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It's time to gear up for lots of store visits, there will be a lot of layout changes, one more new store and multiple phases of Xmas promotion happening from this week onward. My gears will change from office setting (mind.depositor, Moleskine diary, fountain pen, calculator, camera) to field setting (pocket Moleskine, camera).
One of the indispensable tool is this "Holder for M" from Vintage Revival Productions. It is an ingenious two piece product made from a combination of leather and denim label material. One piece acts as a holder which allows you to insert your M into your jean's back pocket (8,800 yen), the other is a pen holder (4,500 yen). Both pieces are looped so that you can slide to the front and back cover of you M easily without permanent damage.
Where did I found this you asked? It was last July when I thought I was having the last meeting of a business trip in Tokyo, Mr. Doi from Sweetroad (a great store to visit mind you) told me about Mr. Iwata and his shop Iwata Denki. I had to rush to that store in Setagaya before it's closed. Full of sweat and unable to communicate in Japanese, I was signing and nodding a lot and had a great "conversation" with Iwata san, a designer himself, who published 2 design books called GOALD (goal of design), and constantly working to create new products. Do visit Iwata san's blog to get a glimpse of his works and product collections from his friends.
Iwata san made some very nice leather Moleskine covers. They are like stickers, only in leather, which are removable and probably can last several uses when you change your Moleskine. I was about to buy the brown snake skin embossed or the wood imitation cover but too bad they were out of stock. He also made those cute little leather photo clips which look like smileys, they are put into recycle film cans and sold in stores like Tokyu Hands and Loft.
Iwata san was very keen to show me his collection of great products in the shop, wooden iphone case, his leather credit card holder, coin pouch etc. "Holder for M" was the one thing I got from his shop, then I was out of cash in Tokyo :)
So if you are going to Tokyo, I suggest you to dig up these interesting small shops to go, it is far more rewarding as a journey. As for myself, the connection and sense of discovery always give me the thrill.
Xmas to me for the past 6 years has been a gradual build up of pressure and anxiety because of work. After yet another day of number crunching I reached home finding a surprise in our guest restroom. I would've expected a lonely cat or dog lurking around in the house if it wasn't our restroom, the only culprit here must be Olgua. I was furious for a few seconds and click..... I switched to story telling mode, about dogs and cats at home and why they do things they do because nobody clip their nails etc. Then it was the plead to tell yet more bed time stories. I must remember that flick of switch, to turn anger into stories, to turn anxiety into something creative. It shouldn't be a positive reinforcement of bad behavior or emotion if the subject can grasp the good intention behind given a review is done, and it is no surprise and a pity that this works best with children, 'mature' people just have too much pride to see things through.
"What?" You asked.
Whether it is digital or analog, mini cameras are the most trendy thing happening in the industry. Digital Minox, Rollei, Diana mini, Digital Harinezumi (just released new white edition), etc. They are all in this tiny little promotion happening in Festival Walk and APM LOG-ON.
The earphone market is getting more crowded these days. Two years ago a good pair of earphone at about HK$200 was difficult to find, quality earphone often means at least over a thousand HK dollar from names like Shure and Sennheiser. Now a reasonably good earphone costs only around HK$150 and you get to see so many choices in retail stores. Earphones like candy indeed. The price is definitely going down further but I also observe a drop in quality from some of the bigger manufacturers, obviously hurting their brands and allowed some of the new comers to catchup with the market.
Breaking News! Announced in Hong Kong today, Polaroid licensee The Summit Global Group will launch new Polaroid film camera in 2010, while The Impossible Project is in its final stage to create its new black and white 600 film. Since the media hasn't reported much, I'm gathering the details in bits and pieces from these two sources for you: Neonpunch.com and Alvinhui.com
- The Summit Global Group managing director Mr. Giovanni Tomaselli lives in Hong Kong, that's why this press conference is done in Hong Kong.
- iZone Kids camera will be relaunched, due to its previous popularity, along side with films supplied by FujiFilm.
- Florian Kaps from the Impossible Project said there will be two kinds of black and white instant film to be released in 2010. Color film will be released near summer 2010. Both will be in the same 600 format.
- Both Giovanni and Florian said Spectra film will be relaunched
in addition to pack films. (Thanks to JC helping to clarify this with Mr. Kaps) - Polaroid One and One Step cameras will be relaunched in mid 2010.
- Wing Shya (Polaroid fanatic, photographer and director), Maurizio Galimberti (famous Italian photographer) and Florian Kaps (the impossible project) were invited to the event.
- Wing Shya will be the key photographer for marketing in Hong Kong.
- Pogo is the printer, Pogo 2 is the printer with camera. Both already launched some time ago (not yet in Hong Kong though). Pogo 3 will be able to do 3x4" prints
Today cultural creative GreenMaMa Betty Lam came to our office to show her LOHAS Calendar 樂活日誌. It is a Chinese calendar filled with green, health and lighthearted spiritual tips, often expressed in localized humorous ways. She is also including references from interesting books and URL so you will find LOHAS inspirations on daily basis. According to her, she is definitely including the phone number of an "uncle" who specializes in helping people to sharpen their kitchen knives, talking about sustainability and supporting traditional business.
The day before I left Seoul a few weeks ago was the grand opening of the new Times Square in Yeongdeungpo (永登浦). For stationery lovers, you gotta visit the Kyobo bookstore there, trust me. It was a brief stop but the sculpture in front of Times Square captured my attention.
David Allen spent the last 2 years crafting and fine-tuning this GTD Workflow Map.
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