Why UPS trucks never turn left

Click to watch the video interview

They say, "learn something new every day." What does the routing of UPS delivery trucks have to do with making brands a part of the consumer's Escape Plan? Simple. If you've taken note of UPS' new campaign you've seen "We ❤ logistics" everywhere. Much of that logistics management and infrastructure supports e-commerce. And if my household is any indication those purchases from e-tailers are consumer escapes. Things like Camelbacks, shoes from Zappos', books from Amazon, music, running gear, and fresh Florida citrus arrive at our home regularly. Now I know UPS gets there like I play basketball - driving only to the right all day long.

Is major home improvement a Consumer Escape?

The upstairs bathtub was raining down through the ceiling. The left side of the kitchen sink was leaking and duct-taped "do not use." The original low-flow toilet had gone "no flow."  And my wife had subtly recorded every episode of DIY Network's "I hate my kitchen." The time had come for the major redo. Over the past few months we (I use "we" as if I had much to do with this) have ordered cabinets, flooring, countertop materials, backsplash tiles and shiny new appliances. Yesterday our contractor ripped out the old kitchen down to the studs. Day one, the demolition is over. I sure hope he came back today!

This led me to consider if a major home remodel project can be labeled a great Escape when the books, magazines and tv shows all talk about it as tearing out walls and tearing up relationships? Budget aside, I have reconciled that creating a kitchen space for the next 20 years in our home is absolutely part of our Escape Plan. We love to cook and have dreamed about having space for more than one cook at a time. We enjoy having family and friends visit and isn't it amazing how everyone always gathers in the kitchen. Our newly planned space is open and inviting and will allow that to happen. Creating a true within-our-home getaway. And functionally how nice it will be to run the microwave and tv in the other room without tripping the circuit-breakers and plunging the house into darkness. (Now if I could do something about the girls' hair dryers ...)

So come on by in a few weeks, a month, next year, whenever the twists and turns of this seemingly massive undertaking is complete. If you like the "after" remind me to tell you how it was all my idea.

The Harlem Globetrotters - A relevant 85 year-old Escape

Come on, I know you've already got "Sweet Georgia Brown" and a red, white and blue basketball spinning in your head. Yesterday with friends and family at the Palace of Auburn Hills, we enjoyed the annual visit by the Harlem Globetrotters. I grew up mesmerized by the showmanship of Meadowlark Lemon and the ball-handling of Curly Neal. Whether on ABC's Wide World of Sports or at Cobo, I fell for the bucket gag every time. Today's Globetrotters continue their mastery over the Washington Generals as they entertain with athleticism and slapstick. And now the advent of the 4-point shot! It's so hard today to find entertainment that appeals to all ages. I applaud the Globetrotters for being a classic brand while finding a way to be contemporary. On a cold winter afternoon the Harlem Globetrotters provided a wonderful Consumer Escape.

Something you may not know about the Globetrotters. Despite their name, the Globetrotters were founded in Chicago and have never been based in Harlem. Founder Abe Saperstein used Harlem in the name to create the perception that the team traveled from the east coast to barnstorm around the Midwest, and to also tie into the players’ African-American heritage. It took over four decades from their inception in 1926 before the team played for the first time in Harlem in 1968.

Happy New Year - the Bowl Alternative

Happy New Year! A friendly reminder not to miss my new favorite Escape on New Year's Day, the NHL's Winter Classic at 1 p.m. ET on NBC. Our beloved Detroit Red Wings won a thriller over the Chicago Blackhawks at Wrigley Field a few years ago. Today the Penguins and Capitals take their rivalry to a perfectly smooth outdoor "pond" at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. Sorry BCS alphabet soup of Bowl games, this Hockeytown couch potato is all over the hockey classic in Steel City. Enjoy.

"The nobodies are the new somebodies"

Not Lance. He's always been a somebody. In the November 2010 issue of Fast Company Guy Kawasaki stated, "the nobodies are the new somebodies" referring to emerging social media influencers. I see his point. To be active in social media requires finding the new somebodies all the while conversing with them as a couple of friendly nobodies. Not as easy as it sound. My blog is a whisper. Not even to the level of murmur as far as followers go. Yet I enjoy the hell out whatever interaction occurs. It is Escape in practice. I especially enjoy the new somebodies that I discover. Like Pick6blog. Not one on the level of the Huffington Post but the writer is a somebody to me. So I shout out to "nobody" in particular come on in. For a brief moment in time, space and the Internet we'll be somebody.

The Ultimate Parlay

Ralph Lauren has made a fortune by making his versions of classics (clothing, furniture, jewelry, ...) a need more than a want. I still can't get over the size of the logo on the U.S. Open tennis ballboys and ballgirls. So what does he do with his hard-earned money? According to the latest edition of Vanity Fair Mr. Lauren does NOT collect art. "You can't drive a painting," he told the writer. "I drive these cars, they just don't sit there," he added. Sure it's an Escape owning and admiring classic cars. But driving them is the real joy. Car lovers know it as the huge @#$^-eating grin you get when revving through the gears. The art gallery I'd next like to visit is the D.A.D. Garage featured in the article. (Click the photo.) Lauren's Westchester, NY rival to our local Henry Ford Museum. Here's to hoping Ralph rings me up and says, "hey, I'm going to be on my yacht in St. Barts for awhile, can you swing by and run the rust off the Alfa."

At least I know some of my Polo Outlet purchases didn't just keep the store doors open - they helped pristinely restore Gullwing doors, too.

Experiential Retail at Road Runner Sports

Not me. Some other guy getting fitted.

I love to run. I'm fascinated by well-run, highly-differentiated retail businesses. I visited the perfect intersection of these two interests at Road Runner Sports flagship store in San Diego. I'm a proud Road Runner Sports (RRS) VIP customer for over 15 years, from their catalog-only roots, to their transition to online, and now to my first visit to one of their physical retail locations. If you enjoy running, go. Go now. There's a fantastic vibe in the store. It's bright and colorful. The staff clearly knows running because they're runners. Beyond the obligatory shoe wall the store has a track and ShoeDog advisors conducting interactive video gait analysis. Cool stuff. Because it was 52 and rainy outside the San Diegans were busily buying up "cold weather" gear. I snagged a deal on a Saucony running jacket that outfluorescents any highway worker's safety gear. Can't wait to try it at home where cold weather means frozen eyelashes. That's an Escape.