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Converting to solar energy means covering a roof in unsightly solar panels. Not necessarily: Philadelphia company SRS Energy has developed the Solé Power Tile, a roof tile designed to sustainably convert sunlight into electricity without compromising aesthetics. The dark blue tiles, manufactured by SRS Energy, are jointly branded and distributed by US Tile and specifically designed to be compatible with the clay roof tiles manufactured by US Tile. Customers who purchase clay tiles will be given the option to upgrade a section of their roof to Solé Power Tiles. When installed, the system can offset a large proportion of a homeowner's energy costs—not to mention cleaning their carbon conscience. The tiles are available in select West Coast markets this autumn, with a nationwide rollout planned for spring 2010. What's so attractive about the Solé Power Tile system he and his team have produced is that it makes it easy for consumers to make a green choice, without having to settle for a product they find unappealing. With more tile styles and colours in the pipeline, SRS Energy could soon be enjoying a big chunk of eco-bounty, as will any other company that can remove the disincentives from sustainable technology. Website: www.srsenergy.com Spotted by: Anne-Marie Fischer |
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For the roughly one in six couples who have trouble conceiving, manual body basal temperature (BBT) charting has traditionally been one of the most common approaches to determining the best time to get pregnant. That technique is known to be less than completely reliable, however, while other approaches—such as urine testing—are subject to other problems. Now, a UK firm has developed a device with accuracy levels so high that it offers a money-back guarantee if pregnancy is not achieved within 12 months. Ovulation changes a woman’s body temperature by about half a degree—subtle enough to be easily masked by normal variations. Employing a more sophisticated version of BBT measurement, the DuoFertility monitor consists of a small sensor and a hand-held reader that collects data wirelessly. The sensor is attached to an adhesive patch—about 3 cm in diameter, worn discreetly under the arm—that records a woman's temperature 20,000 times a day and can detect temperature changes within thousandths of a degree. A series of algorithms identify the day of ovulation with 99 percent accuracy and up to six days in advance; combined with additional fertility clues such as cervical mucus quality and menstruation data, accuracy can be as high as 99.7 percent. Either way, data is transferred from the sensor to the DuoFertility reader wirelessly, giving users a view of their upcoming fertility status in plenty of time to plan a romantic evening at just the right time. They can also view more information about their cycles by simply plugging the reader into their PC, or request an in-depth report from one of DuoFertility's fertility specialists. The DuoFertility device is priced at GBP 495, including VAT and delivery at no extra charge. Developed and manufactured by Cambridge Temperature Concepts, DuoFertility has already been approved for sale in many countries around the globe; its retail launch is planned for next year. One to get in on early...? Website: www.duofertility.com Spotted by: Murtaza Ali Patel |
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If consumers can design their own fabrics, dresses, handbags and sneakers, it stands to reason that they should be able to create their own high-heeled shoes too. Stiletto fans will surely rejoice, then, to learn of Dream Heels, a site where they can do just that—and earn some cash for their creations. Now in beta, Winnipeg-based Dream Heels holds a design contest each month to pick a new printed high-heeled shoe to put into production. Visitors to the site can create and submit designs using its templates and 3-D Shoe Viewer software. All designs then get opened up to the Dream Heels community for critique and voting. Creators of winning designs (there's one per month) get USD 250 in cash and a USD 250 Dream Heels gift certificate as well as USD 0.50 for every shoe that gets sold in the Dream Heels shop featuring that design—up to a maximum of USD 1,500. Making even more of the site's social aspects, every member gets assigned a referral code for use when spreading the word about Dream Heels on other sites. Every time someone clicks through to make a purchase using that linked code, the member gets USD 1 towards anything in the Dream Heels store. There are not yet any Dream Heels shoes available for purchase, as the site only just concluded its second monthly contest; pricing on the shoes has not yet been announced. Nevertheless, in addition to eventually selling its winning designs online, Dream Heels is also seeking vendors interested in selling its shoes in their boutique or shop. Retailers: time to use a crowdsourcing twist to set your store apart? Website: www.dreamheels.com |
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Combine advances in medical genetics with the age-old pursuit of immortality, and it comes as no surprise that DNA storage is a growing industry. In such a personal line of business peace of mind is paramount for consumers. Recognising this, Swiss DNA Bank offers ultra-secure DNA storage that meets Swiss banking regulations. For a one-time fee of USD 399, customers can store both their self-swabbed DNA and up to 1 GB of digital data, forever. The DNA and the web servers are held in a former Swiss military underground nuclear shelter in Gstaad, aptly named Swiss Fort Knox. Subscription fees are invested in "conservative Swiss investment formulas", the annual interest from which Swiss DNA Bank claims is sufficient to sustainably cover storage costs. Website: www.swissdnabank.com Spotted by: Cecilia Biemann |
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It's estimated that 70% of Muslims worldwide live by the code of halal. That's a big market for producers of halal food, but one that has largely been ignored by the casually carnivorous cosmetics industry. Recognising this gap, Canadian Layla Mandi—a former make-up artist who converted to Islam—has launched a range of certified halal cosmetics. OnePure skin care products contain no pork extracts and no alcohol, both common in standard make-up but haram (forbidden) according to the Koran. The range is certified by a Malaysian Islamic authority, which has verified that everything down to the fluids used to clean the production equipment is halal. Website: www.onepureonline.com |
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It's no secret that record labels are searching for new ways of doing business. Earlier this year we spotted Groove Armada's distribution partnership with Bacardi. Now Mariah Carey is joining the fun, orchestrating several sponsorships for her latest album, 'Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel'. Carey recorded the album in the Bahamas, so sponsorship by the Bahamas Board of Tourism was a natural fit. As was Elizabeth Arden, which sells Carey's Forever perfume. Other sponsors include Métier De Beauté beauty cosmetics and Angel champagne. Sponsorship comes in the form of a small booklet that accompanies the album, filled with glossy advertisements that promote a Mariah Carey-esque lifestyle. The content of the 'mini-magazine' will be written by Elle's editorial staff, and the magazine will be distributed to the first 1.5 million buyers of the CD, which comes out later this month. According to an article in The Sunday Times, the sponsorship reportedly covered the cost of making the album (GBP 4 million) album. The initiative has great potential for sponsors. “We sell records to people who buy lots of other stuff,” says Antonio Reid, chairman of Mariah's label—Island Def Jam Records—in The Sunday Times. “My artists sell two, five, eight million records, and people hold on to them for years. Most magazines are not that successful.” The label says it’s now ready to try out sponsorship with a few other 'commercially-minded' artists like Kanye West and Bon Jovi. While this level of commmercialism will no doubt be viewed as selling out by many artists and fans, a considered and appropriate approach makes it a model that could work for other performing artists. Website: www.islanddefjam.com Spotted by: Bjorn Verbrugghe |
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Road warriors may enjoy virtually unlimited choices when it comes to finding a place to work, but by no means are those options all equal: wifi availability, noise levels and even the quality of the coffee served can all have a big impact on a mobile worker's productivity. That's where WorkSnug comes in. The mobile application uses augmented reality to show users what workspaces are nearby along with reviews of their offerings. The WorkSnug team has gathered hundreds of spots—from small cafes to formal co-working spaces—and reviewed them on such factors as wifi access, power supply, noise levels, community feel and—yes—even the coffee. Mobile workers simply launch the application on their iPhone 3GS and use the phone to scan what's around them. The application then displays the information it has about what's nearby; there's also an option for users to add reviews of their own. Created in association with headset maker Plantronics, the free app is coming soon for London and San Francisco, with data for other cities coming later this year. Meanwhile, more information is available via Twitter. One to watch! (Related: ING app for Google phone uses compass and camera to show nearest ATM.) Website: www.worksnug.com |
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We've covered inventive ways to recycle a plastic bottle: including turning them into countertops and bedding. Joining the game is Oak Hall Industries, a manufacturer of academic apparel which claims to be the first in its industry to use recycled materials. Greenweaver is Oak Hall's new line of caps and gowns, so named because the range is made entirely from recycled plastic bottles. The bottles are turned into molten plastic pellets, which are then spun into a soft, breathable polyester fabric. An average of 23 bottles goes into each gown. Estimated costs of the gowns have not yet been published, but Oak Hall hopes to sweep the ceremonial stage with its Greenweaver line by spring graduation 2010. Website: www.oakhalli.com/greenweavermovement.php Spotted by: Cecilia Biemann |
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Entrepreneurs in the developing world have already benefited from peer-to-peer lending programs through the likes of Kiva, Wokai and Jolkona. Now aiming to bring similar benefits to students in those areas is Vittana, a Seattle-based foundation that focuses on educational loans. Now in beta, Vittana partners with microfinance institutions (MFIs) throughout the developing world to catalyze new student lending programs. Potential lenders begin by browsing through the students profiled on the site—current examples include a 19-year-old woman studying industrial administration in Peru, for example, and a 25-year-old man studying financial accounting in Nicaragua. When they see one they'd like to help, they can lend as little as USD 25 toward that student's education. Vittana's local MFI partner—which has already verified that the students listed are hard-working and likely to succeed—then disburses the full amount of that loan to the student. Once the student graduates and gets a job, he or she starts paying back that MFI partner; when the loaned funds are fully repaid, Vittana returns to the lender the full amount that was lent. We wrote last year about Fynanz and its peer-to-peer student loans, but it's nice to see similar capabilities being brought to students in the developing world. One to partner with, emulate, or otherwise get involved in! (Related: Fighting poverty through microloan guarantees.) Website: www.vittana.org |
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If pets now have their own airline and their own social network, it seems only fitting that the canines among them should have more sophisticated entertainment than the simple bones their forbears chewed on. Enter Kyjen, a California company that offers a range of toys designed to build the canine brain. Kyjen's Puzzle Plush Dog Toys aim to challenge and entertain their canine users much the way developmental toys do for children. The IQube, for instance, features a plush cube with balls nestled inside to test dogs' intelligence and puzzle-solving skills as they try to get the balls out. The Hide-A-Squirrel toy, meanwhile, includes three toy squirrels hiding in a plush log, challenging dogs to find and remove them. Then there's the IntelliBone, featuring a plush bone toy surrounded by removable plush rings. Prices on the Puzzle Plush line range from USD 11.49 to USD 21.99. Kyjen makes a variety of other dog toys as well, including an Eco Hemp line and a variety of Bottle Buddies designed to hold recycled water bottles for extra crinkle noise and chewing satisfaction. The company's products are available globally in retail pet specialty stores, mail order catalogues and online, including from Amazon. There are few things we at Springwise love more than to see products upgraded, because—as regular readers know—everything can be! But that's never more true than in a burgeoning industry such as pet products, which is expected to bring in more than USD 45 billion this year in the US alone, according to the American Pet Products Association. One to partner with or emulate for the crafty canines in your part of the world....? Website: www.kyjen.com/products/category/dog-toys/dt-puzzleplush/ Spotted by: Murtaza Ali Patel |
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Whether it's a consumer product or a piece of music, there's much to be said for allowing fans to have a say in how it's designed and marketed. Just as Dutch media entrepreneur John de Mol turned to the crowds last year for help creating the next reality-show hit, so brand-new site Genero.tv is relying on music fans to create the next winning videos for a variety of participating bands. Currently on the verge of kicking off its first contest, startup Genero.tv has signed on a number of artists interested in getting fans to create the official videos for their music. Sixteen songs are featured in the current contest, which opens Sept. 12. To create a video for one of them, fans begin by registering with Genero.tv and downloading the track they're interested in. No artist footage is provided, but otherwise fans can go to town expressing their feelings about the song in a video and submit it in a variety of formats up to 1GB in size. Uploading a video to Genero.tv grants exclusive license to the site; it also opens the video up for voting. Four finalists will be chosen for each artist/song competition—two based on user voting and two by the judging panel. From there, one winner is ultimately chosen for each song by its judging panel—typically some combination of Genero.tv staff and artist representatives—as well as one overall winner across the 16 song contests. Individual contest prizes include tickets, backstage passes and music workshops, while the overall winner gets the not-unsubstantial prize of USD 4,000. Fans can submit videos for the current contest any time before Oct. 23. Winners will be announced on Nov. 13. In the music industry alone, fans are now playing key roles in funding, marketing and creating music videos, giving bands not just valuable help but also a way to engage the consumers they care most about. How has *your* brand reached out to involve, benefit from and reward its biggest fans...? (Related: Agency for customer-made ads.) Website: www.genero.tv |
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Dozens of online and print sources are devoted to the subculture of special sneakers. Equal parts community and classifieds site, SneakerListing is a new destination for enthusiasts to buy and sell limited edition footwear. Anyone can sign up for the free service by providing a valid email address, their shoe size and favourite brand. Those who wish to sell simply fill out a description and post a few photos. Users can rate buyers' and sellers' past performances. The site was designed to avoid the inefficiencies of posting adverts on forums and the risks of buying fakes from auction sites. SneakerListing is still in beta testing mode, and the administrators are actively encouraging feedback. Integrating an online community with classified services, the site provides a more intelligent, valuable type of trading site. And by attracting a select crowd of footwear aficionados, it also has the potential to draw in lucrative advertising and sponsorship deals. Which niche is next? Website: www.sneakerlisting.com Spotted by: Margarita Barry |
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The U.S. government's Cash for Clunkers program may have come to an end, but for bicyclists in Portland, Ore., the opportunities have just begun. Local bike vendor Joe Bike has launched its own Cash for Clunkers program whereby consumers can donate an old car or bike in exchange for discounts on a new utility bike and a Zipcar membership, among other benefits. To unload an old car, consumers begin by donating their vehicle to the American Lung Association, which will tow it away for free. They then bring their receipt to Joe Bike, which gives them a 10 percent discount on any bike in stock or any bike that it can order or build. Then, with their purchase, Joe Bike will also provide a unique code that's good for a USD 50 reduction in the cost of a new Zipcar membership along with half-priced annual renewals indefinitely and USD 150 in driving credit. For bike donations, meanwhile, consumers can bring in any repairable clunker and get discounts starting at USD 50 off any new bike priced under USD 1,000. The clunker is donated to the nonprofit Community Cycling Center, which will repair and find it a new home. Though he originally intended the Cash for Clunkers program to end Sept. 1, store owner Joe Doebele has now extended it at least through year's end, he says. He's also working with Zipcar to expand the program, including signing on more nonprofit partners, and hopes eventually to turn the result into a nonprofit organization that can spread to other cities as well. Time to sign on and help make that happen...? Website: www.joe-bike.com/cash-for-clunkers |
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It used to be that hiring sites focused primarily on objective information about the jobs they listed. Then the transparency movement set in, and sites like CareerTours, MedRecruit, Glassdoor and KODA increasingly began including more subjective considerations. Now continuing in that vein comes GetaGreatBoss, a South African site that aims to help workers find great bosses. Operating under the principle that "people join companies, but they leave bosses," GetaGreatBoss facilitates reviews of managers by those best qualified to do so: the people who work for them. Both HR departments and managers themselves can initiate such reviews through the site, whether for honest feedback or to help recruit new employees to work for them. Employees are then emailed for their evaluation of the boss's managerial style, and all feedback is kept anonymous; there's even a way for managers to conduct a subsequent anonymous online conversation with the employees who reviewed them. The cost to initiate a review is USD 220, while for an extra USD 10 per month managers can keep an active link to the results for use with their resume. If, alternatively, a current employee reviews a manager and the manager then requests a full-fledged review from GetaGreatBoss, the employee earns a USD 50 commission; similarly, the same amount goes to recruiters and online job portals that include links to GetaGreatBoss reviews with their ads. Potential employees, meanwhile, can search GetaGreatBoss's online job listings, each of which contains a link to the results of the review of the boss in question. There's no doubt managerial style plays a key role in the employment equation—as do corporate culture, lifestyle preferences and countless other considerations. In this era of transparency triumph (see our sister-site's latest briefing for more on that), smart companies are the ones that take pains to be as honest and open about as many factors as they can. Otherwise, the triumph may end up being their competitors', and not their own! ;-) Website: www.getagreatboss.com |
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Just a few weeks ago we wrote about My Fashion Plate, a wardrobe management community for clothes hounds. While a variety of features are available on that site—including even personal shopping services—Looklet is a new contender that focuses exclusively on the design end with a virtual studio through which users can mix and match real designer clothes. Now in beta, Stockholm-based Looklet offers a selection of seven models—each with various facial expressions—38 backdrops and almost 2,000 items of clothing and accessories that can be combined to try out new looks and combinations. All the clothes items are actual, existing pieces selected by stylists from real designers; users need only drag and drop them onto the model of their choice to create their own personal look, which is viewable from multiple perspectives. Once they've created a style they like, they can save it and share it with other users of the site as well as with friends on Facebook, Twitter and elsewhere. Some 76,000 users have already created more than 600,000 outfits on Looklet, all browsable, searchable and available for remixing. There's no doubt both Looklet and competitor Polyvore offer the opportunity for fashion brands to engage with their target audiences in a much more compelling way than traditional advertising ever could. While Polyvore provides e-commerce links to enable shopping, however, Looklet currently does not, instead simply providing general links to the designers' sites. Seems to us users will eventually want to convert their dream creations into reality—one to partner with on the e-shopping end to help make that possible? (Related: Fashion blog is street version of shopping mags.) Website: www.looklet.com |
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