Imagine yourself walking into your favorite clothing store. An employee greets you by name and leads you to clothes that are your size and fit your style. Without even trying on the clothes you grab your new style and head out. All of this happening within minutes of entering the store makes it seem like you were some big celeb coming to do some serious spending. Sounds a little far-fetched, but this kind of thing may be the norm in the near future.
It may be that I'm just a marketing dork and find these things interesting, but we were discussing a new development in the clothing industry in my marketing on the internet class. Companies are always seeking ways to connect with the customer in a one to one basis and this new device may be the most revolutionizing change in shopping in recent years.
Some clothing researchers are experimenting with a new scanning device that would have all the customer's measures in a database and could also recognize past purchases and offer the customer similar items to what they typically buy. First the customer would have to put on a body diagram suit, which are those black tight outfits with all the sensors on them similar to what is used for mapping movements for video games. Typically the customer could get the body diagram at the store itself or at some other designated area. Once the diagram is complete, the customer's stats are loaded on to a barcoded scan card that you could put on your key chain. The card could be scanned at different locations across the store where screen displays would be present to give the customer the desired information.
The advantages of this system are numerous. For guys this is genius. How many guys just simply do not like to shop? Well I think a fair number fall into that category. With the scan card a guy simply has to find clothes that he likes, scan his personal card, and the device could give a percentage of how close of a fit the clothes are without even trying them on in the dressing room. For ladies, the card could also come in handy. Women like to try on clothes to check out how they look and probably would not change with the scan card. It will help when its a familiar store to the female customer and could then cut time by finding clothes or shoes that she likes going off of the fitting percentage of the scan card. The system is appealing to families with kids as shopping with kids usually amounts to lots of time wasted and difficulties when shopping. The advantage comes when the whole family could get a diagram and scan card. Well mom or dad, whoever does the shopping, could simply take all the cards and pick up clothes based on their kids' fitting percentage. One argument might be that kids grow out of their sizes and it would be a hassle to keep going back and getting a diagram. The system could have growth rates of estimated new sizes for each individual kid. Therefore when the card is scanned for kid's sizes, the display could show the fit percentage at the present and the time period until the child outgrows the clothes.
This system could save the consumer considerable time in our fast paced society. People are always looking for quicker ways to do things and are usually willing to pay lots of money for that benefit. Although the promise is there, problems with the system would be expected. In fact, stores would be reluctant to use the system if it were too costly or ineffective. So despite the possible negatives, the system still could be a huge success and could revolutionize the way we shop.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Eli-te Manning?
Okay here is the issue at hand: Eli Manning's Giants are in the Super Bowl. That is one line I never thought would happen this year. The Giants have benefited from Eli's exceptional play as he has shown that he now is one of the star quarterbacks of the league.
Eli Manning has always had the hype and for the most part he has backed it up but always came up short in the end. Even back in his days at Ole Miss, Eli was projected as being not only the best Manning, but also possibly one of the best quarterbacks to play the game. At Ole Miss I watched Eli in several games over his career and even saw him in person when he came to Auburn in 2003. In that game Eli produced a consistent level of throws that led his team to the win but I really came away from the game more impressed with Jason Campbell's ability than what Eli showed me. Eli has never been one to wow me. Week in and week out the top QB's in the NFL produce throws and games that show me why they get paid millions of dollars. Eli never quite showed me the same caliber of talent of Brady, Favre, Brees, Palmer, and older bro Peyton. Now do not get me wrong Eli certainly has had his fair share of good games but even his best games I rate him as good but never Great.
It may seem that I'm just not a big fan of Eli but that's not the case. I've always liked the guy. He was always my fantasy QB for the first five games out of the year before self-destructing and leaving the Giants to scrape for the playoffs. The Giants were getting to a point where they were going to have to make a decision at the quarterback position and Eli has answered this year.
Watching Eli this year has been a breath of fresh air. No more throws off his back foot or ill advised throws to put the Giants behind from the start of games. He is now planting his feet, making better reads down field, and is finally making the throws that backs up his number one draft pick. The Giants now have won their last nine straight away games and are going to the Super Bowl. This is the Eli that lives up to the hype.
Eli Manning has always had the hype and for the most part he has backed it up but always came up short in the end. Even back in his days at Ole Miss, Eli was projected as being not only the best Manning, but also possibly one of the best quarterbacks to play the game. At Ole Miss I watched Eli in several games over his career and even saw him in person when he came to Auburn in 2003. In that game Eli produced a consistent level of throws that led his team to the win but I really came away from the game more impressed with Jason Campbell's ability than what Eli showed me. Eli has never been one to wow me. Week in and week out the top QB's in the NFL produce throws and games that show me why they get paid millions of dollars. Eli never quite showed me the same caliber of talent of Brady, Favre, Brees, Palmer, and older bro Peyton. Now do not get me wrong Eli certainly has had his fair share of good games but even his best games I rate him as good but never Great.
It may seem that I'm just not a big fan of Eli but that's not the case. I've always liked the guy. He was always my fantasy QB for the first five games out of the year before self-destructing and leaving the Giants to scrape for the playoffs. The Giants were getting to a point where they were going to have to make a decision at the quarterback position and Eli has answered this year.
Watching Eli this year has been a breath of fresh air. No more throws off his back foot or ill advised throws to put the Giants behind from the start of games. He is now planting his feet, making better reads down field, and is finally making the throws that backs up his number one draft pick. The Giants now have won their last nine straight away games and are going to the Super Bowl. This is the Eli that lives up to the hype.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Oops I Blogged My Pants
Comparable to the uncontrollable surprise of the Saturday Night Live skit, this blog will bring readers sports related topics as well as other various discussion that I might find interesting. I had debated starting my own blog for a while and decided to give it a go. So after a change of clothes you can sit back, relax, and enjoy.
For my first topic I wanted to take a look at the NFC Championship game featuring my beloved Packers and the New York Giants. This game featured the end of one era as the Packers went down in overtime.
I'll start with the end of the gunslinging era that resides in Brett Favre. After a disappointing season in 2006, he shrugged off retirement to come out for yet another season in Green Bay. This year it was back to the days of the old west where challenges were handled by shootouts in the streets and where little rules apply. Brett has never been known for his mechanics as a quarterback. He won games by taking chances that other quaterbacks simply could not take (or wanted to take for that matter) and by his creativity on the field. Favre was back to slinging the rock all over the field and had one of best years of his career leading the Packers to this year's NFC Championship. Throughout the game the packers could not muster enough magic to put together a drive and get some points on the board. With Lawrence Tynes gifting the Packers field position and even the chance to play in overtime by missing the winning kick with seconds left in the fourth, I thought surely my beloved Packers were on the way to Arizona. But in the same way that has earned Favre his famed success by forcing throws at inhuman rates of speed, Favre fired once again from the hip only to find cornerback Corey Webster which set up the game winning kick. The Pack are done early due to the late interception from Favre but to be honest they would not have been there without him doing what he does best, taking shots. I can only hope to see another year of ridiculous throws down field and absolute cannon blasts at receivers over the middle from the old gunslinger that is Favre.
For my first topic I wanted to take a look at the NFC Championship game featuring my beloved Packers and the New York Giants. This game featured the end of one era as the Packers went down in overtime.
I'll start with the end of the gunslinging era that resides in Brett Favre. After a disappointing season in 2006, he shrugged off retirement to come out for yet another season in Green Bay. This year it was back to the days of the old west where challenges were handled by shootouts in the streets and where little rules apply. Brett has never been known for his mechanics as a quarterback. He won games by taking chances that other quaterbacks simply could not take (or wanted to take for that matter) and by his creativity on the field. Favre was back to slinging the rock all over the field and had one of best years of his career leading the Packers to this year's NFC Championship. Throughout the game the packers could not muster enough magic to put together a drive and get some points on the board. With Lawrence Tynes gifting the Packers field position and even the chance to play in overtime by missing the winning kick with seconds left in the fourth, I thought surely my beloved Packers were on the way to Arizona. But in the same way that has earned Favre his famed success by forcing throws at inhuman rates of speed, Favre fired once again from the hip only to find cornerback Corey Webster which set up the game winning kick. The Pack are done early due to the late interception from Favre but to be honest they would not have been there without him doing what he does best, taking shots. I can only hope to see another year of ridiculous throws down field and absolute cannon blasts at receivers over the middle from the old gunslinger that is Favre.
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