On my dating journey, I often come across men who say they cannot live without their smart phone. Literally. They say this. When I ask what three things they absolutely cannot live without (and then imagine that they’ll say my smile, a book by Paulo Coelho and a bottle of Malbec) most men say, “my smart phone.” How unromantic is that?

But, as it turns out one woman’s pain is another retailer’s treasure. Our culture’s reliance on smart phones is seeping its way into every aspect of our life – even into our grocery shopping.

Recently, the Grocery Shopping Network launched a mobile apps program for Sunflower Farmers Market so that consumers can use their smart phones to view circular ad specials, on-site promotions, recipes and weekly deals. Continue reading →

Remember back in March 2011 when I said that I hoped Fits.me would come to the United States? Well, dreams do come true (well, kind of). Fits.me virtual fitting room, featuring bio-robotic virtual fitting for online retail websites, is now part of Park & Bond, a U.S. men’s retail site. I am still wishing that Fits.me will create a female bio-robotic virtual fitting room … perhaps that’s next?

In any event, it’s a pretty exciting partnership for Fits.me which launched in 2010 out of Estonia.  The technology uses shape-shifting robots that adjust to “thousands” of body shapes so customers can “try on” online apparel to see how it will fit their body. Continue reading →

I came home from a girls' weekend to discover the oddest thing – all of my kitchen cupboards had been reorganized.  In front of the perfectly stacked items (frankly, my kitchen now resembled an extreme game of Tetris) stood my guy, hands on his hips with pursed lips.

Apparently, he wanted to know why I had purchased an overabundance of unsweetened almond milk, endless cans of garbanzo beans and enough Larabars to feed a small village. I stammered, shocked that a man would even take the time to go through my cupboards. Finally, I confessed – they were all on sale. Continue reading →

According to my estimations, approximately 30 percent of our work days are now spent on Facebook (otherwise known as FB). Of course, my estimations include a sample set of one, but it seems to me that everywhere I go computers are tuned into the big FB.

What the heck are we doing on there anyway?? We’re checking out past lovers, looking for new lovers, reconnecting with folks we haven’t seen in 20 years, viewing the 500th photo of our best friend’s kiddos and shopping.

Shopping? On Facebook?

Yes, it now has come to this, and we may never leave the FB portal again. Continue reading →

I was out at dinner the other night with my guy and noticed the strangest thing. All around us were couples sitting at lovely dining tables (that wasn’t the strange thing). However, no one was talking. Instead, they were each on their respective smart phones, doing god knows what.

Retail has done it again – contributing to the inevitable break-up of thousands of couples (just kidding, I hope!).

Macy’s recently released its Backstage Pass technology that allows customers to receive “exclusive” video content, tips, trend information and the like right on their phones. And right from Macy’s celeb designers like Sean “Diddy” Combs, Martha Stewart, Tommy Hilfiger and Madonna. Continue reading →