Consumer Escapes - Nike Free

The current running craze is all about barefoot running. Somehow the amazing technology in running shoes has gotten to the point where they're supposedly hampering training. All of the shoe manufacturers now have these minimalist shoes (at maximalist prices) that attempt to mimic running barefoot. I just got a pair of Nike Free shoes. I hit the trail this morning and have to say that they're awesome. Light, comfortable, quiet. I did feel like I was running barefoot but without worrying about stepping on rocks.

My morning runs serve as a daily escape. Only time will tell if running near barefoot enhances the experience. Or simply enhances Nike's bottom line.

Consumer Escapes - A Great Shave

I'm an every-other-day shaver. And even at that schedule I hate it. I've tried electrics, disposable razors, shaving in the shower, three blades, four blades, five blades, ... Nothing made the experience smooth. At Costco last week I purchased (with a coupon) Gillette's latest entry in the shaving arms race, the Fusion ProGlide Power.  The promise is that “shaving becomes gliding.” After a few shaves this skeptic has become a believer. In fact while gliding I can think about the day ahead. Now that's an early morning escape.

I learned on the Gillette You Tube channel that the average man spends over 1,000 hours of his life shaving. Might as well make it smooth. (Just please don’t let my wife shave her legs with my new Fusion ProGlide!)

Consumer Escapes - A Broadway Show

I spend my days (and many nights) talking about how we help clients sell tickets. Tickets to sporting events, tickets to play Powerball, tickets to see a show. Lots and lots of tickets. When I have the opportunity to step up and purchase a ticket to some form of consumer escape I get the dual benefit of enjoyment and business research. The other evening while in New York I bought a last-minute ticket to - what's billed as "Broadway's hot-button thriller" - RACE, written and directed by David Mamet. My show review is brief. I found the show gripping and thought-provoking.

As if that wasn't enough, I took the 12 minute intermission to jot down some notes as to why I find a play to be such a worthwhile escape. (In this case $121.50 worthwhile.) Those notes included: my Playbill is clutched, there's a jolt when the curtain goes up, I immediately suspend belief, the actors can actually see me, everyone around me is happy to be there, and when it's over there's a genuine audience-cast bond at the final curtain. Individually, each of those elements can take me away from the everyday. Combine them all and I can escape for a few hours with memories that last for a long time. Guess that explains why Broadway sells over $1 billion in tickets each year.

Consumer Escapes - Financial Freedom

Financial freedom. Read any personal finance book or investing website and they'll talk about how saving and investing early is the key to financial freedom. More important than the concepts of diversification, asset allocation, rates of return or any other investment term in the glossary.

In the U.S. we're not just behind in education. As a recent Global Echo Awards judge for the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) I was blown away by the entries from banks in Europe and Australia. They all had campaigns targeting teens, tweens and young children. Not in a predatory way. No. In an informative, fun, fresh way. These banks are acquiring and retaining younger customers. These banks are doing something good!

Maybe our domestic banks can "borrow" a page from their overseas colleagues and begin educating our young people. That next generation will save more and the banks will get high value customers for life. A long life. And I'll have some exciting award entries to judge in the future.

Consumer Escapes - The Car Wash

In our smz E-scape research one of the global findings about consumer escapes is that there's a clear "before and after." For example: I was stressed, went on vacation, and came home decompressed. Or, I was time-starved, took a day without responsibilities, and felt reenergized.

I found an interesting escape this morning.  I ventured out to local car wash chain, Jax Kar Wash. Jax is an old-school car wash operation where you get out of the car and watch it go through the wash line. Your car goes in dirty and comes out clean. A classic before-and-after. But it got better than that for my filthy 7 year-old car. At the end of the line a pit crew-like team descended on my car drying, buffing, spraying and coddling. Now my car windows and mirrors are invisible, the wheels and tires shine, and the interior is spotless. Jax claims "a clean car rides better." I believe that is an extremely accurate insight.

One other finding in our research study was that 8% of adults identified spa time as the ideal in escape relaxation and refreshment.  This morning my car went into a spa and in the process I came out relaxed and refreshed.

Consumer Escapes - Witnessing Perfection

I was playing a USTA league tennis match on Wednesday evening. After the match, which we lost 10-8 in the third set tiebreaker, we were commiserating about costly line calls. As we usually do after a match. While driving home at 11:30 p.m. sports talk radio (in fact every radio station) was overrun with discussion of Armando Galarraga's "purr-fect game." I don't need to add to the maelstrom but I can sure be a proud Detroiter in the aftermath of the situation.

I tip my Old English "D" hat to Armando Gallaraga, Jim Leyland, the Detroit Tigers organization, Tigers fans, and GM for handling this situation in a manner that defines class and understanding; whatever the commissioner of baseball decides. Too often damage is done with anger and rock throwing. Instead we'll remember how Armando threw his fastball and slider on a glorious evening as he drives off into a Michigan sunset in high style with his head held high ...

Consumer Escapes - Great Tool for Goal Setting

A few weeks ago while running the Mississauga Marathon I came across an energetic, borderline crazed group at roughly mile 19. They were dressed alike in black clothing under a tent with a lululemon banner. I knew from reading about lululemon that they are a Canadian-based company with a unique culture. I witnessed that culture first-hand and their support stuck with me. (It didn't hurt that they were a very attractive group of supporters.)

I visited their website and discovered an interesting tool there called Goaltender. Here's what they say about that microsite.

There is no manual for life. Who you are, where you go, and how soon you get there is up to you. Goal setting is a tool that helps you get what you want out of life. It's that simple.

Just as there is no right way to live, there is no right way to determine your goals. The lululemon goaltender site takes you step by step through the process of goal setting, so that you create goals that are powerful and meaningful to you.

While this reminds me of Franklin Covey training from years ago I may try it in preparation for my next race and other goals.