Back in the Swing of Things

As you may have observed, I'm back from vacation and back into the swing of things. So: was I able to stay away from connecting online? For the most part, yes, although I will admit to checking in every now and then when I was able to latch on to a WiFi signal. But that doesn't mean that technology was completely out of my life!

Oddly enough, probably the most useful gadget I brought along with me was a Lifepop speaker bag. As faithful blog readers might recall, I mentioned these bags in one of my very first blog posts back in May 2007 entitled "Things You Never Thought You'd Need Nor Want". So what is this thing? It's a funky, retro-styled and oversized bag with two speakers and an amp built right into it. Pop in four "AA" batteries, connect any portable player that has a headphone jack, and enjoy music anywhere. My desired spot was the beach. I loaded up the bag with my beach towel, sunscreen, and other necessities, along with my SanDisk Sansa MP3 player (my significant other brought along his iPod as well). We placed the bag between us and enjoyed the tunes while basking in the sun. When a few friends joined us, we all got to enjoy the same music and chat with one another instead of each listening with his own pair of headphones in solitude. I was floored by how many comments I received on the bag from passers-by; many beach-goers even expressed their disappointment when we were packing up to go each day since they were enjoying our music! Who knew.

As promised, I did read through John's recommended reading: Hug Your Customers, and like he, found myself observing the quality of customer service everywhere I went. It is truly baffling to see how many people just don't seem to care, simply hanging around each day for the paycheque and taking whatever sale they can get without actually trying to add value to that sale. I tried on clothing at a store with virtually no help from a sales associate despite how many times they must have seen me go in and out of a change room. We sat on a patio for 45-minutes having dinner without the waiter coming back once to check on us and see if we needed anything. While I did end up buying something at the clothing store, we didn't stay for dessert, coffee, or additional drinks at the restaurant in question. This wasn't because we didn't want any, but simply because we didn't want to give them any more of our business than they deserved.

But on the flip side, I also observed some great "hugging". At a high-end hotel, for example, the concierge came by the pool with everything from freezies (ahh, memories) to paper cups of Aloe Vera to keep guests cool. A couple lounging there requested a pack of cigarettes. "We don't sell any in the hotel," answered the concierge, "but I'd be happy to run down to the store and grab some for you." Now that is hugging, despite the request!

Now, I know what you're thinking. "This is a high-end hotel so obviously they're going to offer such services!" That's what you'd expect vs. somewhere that hires a part-time student just looking for some cash. But there are ways, albeit much simpler, that customer service can be improved across every industry, whether it's fast food or low-end clothing retail. Heck, if this wasn't the case, McDonald's never would have started advertising "free smiles"! It might not be on the same level as the high end hotel of the high-end clothing store John went to; but every little bit counts, right?

On that note, we'd love to hear your "customer service stories from hell" or, conversely, your stories of praise. Feel free to comment here; or send me a note directly at cpersaud@marketnews.ca.

As for me, I enjoyed my time in South Beach, Miami. Here are some recommended spots if you ever plan to go (ahh, if we only ever had a trade show there!):

Delano Hotel - it's gorgeous, and offers one of the best Mohitos I've ever had!

Wet Willie's - this isn't the classiest joint, and not for the faint of heart. But if you like fruity, slushie-like concoctions, it might be worth a stop.

Joe's Stone Crab - I have been to both this location and the one in Las Vegas (Caesar's Palace). Both times, both the food and service were impeccable.

Big Pink - It's a local, family-oriented, comfort food-type restaurant with massive portions, tables squeezed so close together you're joining the conversations of everyone around you, and is always packed. But it's worth it.

Beach by the Loew's Hotel - if you rent a chair and umbrella here, they'll actually serve you food and drinks on the beach. Nice!

Mango's - This night bar has live bands playing salsa and other kinds of tunes. It's known to attract lots of tourists.

Starbucks on Lincoln Rd. - You can grab a latte and sit down at a computer station where you can preview songs, and compile your own custom-made CD for instant purchase.

Sushi Samba - great sushi, and the wait staff (mainly men) are amazingly attentive.

Until next year!

Gadgets for the Canada Day Long Weekend

As we all prepare for the upcoming Canada Day long weekend (why on earth can't we just move the holiday to the Monday rather than the Tuesday?) I'm sure many of you are planning to head up to the cottage, a camp site, or just enjoy some well-deserved R&R on the patio or in the backyard. But just because you're turning yourself off from cyberworld doesn't mean that gadgets can't play a useful role in your fun-filled summer activities. Let's take a look at some of the "coolest" gadgets for your long weekend celebrations.

Eureka Nergy 1210 tent: I took this high-tech tent camping last year, and really enjoyed the benefits it provided. There are several 12V ports and switches around the interior that, when used with the optional power pack, let you charge or power up your gadgets. You can plug in anything with a 12V adapter, from a mobile phone to an iPod, and even things like flashlights or portable fans. As a sleeping agent, this tent is really spacious as well, rated to sleep 8, but comfortably sleeping four with plenty of room to roam. Click Here for a video demo of the tent.

Patio Heater: I'm not sure what it's been like in other cities, but Toronto weather has been severely sporadic: 30+ degrees one day, followed by rain storms and clouds the next. A patio heater is a great idea for a surprise cold day, or even for the chilly nights. VisionQuest has some neat stainless steel and copper models that can heat at up to 11,000 BTUs. They can easily sit table-top, or travel by car to your campsite as a back-up if you can't seem to get that campfire going!

Portable DVD Player: If you have young kids and know that getting to your destination requires a long car ride, a portable DVD player can help to provide at least a few hours of quiet time. There are plenty on the market from well-known manufacturers like Toshiba, Panasonic, and Philips that can keep the kids entertained with movies, cartoons, or even a slideshow of still images and music.

iPod Speaker System: If you're out on the deck or at a campsite, I highly doubt you'll be bringing along a high-end, expensive speaker system. But there are some affordable options out there that will let you play your iPod tunes via battery operation while swimming at the cottage or even lounging on the beach. A really funky option is a neat line of fashion cooler bags from Lifepop. Speakers are integrated into the lining, and you can connect your iPod via a port inside. But they also come in handy for carrying your beach gear and refreshments. And you're sure to grab the attention of anyone around you with the super-retro designs of these bags.

Waterproof Camera: As I get ready to head out this weekend, one item I know I'll be packing is my waterproof digital camera. You don't need to be deep-sea diving to make use of one of these. I'll be using mine in a backyard pool where I can feel comfortable passing it around to friends and family without worrying about wet hands damaging the inner workings or the camera falling into the water. If you're on a beach, snap all the shots you want with your sandy hands, then rinse the camera off in the water. If you are an avid swimmer and not just a beach bum, the ability to take underwater photos is a definite plus. My model is from Olympus, but there are other waterproof options on the market right now from companies like Pentax, Sanyo, and Panasonic, the latter two of which even have waterproof handheld camcorders for taking video. (Check out the latest issue of here's how! magazine for a hands-on review of a few of these models).

Projector & Screen: While projectors might not be mainstream in the home, they are great options for watching films or home movies while away at the cottage. You can set up a portable screen and projector when you're there, then pack it back up and bring it home when you're done. This is especially useful for people who don't often visit their cottages and might be worried about potential theft. Epson has some great options in this category, including its MovieMate line-up that come with built-in DVD players.

Rock speakers: I'm sure you've seen them: they're nifty little speakers that come disguised as rocks. They're typically weather-proof so you can leave them outdoors all year long, even through harsh weather conditions. What makes them uber-cool, however, is the fact that your backyard BBQ guests will hear the music, but have no idea where it's coming from! Neat models are available from companies like Boston Acoustics, Rockustics, and Stereostone.

Portable GPS: If you're traveling by car, the price of gas these days will entice even the manliest of men to ask for directions when needed. No one wants to be roaming around the street at $1.30/litre! There are plenty of models on the market these days, from companies like Garmin, Magellan, and TomTom, as well as new players like Panasonic and LG (the latter of which just entered the category a year ago). Although it won't be ready in time for Canada Day, Mio's latest model provides turn-by-turn directions in the official KITT voice from Knight Rider, which is sure to provide some laughs.

There are plenty of other outdoor-friendly gadgets, but hopefully this short, snapshot will help enhance your long weekend experience. Happy Canada Day!