Adventure

Adventure is not an activity, it is a state of mind

Leaders & Honesty

Leaders must not merely tell the truth.  They must find the truth.

The Changing Face of Retail

I wrote an article last year predicting that more and more manufacturers were going to begin to sell direct in response to a few different converging trends, mainly pointed on the fact that information is so accessible that the idea of a middleman is becoming extinct.

Retail is an outdated concept.  The old model of a merchant buying products from a manufacturer at a lower price than a consumer and then selling those products at a mark-up is becoming extinct.  (especially in this economy, see CompUSA, Circuit City) More and more retailers are having to differentiate their offerings through a blend of experience and services.

This week, Microsoft confirmed rumors that they were going to start opening up direct retail brick & mortar stores.  While many manufacturers have been selling direct online for years, they’ve been hesitant as they’re essentially competing with their channel partners.  I imagine we’ll see manufacturers worry less and less about this as time goes on.  It doesn’t mean all retail is dead, it just means that the old notion of what a retailer is defined as, is going to change.

Take Apple for example.  While they’re a manufacturer who sells direct, they still sell 3rd party manufacturer’s software and accessories.  Microsoft will probably do the same, so it’s interesting to see top manufacturers who will probably become huge channel retailers as well.

25th Birthday

Thanks to everyone who made my 25th birthday weekend fantastic. My new town home was filled with friends who made it for the weekend. We ate great food, went to a college party, my boss’ party, and to 6th Street. Over the course of the weekend, I learned 3 key lessons.

1. Central Texas BBQ rocks. We made the trip to Lockhart, TX and had the privilege of eating some of central Texas’ finest BBQ at Kreuz Market.

2. Super Bowl. I don’t care how many years the Super Bowl has fallen on my birthday, I get excited every time. While my Cowboys didn’t make it to the Superbowl this year, I’m glad I got to see a great game. No matter how many people told the Giants they were not good enough, they kept fighting and did not let the perception of perfection ruin their own concentration. Never count anybody out.

3. Gen-Y’er is all grown up. I am officially too old for any college party. My brother is still in college so occasionally I will make it to his friends’ parties. Some of my other 25 year old friends would disagree, but I think Jello shots and beer-pong should stop at 25. Isn’t that why I’ll be paying less on car insurance this year?

Again, thanks to everyone who wished me happy birthday and made my 25th a great one.

Rest In Peace Safta

My grandmother passed away last week.  I flew to Toronto for the funeral and to be with my family, and while her death was not a surprise, it made me thankful for the family I do have.  As I returned to Austin, TX today, I wanted to take a moment to pay my respects to her.  This year’s Hanukkah was a bit less joyous as we mourned instead of rejoiced, but it was a time where the remaining family huddled together and grew.  My father’s generation is now the oldest, and I feel more mature already.