ktoddstorch @ business thoughts

Where to find official pink "liveSTRONG" bracelets

Just to make one thing clear, there is no such thing as an official pink liveSTRONG bracelet.  The Lance Armstrong Foundation is only making them in yellow.

Now, that being said, there are plenty of knockoffs in multiple colors.  You can find them on eBay in a variety of colors, but no money is given to charity (as far as I've seen).

If you've read any of my earlier postings about the bracelet, you know I've been pushing the breast cancer foundations to start a pink bracelet.  Here are the one's that I've found through comments and emails from blog readers.  Thank you!

If you know of others, please click on comments below or send me an email and I'll put them up.

pinkbraceletfund.org - "Be Strong", Melissa Etheridge's charity of choice.  $5 donation

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The Judy Ride Foundation - "Until There's a Cure", $2 donation
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Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation - "Sharing the Promise", $5 donation for 5

 

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Breast Cancer Research Foundation/Target- "Share Beauty Spread Hope", $10 donation for 10

 

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PinkWings - they have both the "Believe" and "Hope Faith Love" bracelets, $5 each or 5 for $20.  Multiple product with 20% of sales donated to various charities.

 

 

 

 

[read] my other liveSTRONG blog postings

Watch a movie, get the DVD: Peter Davidson agrees with me

I wrote about this back on August 17th...why can't Hollywood figure it out where you can buy a DVD immediately after you see the movie?

[read] what Peter Davidson has to say about this

Pink "liveSTRONG" Bracelets - An official fundraiser

Thanks to a good comment posted yesterday! Melissa Etheridge just announced she has breast cancer and to raise money for the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, you can make a $5 donation and receive a pink "Be Strong" bracelet.

FYI, there is a 4 - 5 week delay on shipping the bracelets. No suprise to me the demand would be overwhelming!

[pinkbraceletfund.org]

[read] my other thoughts on the liveSTRONG bracelets

Satellite radio continues to target talent...now its Lance Armstrong

Sirius announced today (10/26/04) that Lance Armstrong will be joining their programming. He will be hosting a show on Sirius' Faction, 'the innovative music channel created especially for action and outdoor sports enthusiasts'.

I'm sure that his 6 Tours de France victories played into this, but I would bet the $20M in liveSTRONG bracelet sales was even more of a factor in this deal. Lance Armstrong has definately broken through to the masses.

Again, as a consumer, the battle is heating up on which service will win your ~$10 a month.

Content, content, content. XM and Sirius are going after it.

[read] the Sirius Press Release

[read] my other blog posting about XM and Sirius Talent/Content war

Word of the Week

Bells

If you are in Management, what "bells" are you ringing? Are you sending a consistant message to your employees of what is important?

If you asked your employees what were the most important items to accomplish, would their answers match yours?

Be selective and careful with your focus and words. Bells make a difference.

Which ones are you ringing?

U2 has stolen lyrics returned after 23 years...

File this one under "Yeah, sure".

In 1981, the band U2 had a briefcase stolen with lyrics. Apparantly, Bono had to rewrite a number of songs for their album, October.

So, by this measure, I should be getting back my original, unwrapped, Fair Warning album (their BEST album, by the way) by Van Halen anyday now.

I know who stole it from me back in 1981 and they've never come clean. Gary, do you hear me? Do the right thing.

Its the little things that drive us crazy...

[read] via BBC News

XM and Sirius Satellite Radio...Now Content is King?

When XM and Sirius began their services, the message to consumers was "commercial free" radio with "more choices you can't hear on regular radio".

Now, it seems like they are in an all out content war. This is how I see HBO vs. Showtime right now. Its not how much it costs to have the channel, but what do "I HAVE to see". In fact, XM and Sirius need to make the purchasing of their services so common place, it doesn't seem like a purchase at all (that's a whole other discussion...read some previous thoughts here).

XM = Major League Baseball, Opie and Anthony, NASCAR and Bob Edwards of NPR

Sirius = Howard Stern, NFL, football and basketball of major colleges and the Eminem channel

For those of you that don't have XM or Sirius Radio, what is the tipping point that would get you to pay $10 - $13 a month for their services?

For those of you that have paid for a new radio and the service, what has been your experience? Is it worth the money? Do you listen for "regular radio" less?

Leave me your thoughts by clicking on Comments below.

Pink liveSTRONG Bracelets - Major Opportunity

The #1 search that people have been coming to my blog is to read my postings on liveSTRONG bracelets and looking for Pink liveSTRONG bracelets.

I've been emailed on where to find the pink ones, how much they cost, etc.  I did a little Google research and I've found out some information on these.  If you know more, please leave a comment so everyone else interested can learn.

There are definately pink bracelets out there, but the ones I've seen on eBay look like people wanting to make a buck on the fever/fad of these.  I even saw a posting of "Very Rare Pink/Blue/Purple/Red liveSTRONG bracelets".  Huh?

The only place I found "official" charity driven pink bracelets was at Target.  Of course, they are sold out, but want you to check back for availability.

Here's a link to a forum on the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation discussing pink bracelets.

There is a definate opportunity for breast cancer foundations to make an organized plan to raise money with a pink bracelet.  Can they seize the moment and satisfy the demand?

[read] my other postings about liveSTRONG bracelets

**UPDATE**  I think some of the confusion could be from "liveSTRONG" searches on eBay.  There are bracelets that Nike has made called "Ballers" that are different colored.  I've seen 'Pink Marble, Purple, Red, White, Black, Yellow and Blue' on eBay.  The sellers of these bracelets put the "liveSTRONG" name in the copy and sometimes the sell description to gain addition hits.  Most of the time it will say "like liveSTRONG" or "not a liveSTRONG" bracelet.  These are aimed at basketball players and fans that want to wear one to be a "Baller".

**UPDATE** 1/6/05 - Please click here to read all the posts on other charity bracelets available!

**UPDATE**
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Who is using the new Google Desktop and why?

Whole lot of conversation going on about the new Google Desktop. Here's my question that I would like to know from everyone....Why are you using it?

What is the reason that its needed? What benefit does it offer?

Leave your comments and experiences!

Interview with Tivo's CEO

You all know how much I love TiVo! Its an amazing product that hits home for Consumer Experience.

Engaget has an interview with Mike Ramsay, TiVo's CEO. He touches on topics such as HD TV, Netflix and battling the FCC.

[read] via Engaget