as a giveaway for promoting consumer trial, or sold for use while traveling. However, Shoppers Drug Mart, Canada's leading pharmacy chain, has taken single use sachets and developed an entirely new category of high margin HABA goods.

This "Anti-Aging Micro Dermabrasion Duo" sachet is one of approximately 20 new private label sachet products, and retails for CDN $2.49 (CDN $1 = USD $1). Usage directions on the reverse of the package recommend use '2 to 3 times per week for best results' - clearly a big potential revenue source for Shoppers.

What consumer products do you use every day that could be repackaged or reformatted to sell incremental volume?

GraemeSpicerPhoto2.jpgGraeme Spicer is a Canadian trendspotter, ethnographer and observer of all things retail. As Director of Retail Strategy at DW+Partners he spends his time consulting with leading retailers; presenting at conferences across North America; lecturing at OCAD, Canada's leading design school; and reading too many blogs. Graeme can be reached at graeme.spicer@gmail.com.

By Graeme Spicer @ 12:48 PM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (1)  |  Article Link
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February 12, 2008

Mario Carpet

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Gizmodiva: Hardcore Mario fans have another reason to rejoice, they can now get their hands on these awesome plush mats that can be laid down on their bedroom (or whichever room) floor. Featuring the icons from the Mario game, there are five options to play around with. If you have the space (and the money), then call for all five else opt for your fav icon. Each squishy floor tile measures 40cm x 40cm (15.74 x 15.74″), and come in Mario, Shroom, Goomba, Question Mark Block and Brick patterns. Apparently the Brick pattern is sold out nevertheless pick the up for $23 a piece.

Super Mario Bros Dot Design Mat spruce up your floor [Gizmodiva]

By Steven Teo @ 12:00 AM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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January 21, 2008

Taser Party

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Iconoculture: They come in pink, blue, silver and black, but we're not talking Tupperware. Taser C2s are in hot demand at home-shopping parties in Arizona, where instead of trading recipes, suburban housewives take aim at cardboard cutouts.

“We have Tupperware parties and candle parties to protect our food and house, so why not have a Taser party to learn how to protect our lives and bodies?” asks Dana Shafman, who founded Shieldher Inc. to franchise the concept.

The gals don't drink-and-Taser (no alcohol is permitted) and they don't practice on each other. But they do learn how to handle the devices, which can hit attackers up to 15 ft. away with electrical volts that incapacitate them.

Hosts of Shieldher Taser parties, rolling out nationwide in 2008, get a free Taser for every 10 they sell in their homes.

Consumers are more concerned than ever about personal safety. Tasers empower women to protect themselves and their families without bringing firearms into the home.

Taser home-shopping parties a stunning success [Iconoculture]

By Steven Teo @ 12:00 AM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (16)  |  Article Link
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January 7, 2008

Eliminate Scratched DVD Disks Forever

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It has the power to paralyze Assassins Creed and bring Need for Speed to a screeching halt on PlayStation®, Nintendo & Xbox™ games. A gamers worst enemy isn’t a video game villain. It’s just one scratch or chip in a video or computer game disc that can suddenly cause a gamers virtual world to come crashing down. It's voted as the Coolest Time Magazine invention.

Now, scratch-free digital entertainment is possible with d_skin™ Protective Disc Skins™, a break-through product in disc protection that snaps on, plays on and always stays on. d_skin Protective Disc Skins contains a special patented optically clear protective covers that act as a Skin for discs, guarding against scratches. The unique patented Liplock Seal™ snaps onto the edge of any standard-size disc and holds the protective "Skin" tight. The Skins ability to eliminate scratches extends disc life, which helps reduce the high cost of replacing damaged computer and video games. Visit www.d-skin.com for more information today.

d_skin Protective Disc Skins offer music fans, movie buffs and game enthusiasts a safer, longer-lasting method for protecting their purchases. Once discs have been "skinned", there’s no need to store them in bulky jewel cases, CD holders and CD sleeves. If the d_skin disc protector gets scratched, simply toss it and snap on a fresh one. d_skin Protective Disc Skins are designed to protect, computer games, DVD, data discs and music discs. In fact if it is a disc then d-skin can protect it. Visit www.dskin.com.

d_skin, was formed to help bring a stop to the untimely disc death running rampant among CDs, DVDs and video games everywhere. While d_skin Protective Disc Skins can't stop the widespread brutal and careless treatment of discs, it can curb the tragic end result: scratches that cause skipping and ruin discs. So, whether it's teenagers carelessly "forgetting" to put the DVD back in its case, or that sloppy roommate or significant other that just can't seem to find the jewel case for anything, d_skin Protective Disc Skins are the solution to end early disc death.

So, before you scratch your next game, get one of these Protective Disc Skins from www.dskin.com.

image001.jpgDVD

Protect the movies you love and watch them again and again. And, don't worry, d_skin® doesn't alter the quality. Your movies remain perfect, just as they were recorded.

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Don't lose critical business files or those priceless family pictures. d_skin® acts as another layer of protection, giving you a first line of defense against scratches.

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Even when the d_skin® gets scratched by busy little hands, your disc is still protected. Just toss the scratched Skin and snap on a fresh one.

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The d_skin® protective layer protects your CDs while they're playing - and when you forget to put them back in their cases!

This post is a sponsored blog post.

By Marcel Sim @ 2:10 PM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (3)  |  Article Link
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January 4, 2008

Lip Balm From Ben & Jerry's

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Cool Hunting: With a smell and taste just like the real Ben & Jerry's stuff, these new balms will bring you back to your Lip Smackers days—in a good way. The container looks like a mini ice cream pint and comes in three