Vibrant Brains

Last year I wrote a story for the Fitness First chain of gyms about brain exercise. My story was based around the fact that we pay money to gyms and personal trainers to get us physically fit, without thinking about what are we doing to get mentally fit. I asked those reading the story to consider exercising their brains. After all, the brain is the only organ in the body that improves with use - the more it is used, the better it gets.

Interestingly, Vibrant Brains, a San Francisco start-up company, has now created workout centres for the brain. The operate just like a health club except that instead of exercising your body, you go in to exercise the different muscle groups in your brain. For a monthly fee, members get to use computer software programs and other tools to help build and maintain a healthy brain, one that can operate at its best.  It is only a startup but it will be interesting to see whether the idea catches on.  Visit www.vibrantbrains.com to find out more.

Foreverism

While the ‘now’ has never been more popular, with many consumers still keen on instant gratification who are trying to maximize the amount of experiences they can collect in as little time as possible (and with as little budget as possible), there are equally strong forces promoting the ‘forever’: Hence the new brand trend of Foreverism

Foreverism encompasses the many ways that consumers and businesses are embracing conversations, relationships, and products that are never done. Driving its popularity is technology that allows them to find, follow, interact and collaborate forever with anyone & anything. Tools would be blogging, facebook, twitter and whatever else was launched yesterday in this space. Check out trendwatching.com's June 2009 Trend Briefing covering FOREVERISM http://tinyurl.com/frvrsm.  Oh, and China’s Twitter, TaoTao, now has nearly 50 million users!

Slow Cow

Offering an "acupuncture session” in every can, the Canadian beverage maker Slow Cow, has produced a relaxation drink to calm your nerves and ease jitteriness associated with energy drink consumption. Slow Cow was developed to help people de-stress and act as an antidote to drinks like Red Bull and Rockstar.

Unlike energy drinks that contain synthetic chemicals such as taurine and caffeine that generally increase anxiety, Slow Cow contains theanine, chamomile, valerian, passiflora and other ingredients known for their calming effects. The beverage is formulated to increase mental awareness while improving relaxation. After a long day of work on an energy drink, or coffee high, Slow Cow can prevent the post-hit dip that caffeine and other stimulants cause. A natural fit for spas, hotels, and airlines.

Slow Cow’s tongue-in-cheek logo hasn’t gone unnoticed. The launch of the drink has stirred a strong reaction from Red Bull, who has asked them to formally shut its operations because the packaging of Slow Cow closely resembles the energy drink maker. Some critics think Slow Cow’s branding is ingenious…what do you think?

Click here for website

World's First Whopper Bar Open For Business

America's favourite burger chain Burger King has opened the world's first WHOPPER Bar restaurant at Universal CityWalk, Universal Orlando Resort. The highly anticipated new restaurant concept acts as an 'Innovation Lab' which is taking the 'have it your way' idea to the next level.

"The official opening of the world's first WHOPPER Bar is designed to deliver the ultimate HAVE IT YOUR WAY experience," said Russ Klein, president, global marketing and innovation, Burger King. "This concept allows us to deliver America's favorite burger in a completely personalized and premium way, and serves as a unique 'innovation lab' for new burgers." The WHOPPER Bar is a completely new, enhanced spin-off of the traditional restaurant with a crisp, modern, bar-like look and feel. Crew uniforms will emphasize the red, black and gray color of the bar setting, and boast a more contemporary cut that matches the look and feel of the new approach. Even the product packaging is all new. The sandwich will be served in an upgraded, carton-like box - a necessity when it comes to holding as many additional toppings as guests wish to add. Sandwiches are built to order by an expert "WHOPPER-ista"