Advaria - Integrated Marketing Strategy http://www.advaria.net/advaria Design Portfolio & Blog Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:15:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 If you get confused listen to the music play… http://www.advaria.net/advaria/2010/07/if-you-get-confused-listen-to-the-music-play/ http://www.advaria.net/advaria/2010/07/if-you-get-confused-listen-to-the-music-play/#comments Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:12:51 +0000 philc http://www.advaria.net/advaria/?p=278

]]> http://www.advaria.net/advaria/2010/07/if-you-get-confused-listen-to-the-music-play/feed/ 0 Shopaholic http://www.advaria.net/advaria/2009/09/shopaholic/ http://www.advaria.net/advaria/2009/09/shopaholic/#comments Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:41:12 +0000 philc http://www.advaria.net/advaria/?p=241 An increasing number of individuals are making their purchases online.  Being in the business of helping folks take care of business on the web I make it a point to do most of my shopping via the internet.  Since Amazon first launched in 1996 one thing is for certain online sales are booming and here to stay.  While the majority of retail business are in recession, e-commerce projected growth is the most dramatic evidence of a popular trend.

chart

Now we could talk marketing, usability and buying trends or how to avoid shopping cart abandonment.  But I want to give some buying advice and recommend some sitse you may not have heard of. (I’m actually writing this post as a distraction so I don’t make a late night purchase.)

My best purchases have undoubtedly been on http://www.ebay.com but everyone has heard of ebay.

Closely behind ebay is a relatively new, award winning site.  http://www.backcountry.com I bought some great Oakley goggles and Marmont ski pants at significant discounts.  This site carries top notch brands and the high-end outdoor gear that you may not find at REI or EMS.  The vibe is definitely gear head and they cater to the enthusiast.  The know their market and tell a story of adventure and commitment to outdoor sports, and the lifestyle of giving it all on the mountain.  Check their blog and monthly zine for reviews and adventure logs.

Next is http://www.amazon.com can’t be beat for electronics, books and gifts.  But again everyone has heard of shopping that’s a vast as a river in South America.

If you want to continue purchasing for outdoor adventure but have a tight budget try http://www.sierratradingpost.com or http://www.llbean.com classic catalogs, great sites.

One thing that I haven’t had much luck with is cloths and shoes.  Better to try it on in the store.

For computer stuff I like http://www.macconnection.com / http://www.pconnection.com great prices and very clean, easy to use sites.  Some of the other computer / electronic sites are busy and try to throw too many products and options at the user.

I have to mention http://www.etsy.com the crafty jewelry and gift site, a great out of the box concept that has brought many artisan creations to market.  Also http://www.woot.com started the deal of the day phenomena that is the current trend.

I encourage users to give their top picks and reviews.

Two new sites have hit my radar and resulted in saving money and getting great gear:
1. http://www.o2gearshop.com
2. http://www.campsaver.com

Just saved 60% on new hiking boots and new skis (hopefully).  Need better half’s approval.

]]> http://www.advaria.net/advaria/2009/09/shopaholic/feed/ 3 Design for Bleeding Heart Liberals http://www.advaria.net/advaria/2009/09/design-for-bleeding-heart-liberals/ http://www.advaria.net/advaria/2009/09/design-for-bleeding-heart-liberals/#comments Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:42:53 +0000 philc http://advaria.net/advaria.net/?p=165 This is a conference to take place in Providence, I may attend.
http://www.abetterworldbydesign.com/index.php

]]> http://www.advaria.net/advaria/2009/09/design-for-bleeding-heart-liberals/feed/ 2 This guy is funny… http://www.advaria.net/advaria/2009/09/this-guy-is-funny/ http://www.advaria.net/advaria/2009/09/this-guy-is-funny/#comments Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:39:39 +0000 philc http://advaria.net/advaria.net/?p=163 http://twitter.com/shitmydadsays

]]> http://www.advaria.net/advaria/2009/09/this-guy-is-funny/feed/ 1 Fall Biking / Winter Skiing http://www.advaria.net/advaria/2009/09/fall-biking-winter-skiing/ http://www.advaria.net/advaria/2009/09/fall-biking-winter-skiing/#comments Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:17:50 +0000 philc http://advaria.net/advaria.net/?p=156 I’ve got the bike out again, now that the air has cooled. Nothing better than a bike path rally or a jaunt through the woods. Let me know if you want to ride!
Here is a list of all the RI bike paths and trails. http://www.dot.state.ri.us/bikeri/

As soon as the first hint of fall reaches the air, I’m thinking about one thing.  The slopes.
I’ll be an escort this year for the Ski Bus out of RI.  Check out http://www.skitrip.net for day trip schedules and other offers.

]]> http://www.advaria.net/advaria/2009/09/fall-biking-winter-skiing/feed/ 0 Something gitchy… http://www.advaria.net/advaria/2009/09/something-gitchy/ http://www.advaria.net/advaria/2009/09/something-gitchy/#comments Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:07:28 +0000 philc http://advaria.net/advaria.net/?p=150 Here are some pretty sweet items that you can buy on the interwebs.

For all you graphic heads, here is my favorite hi-end content website.
http://www.veer.com

The new all in one Samsung Sound Bar  / Blue Ray Player.

http://ces.cnet.com/8301-19167_1-10134014-100.html

The new Blackberry Tour – pretty f-in sweet.

http://na.blackberry.com/eng/devices/blackberrytour/tour_features.jsp

The new Mac Book Pro.
http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/

]]> http://www.advaria.net/advaria/2009/09/something-gitchy/feed/ 0 Visuals http://www.advaria.net/advaria/2009/09/very-best-of-ri/ http://www.advaria.net/advaria/2009/09/very-best-of-ri/#comments Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:56:06 +0000 philc http://advaria.net/advaria.net/?p=145 Some great artists I’ve come across:

Brian MacNeil – http://knowhopegallery.com
Christine Hajjar – http://www.christinehajjarart.com
Shane Flox – http://www.behance.net/Advaria
Dave Cole – http://www.theknittingmachine.com

more to come…

]]> http://www.advaria.net/advaria/2009/09/very-best-of-ri/feed/ 0 Top 20 Places to visit in RI http://www.advaria.net/advaria/2009/09/top-five-places-in-ri/ http://www.advaria.net/advaria/2009/09/top-five-places-in-ri/#comments Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:39:09 +0000 philc http://advaria.net/advaria.net/?p=140 I have been in or around RI for 6 years now.  Here are some of my favorite places.

  1. The Providence -> Bristol bike path
  2. The Coffee Exchange
  3. AS220
  4. Pawtuxet Village
  5. Matunuck Beach
  6. Goddard State Park
  7. 2nd Beach in Newport
  8. Warren’s Point Beach in LC
  9. Venda Ravioli on Federal Hill
  10. Big River Bike Trails
  11. Coastal Roasters in Tiverton
  12. Ocean State Job Lot
  13. Casserino’s on Federal Hill
  14. Taza Downtown
  15. Waterplace Park
  16. Prospect Park
  17. Mohegan Bluff Beach on Block Island
  18. Crazy Burger in Narragansett
  19. Salvation Cafe´in Newport
  20. Anywhere Downtown during Waterfire
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