PlanetFeedback's ShopperCast

Congratulations!

We heard some fun news today:  The nation's largest greeting card company, Hallmark, is adding four new wedding-related congratulatory cards for gay couples.  Other, smaller companies had taken care of this niche market, but Hallmark, being a nationwide chain store and having a presence in perhaps every "traditional" greeting card store, lends a little mainstream credibility to what some mislabel as a "trend."

While we haven't had the same experience as some industry insiders who complain about wedding cards having too much "bride and groom" emphasis (there are plenty of plain "Congratulations on Getting Married!" type cards, with no gender references), we imagine plenty of people will jump at the chance to buy specialty cards in honor of a gay loved one's nuptials.

We're cynical (and realistic) enough to understand that money is driving this decision more so than public opinion, but we'll take it.  The more acceptance, the better.  We'll be extra happy when gay marriage becomes so widely accepted, greeting card companies add "Happy Gay Wedding!" cards to the 99 cent collection.

~Contributed by Angela~

Librarians Get Creative

On a recent "All Things Considered," a weekly radio program on National Public Radio, we heard the most charming story about a small-town library offering something in addition to book and DVD rentals:  novelty cake pans!  (Apparently, Sponge Bob is quite popular.)

A subsequent follow-up revealed something even cooler:  that same library also loans out puppets.  Puppets!

Apparently, a local senior citizen donated all of her assorted specialty cake pans to the library in hopes of sharing them with others.  Then someone donated puppets (which are even more popular than the cake pans).  This got us thinking... how many moms (and dads) have hovered over something special for their child's birthday, hesitant to plunk down $20 on something she'll get to use once, twice if she's lucky?

We think there are parents who would splurge and buy specialty children's items if they knew they could donate the items after their primary use, so other kids (and adults) would get to enjoy them as well.  So long as a library has storage space and a willingness to expand beyond books, we think this idea could take off in communities everywhere.  And if it brings more people into their local libraries, even better.

~Contributed by Angela~

Positive Feedback For A Change!

It actually does happen sometimes! A letter to a company that is glowingly positive, beautifully written, and only for the purpose of letting the company know that they did something right!  Deborah wrote about how much she loved the product, and how much it exceeded her expectations.  You could hear the enthusiasm jump off the screen, we smelled Cinnamon Rolls and really had to resist the urge to run right out to the store to buy some.

We think it is great when a customer not only loves a product, but cares enough to let the company know, especially when it is potentially a "limited edition".  Good on Deborah for telling them how she feels.  We wish more people let companies know when they did things they like or appreciate instead of just complaining when something goes wrong.  Thanks Deborah!

--Contributed by Renee

Across The Walnuts And The Wine

Just when you thought Francis Ford Coppola had the market cornered on celebrity wines (which, by the way, are delicious), enter rapper/producer Lil Jon.  Better known for his music and a product called Crank Juice, Lil Jon, is launching his own wine label, Little Jonathan Winery.

Like many of us who like our vino, Lil Jon doesn't know much about wines ~ but he does know what he likes.  And his new label is going reflect hs preferences:  merlot, chardonnay, and something called a dessert wine (which in our minds must be similar to a riesling).

Apparently this is the newest trend to boost sales of wine and spirits ~ to have celebrity names attached to bottles of alcohol in order to increase market share.  Sales of celebrity wines are up almost 19% over last year and celebrity spirits are up 21%. 

We're not quite sure if it's name recognition that gives these products their boost, however we do have a friend who is a bartender who swears that Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo tequila is the best stuff on the shelves.  We wouldn't know ~ the price can be upwards of $200 a bottle (and we're not that much into tequila).

Hmmmm......  perhaps a ShopperCast themed bottle of wine could be in the offing sometime in the future.  We're partial to dry white wines and medium-bodied reds if anyone wants to create us a line!

--Contributed by Deb

J-E-L-L-O

This morning's post is unlike any we've ever done for ShopperCast.... but bear with us.  We've been up since 4:00 a.m.

You see, today is the monthly birthday party at our job and we're bringing individual creme pies in a variety of Spring flavors to celebrate.  Vanilla with M & Ms.  Pistachio with coconut.  Orange with dark chocolate shavings.  Banana with strawberries.  Chocolate with white chocolate shavings.  Lemon with raspberries.

Thirty of them in all.  Yes, thirty.  That means thirty individual graham cracker crusts filled with different types of creme filling.  Yes, we're sticky.

If you're going to be doing a project like this any time soon, here's a ShopperCast word of advice - spend the little bit extra and get the Jello brand pudding instead of the store brand.  There really is a world of difference in how creamy the final product turns out.

Don't get us wrong, it's just as yummy as Jello brand.... but there's a huge difference in the final consistency.

Just a thought.

--Contributed by Deb

Hot Wings And Cool Heads

Sometimes a business handles a situation with a prickly consumer just perfectly. Given the up-and-coming shopping season and the shortness of patience on BOTH sides of the counter, we can all learn from this story.

At dinner Friday night, we were just sitting there, finishing the perfect meal of burgers and beer and swiping the last bit of mayonnaise with simply the greatest french fries to ever be cooked when it happened.  In she walked.  And we could tell that she was NOT a happy camper.

It was either the scowl or the fact that she slammed a bag containing her carryout order onto the bar.

Don't Touch That Dial

Quickly.....

What is this Jeep advertisement selling us?

Delicious Inspiration

Every once in a while, a company introduces a new product (or brings out a seasonal only favorite) that's the equivalent of an out-of-the-park home run.

Edy's ice cream has unleashed its Limited Edition Pumpkin ice cream on the grocery store masses to the accolades of Casey and, apparently, the rest of the PlanetFeedback audience. 

We've been eating pumpkin pie sundaes for a week thanks to Edy's newest (and yummiest) flavor.  Today we were inspired to bake a homemade pumpkin cake thanks to inspiration from the ice cream and Casey's letter.  Cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice... mmmmmmm.

The best products out there, on the market, are the ones that satisfy in their own right, but also inspire.  For whatever reason and in whatever circumstances.  Whether it's a spice or marinade that produces an idea in a guy (or girl) to flavor a piece of beef or chicken on a grill to the accolades of his (or her) family, or an ice cream that makes an unemployed lawyer with a back injury want to jump up and heat up her oven. 

Looks like the next two Limited Edition flavors are going to be Peppermint and Apple Pie.  While we already have a recipe for a peppermint dessert martini, there is always room to make our own creations better.  Keep inspiring us, Edy's. 

Anyone wanna volunteer to take a taste-test?

--Contributed by Deb

Girl Talk!

Get ready for the newest advertising campaign from Playtex.

Women, real-life, flesh and blood, normal women, are going to be talking about their breasts.  And discussing them candidly, from bemoaning gravity (darn you Sir Isaac Newton) to describing that less-than-amused feeling we get when we realize that some people *cough men cough* must think our breasts do the talking and become unable to make eye contact with us.

All this to advertise the importance of a well-fitting bra.  And trust us, a bra that fits is all kinds of important.  We've heard the statistics that 50% of women are wearing the wrong size bra.  Not surprising, considering how sometimes we are told by retailers that as a 36D, we can wear a 38C or perhaps a 34DD.  All to make a sale.  Sometimes our cups runneth over as a result of bad advice.  So we endure elastic that binds and constricts and cups that may or may not lie flat because we have a number and letter in our heads that dictates what size we think we wear.  And it may or may not be accurate.

Thanks to Playtex for their literal and figurative support.  And get your eyes off my chest!  Or back on it.

--Contributed by Deb

Making It Better

One of the thing that we all wish companies did more was ask their customers exactly what they want.

Well, here's you chance.  What do you want to see at ShopperCast?  How would this site be more useful to you?  More informative?  More interesting?

Here's your chance to give feedback.  After all, if you're not reading... we might as well be... spending time with our families.  Exercising.  Finding new ways to conquer the universe.

See that "Comments" link?  Go ahead and click on it and let us know what you think.