The end of wrap-rage as we know it.

This phrase almost made me snort* my coffee all over my keyboard this morning: "Frustration-Free™ Packaging"

When I mentioned the remote possibility of frustration-free packaging here in the office, everyone became very curious, because, lets face it: who hasn't cursed trying to open the hard-plastic packaging of a new toothbrush or waded through reams of wire-tie, styrofoam and bubble-wrap to get to that brand-new remote control toy car. Wrap rage...so prevalent, it's right up there with road rage!

I've always said and I'll say it again: great marketing (also to women) starts with a great product. And packaging is of course part of the product...Actually: it's a consumer's first experience with the product!

As consumer, I can no longer count the number of times I have cursed trying to open a a shrink-wrapped package (with my teeth), or the number of times I have felt totally guilty for buying a 50ml jar of facecream inside a box large enough to ship an elephant.

So: kudoz to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos for starting the "Amazon Frustration-Free™ Packaging" initiative. With it, the company joins forces with a list of companies including Mattel, Fisher-Price and Microsoft to deliver products in smaller, easier-to-open packaging.

On behalf of at least a few million consumers, I would like to thank you for taking the first step, Jeff...this can only lead to less frustration and less guilt on the consumer's side! (Not to mention the money you guys will save by using smaller/lighter and less packaging!)



*Courtney's recommended word this morning. No animals or humans were injured during the unfortunate coffee incident. The keyboard survived too (it's a Mac...of course.)

Ah, Women!

There's a great article on Time Magazine's website called "Women in Luxury" that showcases interviews with some of the most powerful women behind some of the world's most powerful brands.

I read a few of the interviews, and what struck me is this: the women interviewed give such a wonderfully individual, quirky insight into the beautiful complexity of women as individuals...and perfectly illustrate why categorizing women by demographics alone just doesn't make sense any more!

Odile Roujol, President of Lancôme, is the perfect idiosyncratic example of this.
Roujol perfectly represents Lancôme understated sense of style with her white cotton blouse and trim black slacks...and then she pairs it with 5-in. Prada platform sandals. In purple. Her lifestyle is anything but "40-to-54" either. If she's not traveling for work on weekends, Roujol could be in-line skating with her sons by day or visiting the opera at night.

Or take Stella McCartney, "Since launching her label in 1995, McCartney has made a mission of designing collections that are environmentally awake. Her clothes and accessories, including shoes and handbags, don't contain a stitch of leather." Strong, outspoken and surrounded by stars, glitz and glam most of the time, the 37-year old lists her mom as her biggest inspiration...

Or take Lorna Kelly Kelly, luxury auctioneer at Sotheby's who, at 63, is also an avid student of Buddhism and often sports a dramatic pink streak in her hair.

What a wonderful illustration of individuality these women are!

(And I dare anyone to tell kelly or my mom (both in their early sixties) that they are now in the demographic 'senior citizens'!)