Can I Make A Business Interest – For Pinterest?!
I started “playing” with Pinterest this past month. Trying to figure out what the heck to do with this “latest and greatest” and ”must have” social medium platforms.
For those who dont know what Pinterst is: Pinterst is a site that lets you “pin” either pics, videos or just websites onto your own, personalized, digital whiteboard. For those a bit older, it’s like when “Post-it Notes” first came out and you would find them all over fridges, walls, and offices. They would have just little reminders or thoughts on them to assist in aiding us to remember things, or just reminding us of things, that we had deemed important.
For this new digital whiteboard, I am puzzled as to what e the outcome of this one might be. Will it get wide acceptance or will it fizzle as so many others have? Will it remain personal or will business find a way to “kill” this one too?
One good friend, bit of a social Media “geek” – I meant that respectfully as he ishuge help to me – quite aptly calls it “a lazy mans tumblr”. Nothing more than a repository of other peoples ideas, thoughts, pictures etc… Not a tonne of “original” thought. Just a much easier way, than even one of the easiest blog platform to use, to post stuff. That’s it. Just post stuff, any stuff, and its stuff that is not even yours. Not like blogging or tweeting.
Now, he wasn’t saying it was a disaster, but that was his first impression of it. Like me, he is trying to figure out the value of this one.
My counter point was this; I quite like Pinterst for what I will call “personal stuff”. I have really gotten into tattoos as of late, and I really love Pinterest as it helps me file cool pics of tattoos that I really like, or even pages, in a quick and dirty repository for me to refer back to; easily. For those in their mid forties or higher who are reading this, you can appreciate this, for the memory; well let’s just say, she ain’t what she used to be. Let’s just leave it at that!
I really do like this platform for that type of online activity. It is very simple to use and I can have numerous personal whiteboards that are readily accessible and even shareable. You can follow my boards and I can follow yours and we can share or “repin” each others pins. I can even “repin” pins from boards that I don’t follow. There is a tonne of flexibility and share ability.
Which leads to some old, and some new concerns that we have had with the other mediums sich as facebook and twitter for example. One being, do I want a whole tonne of people (work people etc) be able to know what I really like that easily – for example tattoos or even some of the music/movies that I might pin? Some of these topics are really just for me and relatively “personal” (whatever that means in a digital/social networking world). Do I want friends or co-workers looking at my tattoo pins and potentially taking some of my ideas and using them before I do? Do I want to be judged or prejudged by people in the business world because of this fascination I have developed with being inked (that’s tattoo talk for those who may miss that as they dont have a tattoo) 
Does it matter? After all, if you are online, guess what Sherlock, you are out there and your secrets and desires and ambitions and ideas are there for all to see and use and abuse. That’s just the way it is in the social media / social networking world. Thats why we always say, “be careful be you hit enter”!
So how am I going to combat that as a person who is alredy a really open book. I have a senior position in a very large Canadian company and I attend a tonne of events with others in similar positions, and many in positions of VP’s, Presidents, COO’s, CFO’s, CEO’s, owners etc… And believe me, not all of the stuff I like is necessarily looked upon as “being acceptable” in a very conservative world. My personal social media accounts are pretty clean and I have always been cognizant of being careful in what I post because most, actually all, of my online activity is followed by either someone internally or someone in the industry. I have to be careful and aware of that.
And yet, I think there may be some pretty cool play in Pinterest for businesses if they are smart about it.
Hence, the reason for this post; “Do I Have a Business Interest, In Pinterest?”, or can I make a business reason for Pinterest?
I think so, but I am going to have to modify how I approach it.
Business is all over the trying to figure out Pinterest and how to use, and exploit, yet another social networking site. The SEO implications and benefits are real and evident. Being in business, I get that, but I am do need to figure out a way to do this and yet really try to figure out why anyone would give a s#%^ about following a retailer or consumer packages goods company on Pinterest.
Quite frankly, I have no idea why you would do that. I would not today, and probably won’t tomorrow, follow any business on Pinterest (unless you are a tattoo Parlour and then I follow you for ideas from your artists or you are a photographer and I am again pinning cool pics of places I want to go to, or I am stealing ideas for photo compositions etc…). But to follow Superstore, Mexx, Future Shop, Target, or even London Drugs; why??? To see the latest specials or promotions?! Seriously?! You got web pages for that and I can go to the other business polluted sites like Facebook for that… Nope, not too sure about following businesses on Pinterst. I think that’s actually ridiculous, today…
Ok so if I won’t follow businesses on Pinterst, and I am a pretty heavy user of social media/nerworking sites, what does business do to attract me? How do they, we, or even I (hate to say it, but yes, I) tap into people on Pinterst from a business perspective?
I think the way to do that, and quite frankly, the way I am going to try for my company. I am creating a “Personal Work Account” (Oxymoron? I think not). The “PWA” that I create is an account that is perfectly transparent, and what I “pin” is stuff that I write about on my blog (which is a mash of personal and work already anyway), and it will consist of kool stuff that I am going to carry or am already carrying at London Drugs. I don’t hide from the fact that although this is a “work slanted account”, it is run by a real person who really loves what he does and really wants to share some kool products and or ideas with the customers or his company. It will be all “LD”, but not by “LD”.
Corporate, but not. More personal than corporate. Its my PWA and I think that could work.
I have my personal Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and so on accounts and I then have my “Personal Work Account” (I am taking full credit for this expression if it takes off – just letting you all know that!! The “PWA” acronym is mine – my ego requires that I get credit for this one).
Ya, I gotta manage another account and it might dilute what I have done to date as I gotta rebuild followers etc… but I don’t think so. I think it gives people a real reason to follow both of me’s; the real me, Kootenayborn, and the other real me (PWA Me) KensKoolDotCom. I know how scary that sounds to those who know me – 2 of him!!!
That’s what I see is the best way for business to capitalize on Pinterest without ruining yet another social media / social networking platform. It will only work for those companies that have folks like me, Tami (@LDCosmetics and @KewlCosmetics) and Julian (@LDComputers). You gotta have some real personalities behind these boards who have a personal and not just a professional interest in what they are pinning and sharing.
Just one guys thoughts at 35,000 feet en route to Palm Springs!
Have a great day and hope to see you on Pinterst or Twitter!!!
Check me out or follow me on either by finding @kootenayborn or @kenskooldotcomm on Twitter; and kootenayborn or KensKoolDotCom on Pinterst.
Ciao for now @kootenayborn
Start your morning right with Jordans and London Drugs!
I have not written a post in a bit that talked about a product that I really do enjoy.
Today I write about Jordans Bursting with Nuts; and I enjoy it every single time I have it!
The picture below is the almost perfect morning for me. A great cup of coffee ( of course from London Drugs! ) and a bowl of cereal. The perfect bowl of cereal for me ( yes I do love others as well, but this is seriously one of, if not my most favourite cereal ) is Jordans Bursting with Nuts!! This cereal is just awesome. It is 100% natural and loaded ( and I mean loaded ) with nuts!! There are hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, pecans and almonds in the box and they are combined with light granola like clusters of yum!!
Trust me when I say that a good cup of coffee and a great bowl of cereal like this can just start your day wonderfully. Every spoonful is just heavenly!
A little bit about Jordans (taken from their webpage of course);
Bottom line – it’s just good food!!
Give it a try and let us know what you think! I am soooooo sure that you will love it!!
For a little drug store, you might be surprised at how much Jordans we do carry. They make a great cereal!
Check it out here… London Drugs and Jordans!
Ciao for now @kootenayborn
My Original East Van Cross thanks to @GastownTattoo
That was a nice way to spend a Good Friday; and I am sure I will rot for this one, as the Catholic guilt pours though the veins of a very sore arm.!
Maybe today proved that I am in a mid-life crisis – I don’t know. I don’t think so though. I realize for most of my “un-inked” friends and family, it appears that I have completely lost it. At almost 46 I decide to go from no tattoos a month ago, to two as of this past Friday. What the hell is going on?!?!?
Well, I don’t now if I really know. Like I said after my first one, I waited 25 years to do this and I am now at a time in my life where the permanence of the tattoo and the messages that they convey, are totally fine with me. In fact they make me feel complete, as corny as that may sound.
I chose my designs. I knew, and know, what I was doing. I picked two tattoos so far that I would have never picked 25 years ago, but two that I know I will still love 25 years from now.
That is pretty important as when I think about the things I wanted tattooed when still in university, and I have told numerous people this; “If I had I done the stuff I had wanted to do then; I would probably have had twenty tattoos today, and probably have eighteen of them that I regretted! “
If there is one thing I did right, it was waiting until I was older and getting something that was not so much in the moment, but rather a part of my life now and going forward. Permanence scared me into a “smarter” decision.
My first tattoo was “Kootenayborn”. I am sure you can guess what part of the province of BC that I might be from by that… “Kootenayborn” has been my online name and identity for the almost 15 years of online life; starting with ebay, and now being used on most social mediums that I am on from Flickr, Twitter to Youtube and etc… I have even gone as far as registering kootenayborn.com, .ca, and .net.
This to me was a great way to start the tattoo adventure.
I picked the Russian font style – Kremlin Advisor Display Kaps by Bolt Cutter as this ties into the Russian heritage of my Mom’s side of the family. This tattoo really means something to me; and quite frankly, it is “me”.
The second tattoo that I just did was a tribute to my immediate family. My wife was born and raised in East Van, my kids were born, and are being raised in East Van, I have lived almost 20 years in East Van, and will probably not be leaving East Van anytime soon. East Van reminds me a lot of Trail, the city in the Kootenay’s where I was born. Ethnic and working class. Not the glamorous folks, but the real folks. Not the richest in dollars, but the richest in life. The kind of people that I grew up with. The kind of people I admire and the kind of people I like to be with. Some of my best and dearest friends are East Vanner’s!
The cross and East Van are obviously not original in concept. I am sure most reading are familiar with the East Van cross. I have always liked it, but it did not mean anything deep to me. I wanted something original and something that was mine. I drew my cross and East Van on a napkin (pictured below) when on holidays. The cross, although not truly Catholic, is what I liked in a cross and is what I wanted to use to show my faith. The East Van, in the Russian font, is used for reasons described above – family… This was my tribute to my family and to my home.
I think Garret at Gastown Tattoo Parlor did a great job and I am really happy with my designs and my choices. I guess I should give Garret a little credit. He did a pretty good job making my chicken scratch look pretty cool!
Two down and a few more to go 
Ciao for now @kootenayborn
The Magic Banana, Kegel Exercises, and your local London Drugs?!? Seriously?!?
More sexual health help from your favourite pharmacy!
You know that one of the only retail chains that would have the foresight and quite frankly the people (like Karen the Buyer, and The LD Executive Team) that would see through the “potential issues” of listing a product like this: a product that should be carried by all drugstores in their sexual health, baby or woman’s health sets, would be London Drugs! A product that really shows that London Drugs is very serious about providing women with products that they should be able to buy at their local drugstores, without prejudice and without embarrassment.
Click the picture to take you to the webpage.
The Magic Banana®, is a device that was invented by Janeson (pronounced jan/ne/sun) Rayne. She is yoga educator, vegetarian chef, author, artist, inventor and mom. She lives and creates in Ontario, Canada.
The rest of the information here, I took from the webpage of the Magic Banana, as I am not even going to pretend to know anything about this device. You might as well get the information from the source.
So what does the Magic Banana do?
“The Magic Banana assists with Kegel Exercises – the squeeze-hold-release movements that were first described in the West by gynecologist Dr. Arnold Kegel in the late 1940′s (he named them after himself). And although they have been recommended to women by doctors since then – as a pro-active natural way to prepare for childbirth, repair from childbirth, enhance sex-life and, as an alternative to surgery to prevent incontinence – it’s not uncommon for women to have problems isolating the correct muscles or to know – with absolute certainty – that they’re doing the exercise properly. With its’ unique patented shape and uncomplicated design The Magic Banana provides resistance and confirms that the right muscles are being worked. The device automatically adjusts according to your muscle strength and tone. Immediate results are noticeable and, with regular use, the results are cumulative.”
That was the what and why. How about the who?
The quick and dirty (sorry…) about who would benefit from using the banana;
• women who are already in touch with their bodies will enjoy the addition of the the Magic Banana® to their practice, partnered or solo
• less experienced women, who want to explore and understand their bodies
• women who wish to bear children, to tone and help prepare for childbirth
• women who have given birth, to restore and tone
• women who are pre, peri, or post-menopausal, so they may love (and continue to love) the body that seems to be betraying them
• women without partners, to keep the fires stoked
• women whose partners love to please them – the Magic Banana® takes foreplay to another level
Finally a quick article written about the Magic Banana that I would like to share with you;
Check out this article from the Queens Journal (Queens University Newspaper)
The Magic Banana is 100% Canadian made!
Check it out.
Available at all London Drugs locations where sexual health products are sold. If you have any questions, please consult with your Family Doctor, London Drugs Pharmacist.
Ciao for now @kootenayborn
Wednesday lunch @SS_Coffee! Great coffee and great people!
By he time I post this, it will be almost a week since I have visited Salt Spring Coffee on Viking Way in Richmond. I had the pleasure of getting a plant tour and cupping session with Mickey, Kevin and Banks; as well as my representatives from Star Marketing, Randy and Kyle. I had a great time and loved to tour with people passionate about their business and passionate about coffee!
I have been buying Salt Spring coffee since the spring of 2007 (my first Spring as the food buyer at London Drugs). Salt Spring Coffee was my first foray into the high end coffee bean arena. Prior to the Spring of 2007, we only carried one sku of bean coffee which was the Melitta Columbian beans in a 907g bag. Nice beans, but not talkin to the super premium consumers of coffee. At this time in London Drugs history we were also heavily focused on instant coffees and ground coffees like Nescafé, Tasters Choice, MJB, Folgers, Maxwell House and Nabob. All ok in their own right, but for a coffee snob like myself, just not where I wanted us to be as a retailer.
That Spring of 2007 (I had been buying he food category for approx 6 months now) I was ready to bust out and start buying “better coffees”. That is when Randy came in and showed me a line that they had been representing for a little bit, Salt Spring Coffee. I immediately loved the notion that this was BC Company, it was organic, it was earthy and it was owned by people who cared about where the coffee came from and they cared about the people from where the coffee came. It was just a great story and the timing was right.
The rest, as they say, is history. Salt Spring Coffee was my first jump in the world of cool bean coffees, and was soon followed by a bunch more BC companies like Kicking Horse, Ethical Bean, Earth’s Choice, Level Ground, Pacific Roasters, Resiprocate, Doi Chaang, and Commercial Drive Coffee. This adventure then even took me down the path of more beans like Illy and Lavazza, brands not really associated with drug stores.
Salt Spring Coffee was an instrumental part of the redirection of the London Drugs coffee category as well as being a key player in helping me rethink the entire London Drugs food category.
For myself, I would like to thank Mickey and his crew for allowing us to partner with them. If you like the LD food categories and especially the coffee set, drop Mickey and his crew a line, you might as well thank them. They were a key part of the changes and truly deserve some of the accalaids.
Thank you Salt Spring Coffee! Keep up the good work and the fight for better treatment of the growers and coffee coops! Nice work! Happy to associated with companies like yourselves.
Enjoy their coffees, I know I do!
Ciao for know @kootenayborn
Disposable Electronic Cigars now @LondonDrugs
These are even more cool than the Electronic Cigarettes that we listed last summer. Below is a video that gives an idea of what Smoke NV is about. The Cigar story is the same.
Introducing the Smoke NV Electronic Cigar. The 3 Pack box is getting into you local London Drugs now and will retail at $49.99.
These are probably a little more personal for me as I “used” to enjoy a cigar every once in awhile, but aside from the fact they are not good for you, the smell afterwards was becoming less appealing to me as I got a little older. These are a great alternative for someone like me. I did try one of these in the office and they are pretty cool. They do dispense a lot more smoke (water vapour) than electronic cigarettes and actually feel much more “real” to me. These, for me, are great way to smoke a cigar when playing cards with the boys, but avoid the negatives of the cigar. Think my wife will be happier also!
Again, these are nicotine free and tobacco free and emit harmless water vapour when puffed. The cigar is equivalent to approx. 1000 puffs.
If you are trying to quit smoking or trying to cut down, come in a talk to one of our Pharmacist for smoking cessation products to assist you. These cigars, and the cigarettes are not intended to be used in place of nicotine or claim to make any health claims. What I personally think they can help with is the “habit” of grabbing for a smoke or cigar. However you achieve the goal of quitting smoking, I just hope you get there.
Enjoy and good luck quitting!
Ciao for now @kootenayborn
Where would you find a remote controlled vibrator? Hmmmm, how about @LondonDrugs!
I know. What can I say. London Drugs now lists and carries a personal massager with a remote control. Who would have thought?!
The We-Vibe is the first “couples maasager” and really revolutionized this category. After the huge success of the We-Vibe II ( check out my blog post of last year regarding the We-Vibe II here… ), the world was,and is ready for the remote controlled We-Vibe 3. New and improved and with a remote control so you don’t have to stop having fun while searching for a new exciting setting to try out.
As with most of the sexual aids that are carried at London Drugs, I am no expert and I therefore rely on the webpages of the vendor to help out with features etc… However, I can make the same claim that I always do; I am thrilled to work with a mainstream retailer that is not afraid to take a chance in a category that is still viewed by many as “taboo”.
London Drugs realizes and understands the sexual, and physical health benefits of products like these. We are also fortunate as a retailer to have qualified Health Care Professionals that can assist with the other purchases that you may require (lubes etc..) with these purchases. We can also help if you have any questions in general about your health and if products like these can help, or potentially hurt you. Take advantage of the pharmacists in store, they are an awesome resource.
The following is taken from the We-Vibe webpage ( http://we-vibe.com/we-vibe-3 ) and will highlight some of the features and some of the Health Care endorsements for the We-Vibe 3.
The new We-Vibe 3 features;
- 40% more vibration power
- 2 whisper-quiet motors
- wireless remote control or manual operation
- 6 thrilling vibration modes
- low
- high
- wave
- pulse
- tease
- cha cha
- fully waterproof design
- compact and discreet
- 2-in-1 storage case/wireless charger
- soft, flexible, comfortable
- 100% lead-free, phthalate-free medical grade silicone
- safe for water-based lubricants
- long-lasting rechargeable battery
- easy soap and water cleanup
- fully recyclable packaging
- carbon-neutral manufacture and distribution
Should devices like these be considered appropriate for drug stores? Take a read…
“We-Vibe products are universally embraced as important enablers for healthy sexual relationships.
The We-Vibe II is a favourite of relationship therapists, sexual health experts and medical professionals world-wide, including Dr. Laura Berman (as featured on the Dr. Oz TV show), Dr. Trina Read, Dr. Robin Milhausen (as featured on Steven & Chris TV show), and hundreds of others. They recommend the We-Vibe II to any couple seeking to enhance the intimacy and sexual satisfaction of their relationship. The We-Vibe II is also recommended as a Kegel exerciser for mothers who have recently given childbirth or to any woman wanting the many benefits of strengthened Kegel muscles.
The We- Vibe II has received every major relevant product award and has been featured at numerous prestigious scientific, medical, and academic research conferences, including the The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS), The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT), and The Guelph Sexuality Conference.”
We-Vibe 3 is available in most London Drugs locations as well as being offerered online at www.londondrugs.com. Pretty kool stuff and pretty progressive. Makes me proud to be with LD.
Check it out and have fun.
For other “sexual health” products at London Drugs, please search for “sexual health” on my blog.
Ciao for now @kootenayborn