Shopping changeroom web-linked mirrors… Baby name resource… West not so wild… Boomers ignored

• Shopping changeroom web-linked mirrors…
• Baby name resource…
• West not so wild…
• Boomers ignored…
• Quote of the day…

Do I look good in this? Ask the web

Finding clothes that you like can be tricky, so getting a trusted second opinion can often be crucial to a successful shopping endeavour. But what if your shopping buddy can’t make it?

US company IconNicholson has come up with a solution: a dressing room mirror equipped with weblinked cameras that allows shoppers to send images of themselves trying different outfits to friends anywhere in the world.

CNNMoney reports that IconNicholson will soon launch the website through which nominated people can see what the intrepid shopper is trying on and vote on which outfit they like the most.

The mirror itself is also an extremely high-tech interactive device that displays recommendations of other styles and accessories that shoppers can try on.

By touching an item displayed on the mirror, shoppers can see a close-up, where they’re located in the store and the prices. Much easier than going back and forth from the dressing room to see about the next size up, that’s for sure.

The baby-naming business

Sociologists and name researchers say they are seeing unprecedented levels of angst among parents trying to choose names for their children, reports the Wall Street Journal online.

As family names and old religious standbys continue to lose favor, parents are spending more time and money on the issue and are increasingly turning to strangers for help.

Could there be a business for this in Australia? Apparently parents in the US are turning to Social Security Administration data to make sure their choices aren’t too trendy, and fussing over every consonant like corporate branding experts.

They’re seeking inspiration from books, web sites and software programs, and in some cases hiring professional baby-name consultants who use mathematical formulas!

Timid Perth missing out

Perth’s “timidity” – especially regarding liquor licensing laws – means talented and youthful people are not attracted to the city, according to Carol Coletta, the head of US-based organisation CEOs for Cities.

Coletta says her research shows a strong economy is reliant on strong cities, which in turn relies on the ability to attract talent. And Perth needs to improve its urbanity, reports The Australian Financial Review.

Ignoring baby boomers

Australian advertisers are struggling to come into grips with the potential offered by the baby boomers generation, according to Charlie Nelson of forecasting and future consulting firm Foreseechange. It’s a missed opportunity he argues, according to a report in trade magazine AdNews.

Nelson’s research in 2006 showed only 12.5% of boomers felt engaged by advertising, but people between the age of 55 and 64 are the biggest consumers of discretionary goods and services, followed by those between the age of 45 and 54. He argues marketers are too focused on targeting families.

Maree Hall, of media agency Carat, says free-to-air television is the best medium for targeting baby boomers, followed by newspapers and magazines. Pay TV is increasingly popular with baby boomers. Research from Roy Morgan shows that 36% of baby boomers use the internet eight times a week. Hall reckons business, travel and health web sites are particularly popular.

SmartCompany Quote of the Day

“A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person. You earn reputation by trying to do hard things well.”
Jeff Bezos, founder, Amazon