It has been a happy holiday season indeed – especially for online shoppers, retailers, and the rest of the e-Commerce industry. According to surveys by both MasterCard Advisors’ SpendingPulse and marketing research firm comScore, online sales in the United States jumped by as much as 15 percent this 2010, with the figures reaching as high as $36.4 billion in the three-month period of October 31 to December 22. This marks a significant increase from last year’s $31.5 billion. Daily online sales, moreover, reached $1 billion on six days this 2010, compared to only three days last year. SpendingPulse describes the surge as being spurred by aggressive online marketing by Web-based retailers. Gian Fulgoni, chairman of comScore, added: “After the past few years’ struggles, it is gratifying to see e-Commerce return to a state that can only be described as a very merry holiday shopping season.” The 2010 online holiday sales were also helped by a late surge in spending, with – Read the full article
The face of one of the most innovative companies in history is their ever-changing, extremely memorable logo. While Google leads innovation in many verticals and constantly “brands” that simplistic colorful logo in our brains, there is a lot behind this work of art and its purpose is not merely to line the walls or logo mats of the Google complex. Way back in 1998, Google created the basis for what we still see today: a simple wordmark logo utilizing 3 main colors and the oddball green on the “l”. The rebellious green goes against the pattern of the main colors in a symbolic gesture that “Google doesn’t always follow the rules.” Since 1998, the main logo has only changed twice with simple changes to the gradient and letter shadowing. The colors and the font are still recognizable across all three with the Google Logo font coming from the German designer, Gustav Jaeger, entitled “Catull BQ”. What is truly inspiring about – Read the full article
Google’s Tech Support Care Package – for Parents Will you be home for the holidays? Don’t worry. This season, you won’t have to play the role of personal tech support to your parents. Search giant Google recently unveiled an online “tech support care package” at TeachParentsTech.org, anticipating instances in which tech-savvy users are asked by their moms and dads to help out with a long list of basic – but nonetheless taxing – tech support issues. The site, built by Google to “help keep tech support a family business”, allows users to select any number of simple instructional tech support videos to send to their parents. The videos are organized according to categories, which include The Basics, World Wide Web, Communication, Media, and Finding Information. And while these video packages won’t cover all the questions and issues that computer beginners may have, they do provide instant help – without users having to spend hour after hour explaining to dad what – Read the full article
We recommend watching this on full screen for the full effect! Happy Holiday from the team at Lakeshore Branding.
According to eMarketer, shoppers are expected to spend 14.2% more shopping online in 2010 than in 2009. Are you part of the trend? Should you care if you aren’t? Shopping online has much more to offer than an expanded selection. You may not have thought about how much gas you spend driving to multiple stores or the impulse buys that creep into your cart. Before you dive in head first, consider these hidden benefits to shopping online versus shopping at bricks and mortar stores. Wish Lists Eliminate Guesswork: Many of us have had it with giving (and, if we’re honest, getting) bad gifts. We’re pretty confident that Uncle Alfred doesn’t want another necktie, but we inevitably buy one for him anyway. Most sites know that we’re frustrated with guessing how to buy for someone and put wish lists directly on their sites. Feel weird about telling people what you want? List Ideas, Kaboodle, and Boxed Up make it a cinch to make your own lists – Read the full article
Due to the tremendous support and success of last year’s event, Barcelona Creative Group has decided to host our 2nd Annual Open House and Food Drive. We invite you to join us as we “talk turkey,” help those in need and celebrate Thanksgiving (the most American of holidays) with clients, business associates and friends. Date: Monday, November 23rd Time: 5:00pm to 7:00pm Where: 12416 S. Harlem Ave., Palos Heights, 2nd Floor Holiday appetizers and beverages will be served. This year we will be supporting the Palos Township Emergency Food Pantry. We hope you will help by bringing a non-perishable food item. Thank you. Items needed: Canned Vegetables, Canned Soups, Canned Fruits, Canned Tuna or Chicken, Macaroni & Cheese, Spaghetti Sauce, Applesauce, Fruit Drinks, Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels, Toothpaste & Toothbrushes, Hand Soap, Dishwashing Soap and Shampoo & Conditioner. RSVP Here… For more information or questions please contact Juli Barcelona or Monica Crites by email at juli @barcelonacreative.com or monica – Read the full article
When I was out shopping for the holidays, I came across one of those mall kiosks and they were selling Vonage. I had seen the commercials and had done some research on VOIP (voice over internet protocol). I checked it out and they sold me on the Vphone. Basically a usb jump drive that you can plug into any computer and it automatically loads the software required to run Vonage. I have a new Dell computer with Vista (don’t upgrade if you don’t have to) and , I asked the sales guy if it worked with Vista. He informed me that it did and I would not have any problems. Make a long story shorter, it has a success rate of about 30% working with Vista. I did get a chance to try it out at the office where they have XP computers. I was actually surprised at the clean quality sound. So moral of the story, it works pretty – Read the full article
