Web 2.0, Web 2.0 Style

Here's a pretty cool video highlighting the Web 2.0 concept.



Not to date myself, but I've been in the high-tech biz through each phase of this evolution. I do not, however, predate the abacus.

Hallmark: When You Care Enough to Stay Out of the Dog House

Since I also run the eBay Market Data Program, I'm constantly looking at the competition. NPD is a research firm for high tech retail & manufacturers, and had this nugget of wisdom for Valentines Day (This is what they use their 3 million panelists for):

Valentines Day May be All About Your Sweetie, but Only 1 in 4 Think It's Romantic

PORT WASHINGTON, NY, February 12, 2007 – Valentine’s Day has long been touted in American culture as the official day to express love and romance. People wish to show appreciation for others, but many also feel that Valentine’s Day might be a bit contrived. According to The NPD Group’s SnackTrack® service, only one in four people feel that Valentine’s Day is romantic, while just as many people feel that it is too commercialized.

NPD reveals the top ten responses to how people generally feel about Valentine’s Day.

Top 10 feelings about Valentine’s Day (% of adult responses)

“Show appreciation” (30%) “No strong feelings” (26%) “Too commercialized” (26%) “It’s romantic” (24%) “It’s a Hallmark holiday” (19%) “Just another day” (18%) “Silly holiday” (14%) “Chance to show true feelings” (12%) “Bring up good memories” (11%) “If I don’t celebrate, I’ll get in trouble” (8%) *Multiple responses were given

“Although people may have mixed feelings about Valentine’s Day, at least 1 in 12 – probably men – will celebrate because they want to stay out of the dog house,” says Harry Balzer, vice president of The NPD Group.

For those people who will celebrate Valentine’s Day, the top activity will be giving a card or a gift (70% of those who will celebrate). Twenty-five percent of those who will celebrate will go out to dinner, while 10 percent will bake, 10 percent will make homemade Valentines, and 10 percent will go to a party.

Among those people who will give gifts, the top gift will be either a Valentine’s Day card (56% of gift-givers) or candy (55%). Only a third of gift-givers will give flowers (30%). Stuffed animals (20%) and jewelry (13%) round out the five most popular gifts given.

If candy is given, it most likely will come from a mass merchandiser (44% of candy purchases), or a supermarket (21%), drug store (18%), dollar store (8%), or gas station/convenience store (2%).

Balzer continues, “For those who don’t want to get in trouble, there’s always the gas station on the way home.”

Apparently NPD thinks this is news and thus press release worthy. Independent studies show that the #1 gift request from men on this holiday is not offered at NPD-tracked retail. More on the top 10 reasons why eBay Data is better than NPD data later. Happy Valentines Day!

Ro vs. Greg: the Faceoff

If you haven't seen eBay Matchups, you gotta check this out. For my Certified Provider readers, here's your chance to chime up on the old regime. And yes, I decline to comment on my vote.