50 Shades Of Industry Stimulation

The Fifty Shades Of Grey Trilogy, by E.L. James, have caused quiet a stir in the bedroom. The fetish fueled book has peeked a sexual curiosity in women and as a result has stimulated the pleasure toy industry. Pure Romance, a sex toy company that models its sales campaign using the "tuber wear party" methodology, has had a 20% increase in party bookings since the books April release. The increased party bookings has led to an increase in sales and Pure Romance is on track to achieve $120 million in sales for 2012.

50 Shades Of Grey was originally written as "twilight" fan fiction. The book explores the sex/love affair of Billionaire Christian Grey as he transforms the virgin college student Anastasia Steele into his sex goddess. 50 Shades of Grey is expected to become the highest grossing book series for Vintage Publishing House. In addition to the millions that 50 Shades of Grey is earning for Random House (the parent company), the book presents an opportunity for product licensing arrangements and royalties. The sex industry has seen a very obvious spike in sales of partner focused products, specifically in the BDSM market. It seems that women are curious to explore the pleasures of hand cuffs, riding crops and in recreating their own Red Room's of Pleasure.

The pop culture reference of adult entertainment does have an impact of the sex industry. In the early 2000's when "The Rabbit", appeared on Sex and The City, the toy literally bounced of the shelves and procreated numerous wannabe products. What is potentially unique about the 50 Shades Of Grey product line is the unlimited potential for product offerings from massage candles, to lingerie, to swings, etc. Adult retailers are enjoying the peaked demand created by E.L James and her descriptive imagination. Retailers, such as Babeland, are using the momentum of the novel to perpetuate market curiosity. Babeland has recreated a 50 shades inspired in store promotion that gives away a copy of the hit book with purchase.

At the moment however none of the "spin off" type products are in away related to Ms. James. However the author is currently pursuing a licensing agent. 50 Shades of Grey is transforming the sex industry and redefining the target demographic. The book has seamlessly managed to transform a taboo topic into a mainstream curiosity. Huge business, marketing and revenue maximization opportunities are available for The Fifty Shades of product lines. I will be interested to see how well the E.L. James does at managing the brand of Grey that will undoubtedly come of her hit trilogy.

CEO Wisdom Shared

In the past year, I have become an avid subscriber and reader of Bloomberg Magazine. The articles are almost always entertaining editorials of current events written with enough facts to make the credible and enough humor to point out the satire of live in the 21st century. The May 28th, 2012 issues featured an article called CEO wisdom, in which CEO shared bits of advice with the 2012 graduating class. The words from Greg Brown resonated with me as I've come realize the importance of an ever evolving plan.

Thank You Greg Brown! 

“Whatever you strive for, don’t dwell on constructing the perfect plan or search for the flawless solution, because perfect can be the enemy of progress. Have the confidence to forge ahead with a good enough plan, with imperfect knowledge. Then continually adjust, adapt, and learn.” 

- Greg Brown, Motorola Solutions Chairman

The Cost of Honesty

I remember, not so fondly, the first time that I got in trouble for doing what I thought was right. I was eight, and at figure skating practice. Growing up in Banff, is surreal. The town is small; and there are only ever  50 kids per grade. Whenever a new kid moved to town, it was a big deal. In grade 3; a new girl moved to town who was an incredible figure skater. Michelle, the new girl had all the cutest skating outfits, warm-up sweaters, and the attention of the coaches. I thought she was so cool.

Some of the other girls grew dangerously envious of Michelle. One day at practice Christa Morrison was mocking Michelle to me. Christa made a stink about Michelle's cute sweater. A few minutes later Christa come back laughing like a maniac. She had gone into Michelle's stuff, and flushed Michelle's nice wrap sweater down the toilet. I was horrified. I immediately ran to the bathroom to try and save Michelle's sweater. I tried to dry out the sweater-I tried to make it right. I told the adults, I told Michelle, I told Christa. Yet somehow in my attempt to be honest and helpful I was served the blame.

Bloomberg Businessweek magazine featured an article on Dan Zwirn that reminded me of the lessons, and the  hight costs that can result of doing the right thing. Dan Zwirn was a financial wizard who by the age of 33 had amounted a small personal fortune of $700 million, and was managing a multi-billion dollar hedge fund. In the financial craze of the mid 2000s before the crash Zwirn's firm had been making purchases and expanding its market presence through the use and fee's of investor dollars. In 2005, when Zwirm began to problem spot some of the internal clogged gears he went directly to the SEC to self report the problems at his firm.

When Zwirn turned him self into the SEC, he was pegged as a criminal pleading guilty. Zwirm became a subject of investigation, that would precede for the next 7 years. Zwirm lost his fortune, his toys, and his hedge fund; but what Zwirm did not loose is his sense of self. Zwirm chose to report "creative" book keeping. He was reprimanded. He was fined. Yet at the end of the day Zwirm, can look himself in the eye and know he did he atoned for his mistakes in management.

Sometimes, doing the right thing is expensive. There may be trouble, and there may get blamed for a crime you didn't commit. I'm not angry for being cast the shame of ruining Michelle's sweater. Instead, I am proud of my 8-year-old self. I am proud of her because she tried to act in accordance to her morals. She did what she thought was right. At the end of the day, one has to be proud of oneself.  I don't care what other people say, and/or think about me. I care about how I see myself. I would rather like myself for living true to who I am, then to be so afraid of "hypothetical" consequences. On the windy trail of life it is easy to become distracted by shortcuts and lured by false promises. In the mist of hype a very real fall to earth will leave some bruises. The bruises will fade, and the fall will be remembered as a saving grace.

Yum! Fast Food and Food Stamps

Since the 2008 economic depression in the United States the demand for food stamps, Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), has increased. It is estimated that nearly 50 million Americans are currently using the food stamp system. The enrollment of food stamp users has increased 8.1% in the past year.

The difference in policy between food stamps of the programs original concept, and that of today is that today: People whom are unable to cook for them selves, be it homeless, disabled, or the elderly, can redeem their food vouchers for a hot meal from approved fast food eateries such as McDonald's, Taco Bell, KFC, Wendy's, etc. In 2010 fast food restaurants collectively received revenue of 21 million dollars.

Now, fast food giant, YUM! Brands, which owns Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, A&W, Wing Street, and Long John Silvers, is lobbying government officials to allow it's restaurants to participate in the SNAP. Yum!, wants to be able to redeem in store food stamp cards to provide "nutritious" meals to low income Americans.

At present SNAP places restrictions on food stamp purchases. Food stamps cannot be redeemed for alcohol, cigarettes, pet food vitamins or hot foods. Only 85% of food stamps are redeemed at grocery stores. This means that the classification to determine individuals who are unable to cook a hot meal has risen.

Yum!, believes that if food stamp restriction are decreased and that if the restaurant brands can persuade local governments to support the redemption of food stamp card directly in stores, that the fast food company will be able to help provide millions of Americans with "healthy foods," says Jim Wayne a Representative for YUM!

Fast Food, however isn't really food. It's loaded with preservatives and is a mixture of cost leadership ingredients. Fast Food, regardless of where it is served is not really a healthy way to eat. If Yum!, succeeds and is able to convince local regulators of the value that in store food stamp redemptions create it will only hurt the SNAP program, and Americans in need of assistance, in the long run.  SNAP was conceived to assist Americans in need of proper nutrition; not to provide cheap fatty nutritionally void meals that are proven culprits of medical disasters.

TAM at Your Desk

 Bloomberg Magazine, formerly known as "Business Week Magazine," featured my favourite workout guru, Tracy Anderson in their latest issue. Bloomberg magazine is not Tracy's typical audience. The business focused magazine asked Tracy for workout tips. Bloomberg wanted exercises that overworked office folk could do while at their desks.

Regular exercises, and stretching movements are proven to reduce stress, and increase personal productivity. On a day that never seems to end, with no workout break in sight, how can you incorporate the benefits of exercises into your agenda?

 Of course, Bloomberg understands that, no one wants to present them selves to the board as a sweaty gym rat dressed in their finest business attire which is drenched in sweat. These moves are simple. The suggested moves will increase the heart rate just enough to allow more oxygen to circulate through the body, without causing the sweat gland to over react. 

The result is a mini toning, and stretch power session, that can be done at your desk.

I've been mixing the moves into my long study nights, stuck an exhausted at the library. The moves break up the work/books enough to distract me from the infinite to do/study list.